Paul's Story
A long journey
I started having a passion for martial arts from an early age, watching Bruce Lee films and the series Kung Fu. When I reached 15 yrs the first Karate Kid film came out, this inspired me to take up martial arts and I joined a local Karate school. I stayed for about a year but was at that difficult age where I had just left school and the club did not seem to accommodate youths at my age group. So I left to find a club which could offer more to me, I tried a few different arts along the way but none seemed to suit me.
I stopped looking for a short time to concentrate on my new job as an apprentice where I was studying at college for a year. After which time I started in the work place and fate would have it that one of my colleagues was Steve Dalrymple. I was assigned to Steve to learn certain aspects of the pipe working trade. The bonus came when after realising Steve and I had a common interest in martial arts, Steve offered to teach me privately in my mum and dads garage.
Steve at the time was already a 1st Dan black belt in Goshin Jutsu, and had asked Tanaka Sensei if he could have permission to teach me. These lessons went on for about a year, by this time I was living and breathing Goshin Jutsu. I started training at the formal classes under Tanaka Sensei in Hedge End, Botley and Romsey. It was at the time very intimidating as these classes were packed with a minimum of 60 students per venue but once I had a few lessons under my belt the confidence started to grow.
I have always had an interest in teaching, and started when invited as a 7th Kyu to teach the beginner grades at the Botley Market Hall class. As I progressed through my grades I was given more responsibility to teach higher level students. In 1994 after seeking permission from my Sensei I started to teach my own class in Woolston and at the time I was 3rd Kyu so I needed as much support as was available. Fortunately the class took off and grew steadily.
In 1996 I passed my 1st dan grade and received my full instructor status, I carried on teaching in Woolston and at other venues in and around Southampton. The classes developed so well that up to this current time, we have presently achieved many high level students through our syllabus. Four of which are currently training black belts, Glyn Mason (2nd dan), Nigel Payne (1st dan), Adam Sheppard (Black) and John Jeal (Black). These instructors now have classes of their own and are in the process of building their own student base within the art of Goshin Jutsu.
