I started karate in January of 1972 at the late age of 20yrs. I had tried judo for a short while but it lacked what I really needed at the time- discipline! A friend of mine told me that a Japanese gentleman had just started teaching karate in Weybridge, just a few miles from Cobham where I lived.
Sensei Tomita was to become my Instructor/ grading examiner for the next seven years.
As a routine I would train at the Weybridge dojo twice a week under Sensei Kevin Hickey and twice a week with Sensei Tomita at his Earls Court dojo. After a few months training ,Sensei Tomita Invited me to train with his sensei the legendary master Sensei Enoeda at his Marshall Street dojo. I became hooked on Karate.
Over the next few years I had the opportunity to train under many top visiting Japanese Instructors, namely : Sensei's Nakayama, Kase, Shirai, Tabata, Tanaka, Osano, Kagawa, Yahara and Ohta.
For the next few years my life revolved around Karate, Training, grading and competitions.
I had everything I wanted out of karate, or so I thought...!
I relocated to Chesterfield, Derbyshire in 1979 as a 1st Dan. Almost immediately I was invited to train at a host of local clubs(Dronfield, Killamarsh and Sheffield) and through them I gained access to some of the best Instructors in the world. Sensei's Sherry, O'Neill, Poynton, Rhodes, Higgins, Brennan F and Brennan J.
Every weekend there was a training course with one of these Instructors.
I competed regularly in many Competitions for nearly 20 years with only modest success but always performed with Pride and enthusiasm.
I retired from Competition in 1990 and soon after I qualified as a KUGB national judge and a year later as a referee.
In 2025, The Chesterfield Shotokan Karate club celebrated it's 54th year. I have been the club's senior Instructor for the last 46years. However, the club would not have survived but for the commitment and loyalty of Instructors Roger Beresford 41 years) and Winston McLeish (30 years). The sacrifices to their own personal training ( like all good Instructors) that they have made in order to help develop the club is immeasurable.
The club has produced many Dan grades ( black belts) over the years and I am proud of the fact that we have never lost a club Instructor to another club or association.
In 2025 , I achieved53 years membership with the KUGB. Also one of my students Sensei Mary Langen became the first club member to be selected onto the KUGB Junior England kumite squad. In 2013 Mary was again selected onto the squad and also fellow club member Curtis McLeish was not only selected but also represented England at the world championships in Liverpool. Fantastic achievements !!
Sensei's Sherry and Brennan continue to be a huge inspiration to my karate training and together with the karate ka that I train with at the club and on the courses, it is they that are largely responsible for me reaching this extraordinary milestone.
In March 2014 I was invited to take my 6th Dan exam by the Chairman of the KUGB, Sensei Sherry 9th Dan.
On the 4th October 2014, at the university of Bath I passed my 6th Dan grading.
Becoming a 6th Dan in karate is special by any standards, something that I will always proud of.
My club Instructors played a huge role in preparing me for this exam- thanks to you all.
In 2022 Sensei Gandy achieves 50 years membership with the KUGB.
On the 17th of May 2025,at the KUGB National Championships, Sensei Gandy awarded his7th Dan grade by Sensei Frank Brennan 8th Dan
Dan Grades
1st Dan- 1979
2nd Dan - 1987
3rd Dan -1992
4th Dan - 1999
5th Dan - 2006
6th Dan- 2014
7th Dan - 2025
Qualifications
Qualified KUGB Instructor since 1979
KUGB national Judge
KUGB national referee
Qualified St John's Ambulance first aider
KUGB assessor of Dan grades- since 1999
DBS certified as of 12/08/2020-Certificate No 001706386231
On the 20th October 2022 I completed a"safeguarding for KUGB Instructors course"
On The 3rd of August 2025 I was appointed a KUGB "C" licence kyu grading examiner.
Committees
Central region squad co ordinator 1985- 1998
Central region Inter-region competition coordinator 1985-1998
Grand slam results coordinator 1995- 2015
Central region committee member 1995 - to present date
