It all started for me when I was 7 years old, I wanted to get into a martial art, I’ve always been an active person who likes to do sports and activities and Karate would be another great activity to do for my physical and mental health and also to learn discipline.
My dad, Jack Harper a KUGB 2nd Dan, was the one to help me start, and in the beginning, I started training with the English Shotokan Academy. My dad was always there helping and training with me.
In the English Shotokan Karate organisation, I managed to grade and get all the way to my 4th Kyu Purple belt. That is when my dad and I both switched federations to the KUGB - and it was like a whole new world, joining Chesterfield Shotokan Karate Club, My new Instructor, Sensei Philip Gandy 6th Dan is an amazing teacher and still is to this day and he pushed me and helped me progress through the many years.
I was a purple belt, and I hadn’t graded in 2 1⁄2 years. I really wanted to attend a grading. However, my dad had the idea that I could possibly double grade and get my brown belt. I was beyond nervous; I had basically forgotten the feeling of what it was like to grade.
Fortunately, I was allowed to double grade, and I managed to pass and receive my 3rd Kyu.
The KUGB is amazing, there are competitions and courses everywhere you looked, and I remembered signing up for my first competition.
There was so much to take in, the atmosphere, the feeling, and the experience were all incredible, and I enjoy participating in competitions regularly now. Then, in 2021, I passed my 2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu under Sensei Frank Brennan and Sensei Jim Brennan. They both awarded me above standard in each Exam.
I also received the Chesterfield Karate Club Best Student Award in 2021- My efforts were recognised by the Senior Club Instructors namely, Sensei Philip Gandy 6th Dan, Sensei Roger Beresford 4th Dan and Sensei Winston McLeish 4th Dan.
This led to the preparation for my 1st Dan grading. I remember going through the Katas in my garden and going through all the ones I knew. I was meant to grade on September 4th, 2022.
However, I managed to injure myself a few days before the grading, so I had to go to a later grading.
The date for the grading was October 30th, 2022. I remember having all the nerves built up over days, weeks, months, years, and this is what everything would come down to. The nerves were almost unbearable until Sensei Frank Brennan 8th Dan and Sensei Garry Harford 8th Dan called me up to start the grading
The stress and all the hard training helped me perform and go 100%.
In the end I passed my 1st Dan and now I will be training even harder and my goal is to achieve more and have happy memories in the art of Karate.
COMPETITION SUCCESSES
In the Central Region Championships 2022- Silver medal in the Boys Kyu Grade kata
In the National Championships 2022- Bronze medal in the Childrens team Kata
In the National Championships 2022- Siver medal in the Boys Brown Belt Individual Kata.
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