The Shodan Page

Linda Anderson

  CHARLENE FORBES

I started with Ippon Karate Club when I was 15, so about October 1998 after my best friend at the time kept going on about how great the club was. I joined to see what all the fuss was about. I figured I'd stick it for a month or two, just like everything else I'd tried to do. My friend left the club about two years later and I was still there. By now I started to think I may just get to black belt, something to be honest I didn't really consider when I joined. I'd even taken part in a couple of club competitions, taking runner up in kata. I got my 1st Dan black belt at 19, September 2002. I was thrilled to get it as up until about six months before that I was waiting for myself to get bored with it, but never did. I was in university at the time but in the next few years I hit the wall everyone does at some point and came very very close to quitting for good, after missing about 5 months of lessons. I got the urge to go back but still found it difficult to motivate myself. By the time I left uni in 2004 I was enjoying karate again and was proud of myself for not giving up totally. I still couldn't make lessons though, because I'd quit my job in December, then didn't get any work all summer, so it wasn't until late 2004 I could think of going back again, because I had a job with a temp agency. Then the problem became getting to classes but I had the determination again. I even took part in another club competition, coming runner up in kata again, I also took part in the Scottish championship twice but never got past the first round. I have been remembered by Roy Stanhope as being helpful, though because I help out with the paperwork and timekeeping, I have more fun and a really good view of the sparring! Finally in July 2005 I got a full time job so could really concentrate in getting back to classes. By this time I'd been a 1st Dan for two years but was pretty darned awful and I was never the best in my group anyway. I'd started to enjoy karate again though and have kept a fairly regular attendance ever since. Now in 2007 I'm looking forward to helping with the Scottish Championships in September. and after after 5 years as a 1st Dan i attain my 2nd Dan on the 2nd September, a day i will never forget.

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  Kevin Crighton   

In 1994, I began to think about getting fitter. I considered the usual options, running, swimming, etc, when a guy from work suggested that I should give karate a go. He (Jock) said I should go along and take a look and see what I thought. So on a late November night, I made my way to the town hall, where the Ippon Karate club held there classes. I wasn't sure what to expect, but taking a deep breath, entered the hall.
 
As I entered the hall, I was welcomed by Sensei John Anderson, who gave me a brief history of himself and the club, and he was more than happy for me to sit and watch that first night.
 
As I sat there watching, two things struck me. The first was that the club, as it still is, was very friendly, with everyone getting on well, and that although the classes were (and still are) hard work, there is a lot of humour too.
 
After watching that night, I decided that I would begin training next lesson. So it was that in December 1994, I became a member of the Ippon Karate and Self-Defence Club.
 
I passed my first grading in February 1995. What struck me that day was that watching the higher belts that day, I thought if I got to my blue-belt I'd be very happy!! Seeing some of the advanced Kata's had me convinced I'd never get higher than blue (5th Kyu). In hindsight, I should have never thought that. When I did my 4th Kyu grading, I suffered as I'd already convinced myself I wouldn't get any higher. As a result I hit what is known as the Wall. I think every student hits it at some point in their training. For me, as I think it is for most, the important thing is to keep training hard and pushing yourself. Not only will it help you smash through the wall, but will keep you focused both in training and in your own life.
 
Over the years of training I am fortunate to have had some success in my karate. I managed to get my 1st Dan in March 1999, my 2nd Dan March 2002 and my 3rd Dan December 2005. I also successfully passed my Coaching Level One in March 1998, and reached the coaching grade of Senior Instructor in November 2004.
 
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to compete in the Scottish Championships, and was part of the synchronised Kata champions from 2002-2004. I was also very proud to compete for Scotland in a Scotland v England Kata event in 1999.
 
I'd had chances to take part in various courses over the years, and the ones that I remember most are those by Roy Stanhope (1997), Terry Mather (1999) and Shiro Asano (2003). These classes were very informative and what was learned there has help through out the years.
 
Recently I've been doing as much teaching as training in classes, which I'm enjoying immensely. I hope that anything I'm passing onto the lower-graded students will both help them to improve their own karate, and in the future go beyond me, but also I hope that from them I'm spotting things that I may be doing wrong and not only help them correct it, but also correct my faults. This can only help keep the high standards the club has had in the past and will do in the future.
 
I'm very grateful to Sensei John Anderson for allowing me the honour to train with his club through-out these past 13 years.
 

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     Keith Faloon

  Gillian Harper

Gillian Harper is not only an inspiration to all members of the Ippon club, but to all the ladies out there who say “I cant do that”, Gillian started training with Sensei Anderson in January 2002 and by attending regularly she attained her first dan on the 4th Dec.2005 and then went on to gain her seconded dan on the 2nd Sep. 2007.
Not content at receiving the dan grades she also went for and successfully passed her coaching exams level 1 on the 18th July 2004 & level 2 on the 27th May 2006 .
In 2006 Ukasko held the Scottish Championships at Blairgowrie and yet again she lifted the club by Winning Gold in ladies Kata and in Sparring, she also represented us in the team kata.
She has also had one more title given to her by our Sensei on Wednesday the 2nd April that of having the smallest waist among all the higher grades, I personally think I should have won that but I am not bitter just happy for Gillian.
In Gillian’s own words she says “learning Shotokan Karate has been an experience from day one and at times it’s been very challenging but the rewards are amazing”

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   PHILLIP McKENNA

    David Sanderson     

  Debbie Mackie

  Allan Logan 

I began training in early 2000 with sensei Anderson and gained my 9th kyu grade on the 4.6.00. There has been gaps in my training between 2001-2003 and 2003-2006, but since 2006 I have gained 1st kyu, my level one coaching exam and on 2.9.07. I achieved my 1st Dan.
During my training I took part in club competition in Nov. 2000/2001, also I attended the Scottish Championships in April 2003 to which I received silver medal for the five man team kumtie.
During July 2003 I attended a course held by Sensei Shiro Asano. More recently I attended the 2007 Scottish Championships to which I received a bronze for individual kumite and silver for team kata.
I view my future development of karate, as being one were I further extend and refine my skills, knowledge and understanding of the art with a hope I can pass this experience on.

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   Kevin Walker

I first started martial arts in 1974 the style Sankukai was a relatively new style to Britain, it was under the leadership of Sensei Nanbu.
My instructor was Sensei Mick McCabe, training was held in Edinburgh, I managed to attain 2nd Blue Belt when I found another interest, her name was Lesley so needless to say martial arts was not my priority anymore, after a break of some five years I got back to Sankukai, this time at Livingston but unfortunately the club never survived, so that was the end of my karate day’s for some time until in 2005 I got the chance to go to the Scottish UKASKO championships in Blairgowrie, this was the turning point for me, I started with the Ippon Karate & Self Defence Club the next week.
High points for me have been getting 1st in kata & 2nd in Kumite at the UKASKO Scottish Championship 2006, Certificate of Achievement 2006, and My Level One Coaching Certificate 2007, 1st in Kata & 3rd in Kumite at the 2008 Scottish UKASKO Championship,2008 gained my level two coaching certificate.
I have trained for the majority of my time at the club three times a week & having now attained my Biggest prize 1st Dan, I am so glad I put in all the effort & time I did, I now look forward to going for my 2nd Dan in two years time and to help as many Karate-ka as I can on the road to success in Ippon Karate.

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  Ceri Phipps

  Claire Phipps

   Graeme Carcary 

  Martin Coutts

  Luke Phipps