Blog
John Johnston – Adaptive Karate
Step out of your comfort zone - who knows where it will take you... Over the years I've trained in various martial arts with some fantastic instructors. Most recently with John Johnston Sensei. I remember meeting John at a 6 hour British Combat Association (BCA)...
Tom the Karate kid
A few years ago Mike (to the right of the picture) contacted me and asked if he could bring along his stepson Tom to Karate. He informed me that Tom (left of the picture) may find some things difficult as he has a few mental and physical barriers to overcome but Mike...
Kata applications
Kata applications or more to the point, the study of kata applications, has fascinated me for decades. As a child, I vividly recall wondering why some kata ended in a "block"? "If Kata is simulating combat, why would it end in a block?" "Surely it would end with a...
The Power of Karate
I always say that Karate is much more than punching and kicking. In this blog, you'll see it really does have the ability to change lives, but don't just take my word for it, Lady X's mum will tell you. Once a week I have the pleasure of teaching Karate to a fantastic...
Working with children
Working with children is not always easy, I can definitely vouch for that...lol, but I can tell you one thing for sure, it's extremely rewarding. As an adult, it's so easy to forget what it's like to be a child. All the stresses and responsibilities of adulthood have...
Karate for the disabled – a personal journey
Karate has many different layers and can certainly be practiced on different levels in terms of both its purpose and understanding. Karate is a personal journey that makes it accessible regardless of mental or physical ability. My own karate has changed dramatically...
Oi-zuki – front punch – is it useful in real combat?
The Oi-zuki (front punch), as with all Karate techniques is more than just a punch when studied correctly. For example, this punch can be used as a throw when working at a grappling distance with an opponent. However, for the purpose of this article, we are looking at...
Instructor fitness
As a Martial Arts Instructor, it's easy to fall into the trap of letting your own fitness suffer - I'm certainly no different. Finding time to train yourself is not always easy, there are so many commitments that just seem to get in the way. Important things like...
“Over the years I’ve known Dave Shaw I’ve watched his karate develop and grow. lt’s progressive, highly effective and honest. He always has his students best interest at heart. Always moving forward, always willing to learn, always ready to help. A great training partner and instructor”