The club is run by the following senior KDS members:

Adrian Quick - 4th Dan
Paul Malcolm - 3rd Dan
Andy Lightfoot - 3rd Dan

with

Martyn Gooding - 1st Dan
Harminder Mudhar - 1st Kyu

between us we have nearly 70 years of karate experience within the KDS!

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Could you tell us a little about how you became involved with the martial arts?

My first practice was 04 January 1975, at a KDS club in Folkestone, Kent. It was during the Bruce Lee era. My older brother had been going for about 6 weeks and conned me into going with him, Although I hadn’t done any sports for years, after a month I was totally hooked, but my brother had given up. 6 months later and my 18th birthday, I was practicing every day.

I became the club instructor after 2 years, but stopped practicing after 4 years due to a significant (self inflicted) knee injury, career change which involved moving away from my club and the arrival of my children.

In April 1989, out of curiosity I picked up a martial arts magazine, saw an advert for the KDS and rejoined through the Harlow club.

What grade do you currently hold?

4th Dan

What was it about Karate that so appealed to you?

Firstly that karate is not a team sport. I had always been the lad that was no good at team ball games, so although a reasonable swimmer and high board diver in my early teens, I hadn’t enjoyed sport per se. Karate is about you and your practice partner. You share the responsibility for developing each other, mutually benefiting from the physical skills taught and learnt.

Karate is a lifetime personal challenge, perhaps unique in that as age traditionally deteriorates physical skills, in karate ones physical skills can continue to improve. The older trained karate student can still practice without restriction, matching the energy of younger members with their experience and physical skill.

What does your own training consist of?

A lot of my personal practice is focused on exploring how to create more efficient body mechanics and correctly utilise muscle structures. How to move smoothly,  without indicating my intention to my partner, and how to read my partners body to respond to their intent and movement.

Each student has a different shape, physical strength, co-ordination and mental approach, but is looking to achieve the same physical practice outcome. The KDS instructors are always researching these challenges and developing practices to develop individuals to a higher level.

I practice 1:1 with my seniors, my peer group (we have developed together over many years), the other Harlow club instructors and with all club students.

What is your best memory from training over the years?

This is always a difficult question. After 29 years in total, there have been numerous ‘best’ memories; my first Summer School in 1976, the first time I faced Harada Sensei for personal instruction in 1977, my first ‘advanced’ course as a new 2nd Dan when I really realised how special Sensei and the senior instructors were, how openly they shared their knowledge and how far I had to progress to step in their shadows.

Ultimately, the best memories though are the little successes realised in practice, that cumulatively have such a significant impact over time.

When not training, what do you like to do?

I’m very family orientated, married for 31 years and have both a daughter and a son.

As I run my own business, I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy many and varied holidays, particularly enjoying the history, culture and architecture of Europe.

What piece of advice would you give to people to help them develop their martial arts?

Commit yourself to you club and the instructors. Karate isn’t a skill that can be taught theoretically, it has to be learned though physical experience.

Be realistic in your expectations. Although significant progress can be made in learning physical skills in the short term, to make karate a lifetime practice you must practice for the long term, building strong skill foundations to support your developing technical understanding.

Accept responsibility for your own development. The more you give the more you’ll get back.

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Could you tell us a little about how you became involved with the martial arts?

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