senior instructor
I began training with the then Ifield SKC in 1995 when my eldest son Carl, decided he wanted to try Karate. We were lucky enough to discover the club after a recommendation by a friend – something I’ve been thankful for so many times over the years.
Rather than sitting watching from the sidelines, I found myself wanting to join in. I had trepidations as I was, I thought, rather old to start, but I was made very welcome and so my Karate journey began.
I was lucky I had Carl training alongside me and we progressed together through the grades. In fact we often had to partner each other for gradings and at one point, Sensei Ohta, the grading examiner, asked Robin whether we liked each other as, apparently, it looked like we were trying to kill each other! So it was with Great pride that we both gained our Shodans together at Crystal Palace in 1998.
As I have got older I have developed Osteo Arthritis in most of my joints and spine but none the less have continued to train as best I can. When I got to Sandan I swore that would be the last grading for me as I was struggling to be able to perform kicks because of my knees and hips and so could no longer perform the required syllabus combinations and Katas. However, Sensei Frank Brennan ( after consultation with Robin and then Sensei Sherry) gave me an adapted syllabus which allowed me to go for my Yondan. It was tough as I had only 2 months preparation to get the combinations into my somewhat questionable memory but I went, I performed and I succeeded – it was a wonderful feeling! However, my proudest moment was when Carl passed his Godan grading – I admit it, I was somewhat emotional but his Gi was already dripping so my few tears of joy didn’t really matter. However, after again stating that I was finished with gradings, the seed has been planted again, ( thanks soooo much chaps!!) so who knows, maybe I’ll fill my licence book too.
Update – Sept 2024
There have been a lot of changes since my last grading, not least of which we have left the KUGB and have become part of a totally new organisation.
There were one or two things that were, for me, a major stumbling block stopping me going for 5th Dan, but they no longer applied.
After a certain amount of ( not so) gentle coercion, I took the decision to go for it but this would be my one and only attempt.
Under the new Association the grading requirements for 5th Dan have changed for, I think, the better. It takes into account both physical and mental issues and although, thankfully, I’m still mentally OK (no comment people!), physically I have developed a number of issues that mean I struggle to train at times and do certain techniques. Thus, my grading was adapted to take this into consideration.
So, once I took the decision to do it, it was a case of get over the panic and knuckle down. Of course the nerves were in full rabbit in headlights mode on the day and I have never felt confident in myself but, with the amazing and unswerving support of my Sensei’s, I got ready and I did it. My knowledge and understanding have developed and deepened over my 29 years of training and this grading allowed me to demonstrate this.
So……there we are…..Godan. Who’d have thought? Certainly not me.
So much love to my Karate family (and very much my son Sensei) , without whom this would never have happened.
IchiBan SKC 