AARON.
Hi I'm Aaron! I'm 34 years old and I have been studying karate since I was 7 years old leading me to attain 27 years experience. I started studying the style wado-ryu karate for a couple of years where I reach 5th kyu, shortly after this school and exams stood in the way of continuous training, this forced me to take a break for a coupe of years however, when I decided that it was time to return to training I heard of another local club that studied shotokan karate, I went along to watch and instantly was fascinated in this other style! I joined this club where I stayed for some time working through the grades and becoming an aid to teach within the club..... then unfortunately work commitments stood in the way of continuous training - which forced me to take a 12/18 month break however, I was still determined to maintain training from home in an ad hoc manner. Shortly after this period I was able to make changes to return to training on a continuous basis, this has been the case for the last 16/17 years.
On return to training Richard and I met when we were training together and travelling around the UK attending various courses, it imminently became apparent we shared the same views on training, methods and beliefs on what karate is to us and what the key focus should be. I believe that karate is not only training of the extremities but karate has a inner journey, a journey that focuses on the elements of mental strength, situational awareness and mental focus which gives us the tools to be the best version of ourselves. Off the back of these shared beliefs and vast experience we decided it was time to start our own club, we had so many thoughts and ideas we felt were worthy of exploration which we could share with others that wanted to take up karate - we also had made a promise to ourselves and those that wanted to train, that we would only teach traditional and meaningful - practical karate.
karate has given such life experience due to the fact I have had the opportunity to train and teach many people over the years, I have taught people of all ages, walks of life, backgrounds, nationalities all with different reasons for wanting to train. Karate is a passion and fascination of mine - I enjoy the life long study it can provide, with this I have spent countless hours studying - sometimes the smallest of details and elements and bio-mechanics of the body which leads me to endless content for planning lessons and courses.
I have made some life long friends through the years to be able to share this with - karate is definitely a major and pivotal part of my life.