I started training in martial arts way back in 1978, Training in Tang Soo Do at Sheffield University getting as far as 1st Kyu before taking a break due to moving away. My instructor – Mr Lee – was new to the UK from Malaysia and did not speak a word of English so the first 3 years was an interesting learning curve!

The short break lasted 12 years before I was drawn back to martial arts, beginning my training in Wado Ryu in 1996 when both of my children wanted to learn “karate”. I started as well just so I could learn some of the Japanese terms to help my children understand (Tang Soo Do was Korean so that didn’t help!). I also started training in Ju-Jutsu in 1997 and Kobu-Jutsu in 2000, just as my children gave up karate for other interests… it was too late for me then though as I was fully hooked into my Martial Arts journey.