Philip started karate at the age of twenty. He had tried judo for a short while but it lacked what he really needed at the time – discipline! A friend of his told him that a Japanese gentleman (sensei Tomita) had just started teaching karate in Weybridge, just a few miles from Cobham where he lived.
Sensei Tomita was to become his Instructor/grading examiner for the next seven years.
As a routine he 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 them both to train with his sensei, the legendary master Sensei Enoeda at his Marshall Street dojo. Philip then became really hooked on Karate.
Over the next few years he had the opportunity to train under many top visiting Japanese Instructors, namely: Sensei’s Nakayama, Kase, Shirai, Tabata, Tanaka, Asano, Kagawa, Yahara and Ohta.
His life revolved around Karate, Training, grading and competitions.
He had everything he wanted out of karate, or so he thought……………………!
He relocated to Chesterfield, Derbyshire in 1979 as a 1st Dan. Almost immediately he was invited to train at a host of local clubs (Dronfield, Killamarsh and Sheffield) and through them he gained access to some of the best Instructors in the world. Sensei’s Sherry, O’Neill, Poynton, Rhodes, Higgins, Brennan J. and Brennan F. Every weekend there was a training course with one of these Instructors.
He competed regularly in many competitions for nearly 20 years with only modest success but always performed with pride and enthusiasm.
He retired from competition in 1990 and soon after qualified as a KUGB national judge and a year later as a referee.
In 2011, The Chesterfield Shotokan Karate club celebrated its 40th year and Philip has been its senior Instructor for the last 36 years. In 2012 he achieved his 40 years long standing membership certificate from the KUGB of which he is very proud. Sensei’s Sherry and Brennan have been a huge inspiration to Philip and their instruction together with the karateka that he trains with at his Dojo and on the KUGB courses are largely responsible for him reaching this extraordinary milestone.
In March 2014 he was invited to take his 6th Dan examination by the Chief Instructor of the KUGB, Sensei Sherry 9th Dan and on the 4th October 2014 at the University of Bath he was delighted to pass his grading.
Philip comments, becoming a 6th Dan in karate is exceptional by any standards. Becoming a KUGB 6th Dan – it doesn’t get any better.
He has always attended most of the KUGB’s free black and brown belt courses and all the Sensei Brennan’s central region squad courses. He referees at all KUGB national championships, all central region competitions and many other competitions around the country.
Philip states that the KUGB is an exceptional organisation and that he is proud to be a member of the KUGB. His aim now is to continue training and improving his standards .In 2022 Phillip achieved 50 years membership with the KUGB.
