Congratulations to our very own Chief Instructor Paul Wolstencroft Sensei for attaining the grade of Roku Dan (6th Dan) Black Belt on Sunday 29th October.

Paul Sensei travelled to Wolverhampton to grade in front of the English Karate Federation grading panel made up of Peter May Sensei (7th Dan), Arthur Meek Sensei (8th Dan), Alan Campbell Sensei (7th Dan), Aiden Trimble Sensei (8th Dan) and Tomiyama Sensei (9th Dan).

Paul Sensei started his karate journey back in 1997 when he was just 13 years old and has never looked back. The dojo is his happy place. He loves to train and to motivate others. He lives and breathes karate and has been lucky enough to turn his hobby into a lasting career. A highly successful one at that. From humble beginnings back in 2005 with just one dojo at Chesham Primary School and 29 students, to leading one of the largest karate groups in the UK. Paul Sensei is the epitome of a dedicated martial artist. He has looked after his body through continuous training, nutrition and proper recovery. He has never taken his natural gift for granted and has travelled far and wide to further his knowledge from the World’s leading karateka. His karate continues to be impressive and strong.

His journey has taken him to Japan many times with another trip booked in February 2024. The depths of his knowledge for karate are unmatched. He is quite simply - obsessed. He is the first to admit he is not a book smart man. But you can ask him anything about karate and he will bore you for hours, giving you the most detailed answer you never knew you wanted! He remains thirsty for knowledge and understands the great responsibility that falls upon the shoulders of an Association leader. The passion, the energy, the drive, the commitment, the leadership, the progression of the group all must come from him.

He remains a determined and ambitious leader who values those who take this journey beside him. The future of karate is not ours. It belongs to the next generation who we need to guide responsibly and give them the opportunity to do great things not just on a National stage, but on the International stage. This is why he trains so hard and continues to encourage others to get better.

His years of diligent study have culminated in him becoming an English Karate Federation Kata Coach and being promoted 6th Dan at such a relatively young age. It’s only when you pause to look back in time at all the karateka with you’ve trained alongside or whose instruction you’ve benefitted, that from you realise what a rare and extremely special this achievement is. There aren’t many that got this far. It is a proud moment for all of us to have a leader who is respected and can still do it all. Paul Sensei is still in his prime with so much to offer. His grade was not just handed to him. He had to work for it and be judged by his seniors like every grade he has taken before.

Nothing worth having comes easy. It takes great personal sacrifice and devotion to the art. It takes spending every night of the week and every weekend in the dojo. It is late night runs and early morning demonstrations. It takes time management and fitting your training in around all your other commitments. It takes no weakness and he accepts no excuses. He manages to juggle it all but our karate club is his number 1. He has moved up so that others can.

His unique style of motivating others is something to admire. When he is teaching, he is right there with you. Setting the example, not only telling you to do - but showing you how. Always inspirational and never slowing down and taking for granted what has been built.

As you can tell we are enormously proud of him and we know that he will continue to push forward. Never enough. He will be in the the dojo tonight - tomorrow and the next day. Regardless of his achievement he will continue to study and train as it’s a lifelong journey. And that’s what a leader does. Mike Beckwith Sensei, Leesa Beckwith Sensei, Rob Head Sensei, John Dolan Sensei and Helen Dolan Sensei all travelled down to Wolverhampton to support him and he really did appreciate this.

Mike Sensei made the following comments:

“Paul Sensei always works so hard in and out of the dojo to be the best Karate Ka he can be and leads the club from the front.

Not only a fantastic Karate Ka, but an excellent Instructor too, highlighted by the fact he is a coach for the Northern Kata Squad for the EKF's as well as producing a huge talent of Karate Ka through the club.

Outside of the Dojo, Paul is a genuinely nice man too with a wicked sense of humour!

I recall when we (Leesa and I) first met him at a Senior class with a previous style and he was a very young, quiet, respectful young man but was super confident of his karate skills even then. We knew he had the potential to go far if he stuck at it and stick at it he has, in bucketfuls!

We are all so proud of what he has achieved and are in awe of the fact at the very young age of 40 he has achieved this very high ranking grade!

Well done Paul Sensei, on behalf of all the club, we are ALL so proud of you.”

Well done Sensei!