Robert Hawkins

My karate training began when I was 6 years old in June 2010. My mother had told me about a karate club that was held after school once a week at my old school in Newport Pagnell. I was intrigued and decided to try it out. After my first session led by Renshi Kidby I instinctively knew that I wanted to make karate a hobby. I really enjoyed all aspects of karate but I especially loved kata.

Initially, I found it hard to balance karate with my other hobbies like music and other sports but after a while I found the perfect balance to managing my time between karate, my other hobbies and also school work.

A few years later, I started training at Newport Pagnell club where I still train to this day twice a week. When I became a third kyu I realised that karate had become a lot more important to me than just a hobby. It had helped me to develop my confidence, self-esteem and allowed me to accomplish things I never dreamed or believed I could do.

After a variety of ups and downs through my training, I graded for shodan in March 2018 and passed at age 14 with the help of Renshi Kidby and my club. Reaching my first dan grade means a lot to me and I look forward to learning more and helping grades below me in developing their karate.