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About Our Instructors
Chief Instructor Graham Buckley 4th Dan Autobiography
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I started karate in 1989,
training for 7 years under sensei Mike Pettifer at the Norfolk
Wadoryu Karate Club before gaining my 1st Dan in 1996 with
Shindo-Kai association under guidance from Ged & John Tuman. I
gained my 2nd Dan in 1998 with the EKO (English Karate Organisation)
under the guidance of Dave Sharkey and in 2001 I gained my 3rd Dan
also with the EKO and under the guidance of Dave Sharkey. After a
short break from training I found the Kazoku-Kai association headed
by sensai Derek Ridgway. He has opened my eyes to a whole new world
of karate. His knowledge of katas, kihon and bunkai is superb. I
would say that I have learned more in the five years we have been
training with him then in the previous 18 years. I'm very pleased I
passed my 4th Dan with him on the 11th September 2011. I currently instruct with the Norfolk Wadoryu Karate club in Fakenham, where I first started instructing in 1996. |
Senior Instructor John Phelps 4th Dan Autobiography
| I started
training in Jidokwan Taekwondo in the summer of 1984 under the
instruction of Richard Cox 5th Dan, the Jidokwan style was headed up
by Ian Wheeler. I continued training 2 - 4 times a week until I
reached 3rd Kup in 1991. I found the teachings of Richard Cox to be
very influential and I still use some of his ideas in my teaching
today. I moved to the Fakenham area at the end of 1991 and began training in Wadoryu Karate under Sensei Mike Pettifer in 1992. Although I had enjoyed the Teakwondo training, I soon realised that the Wadoryu Karate style suited me much better. I passed my 8th Kyu in September 1992 and my 1st Dan in 1996 with Shindo-Kai association under guidance from Ged & John Tuman. From starting regular training in martial arts to reaching my black belt took 12 years, which I think is a good reminder to people who worry they are not progressing quickly enough. I gained my 2nd Dan in 1998 with the EKO (English Karate Organisation) under the guidance of Dave Sharkey and in 2001 I gained my 3rd Dan also with the EKO and under the guidance of Dave Sharkey. in 2011 I achived my 4th Dan with the Kazoku Kai association. I still enjoy training and teaching all aspects of karate be it Kata, Kumite or self-defence. I intend to continue teaching and training while there is breath in my body, so if my fellow instructors or I can be of any assistance come and train with us at the Norfolk Wadoryu Karate club, Fakenham. |
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