I used to take my son to a local K.U.G.B run club for approximately 6 months before realising that I would actually like to have a go! My background up to that point had been boxing which I thoroughly enjoyed for a period of 5 years. I then started training regularly and within a very short space of time I was completely hooked. The club I was part of at that time ran regular gradings and courses with Sensei’s Andy Sherry, Frank Brennan and Matt Price.

I have trained and graded under Sensei’s Andy Sherry and Frank Brennan achieving Sho-dan in August 2008 and Ni-dan in September 2010. While I loved these courses and watched great examples of very fine, well tuned karate ka, I have to say that once I trained with Sensei Hazard my whole perspective and direction changed forever! I have never witnessed such explosive and practical karate like Sensei Hazard demonstrates and with such ease. Training with him fills me with such elation and I count the days until next time.

I am extremely thrilled to be part of A.S.K and to be the first A.S.K club for Northern Ireland. As this is my first club I was pretty nervous on how things would go, especially as my club is based in my local town where everyone knows me! Sensei Hazard has been an absolute star and couldn’t have been more approachable and helpful in guiding me. The Academy of Shotokan Karate is the best that is out there and it fills me with pride to wear our badge on my gi. I opened my first club on 1st February 2011. I hope to build my club and will put in whatever effort it takes to make it reputable so I can continue Sensei Hazards teaching.