I
started training in September 1992 at Pontllanfraith Dojo, passed my first
grade 3 months later and was given the most spirited junior student of the
year award at the end of December. 1993 through to 1996 I was graded up to
3rd Kyu and started to get into the Kyokushin way of life. Also that year
my fighting career started, I was selected to fight for Wales and the Club
at the Kyokushin National tournament. I didn't loose a fight and ended up
being the British junior WUKO champion, I was 15years old. 1997 through to
1999 I graded to 1st Kyu and started to get into the senior tournament circuit,
winning several clicker tournaments including the Welsh senior in 97. I also
started to get into knockdown, fighting in my first tournament The Welsh Open
(light weight under70kg). It was on the 28-11-98, I remember because I was
18years old on that day. I won my first fight and got disqualified in my second.
At the beginning of 1999 I entered into the British Novice Knockdown (lightweight)
but there were no other light weights or middle weights for that matter, if
I wanted to fight I had to fight in the super heavy weight (90+kg) category.
I won the first fight with Jodan Mawashi-geri knockout and went on to be the
British heavy weight Novice Knockdown Champion (as a light weight). In 2000
I left Pontllanfraith Dojo due to politics and after a stint training with
the BKK, at the end of 2001 I joined Cardiff Kyokushin under Shihan Gary Bufton.
He wasted no time in preparing me for my future Knockdown career. In 2002
I won the British Knockdown(middle weight), the WUKO and fighter of the year
award in the same day. Also that year I trained as an Ushi Deshi in Sweden
for a month and fought for Britain in the European knockdown. 2003 seen similar
success, again wining the British heavy weight (as a middle weight), fighting
for Britain in the All American Open and at the 8th World Tournament in Tokyo,
Japan, again being given fighter of the year. Also that year I gained the
grade of Shodan after a gruelling 30man Kumite. I won the British(middle weight)
again in 2005 but haven't competed in anything else. I started my own business
in 2004 and have been concentrating on building it (www.TLBservices.org).
I still continue to train and live my life in the Kyokushin-Way looking to
constantly improve my Karate. OSU
