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3rd Dan
Wayne began Karate at the age of 13 back in 1984 because he was being bullied at school and decided it was time he did something about it. The films 'The karate Kid' helped him on his path "I’m ashamed to say now" says Wayne. He has been training in Karate ever since. Wayne achieved his 1st Dan back in 1991, his 2nd Dan in March 1996 and then his 3rd Dan in June 2009. Wayne's first Instructor was David Afan-Jones who was not only an Instructor but also a good Mentor in Wayne's early Karate career and owes him a lot even if Wayne never showed it at the time, to which one day Wayne still hopes he will be able to tell him. Some of his greatest achievements have been representing his association at too many competitions to mention (His trophy cabinet is a testament to his fighting ability). Another highlight of his Karate career to date was becoming a Black Belt and then a Club Instructor. Wayne has also enjoyed training with the likes of Benny 'The Jet' Urguidez and Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace was a big plus. Wayne still enjoys seeing the students he teaches blossom as martial artists and watching them gain their confidence as they go up their grades, and also for the friends he has made along the way. Wayne says "Karate has changed totally from when he started training. As Instructors, we would be arrested if we repeated the training that we once received when we ourselves were learning, Which in my opinion is not a good thing really. I learned with the best, with the main thing I learned was discipline and respect which I think in some students (not all) is seriously lacking. I also think that karate is an art you should enjoy with no restrictions and people’s circumstances should always be taken into account, no-one should be forced to train or grade against their will." Over the years Wayne has made good friends and all of them have been very good Karateka the likes of Percy Brown, Paul Bridge, Daryl & Chris john, Owen Cranfield, Dai Jitsu, Colin Medway, etc Wayne says "I will miss them a lot and a couple of people I won't. I have been honoured to have been trained by the likes of Ritchie Noblett, Roberto 'Swede' Mastrangeli, Dai Afan-Jones, Andy Morgan and Cedric Wellington over the years". Wayne's life has had many highs, but also as many lows, most happening within the last ten years, which has hampered his karate career no end causing an abrupt end to his fighting days and affecting his training schedule. Wayne has known Bungie since he started karate in 1984 but he was one of the 'Big Boys' in karate at that time (if 'Big Boy' is apt for 'Bungie') so Wayne didn’t get to know him until he worked with his brother, and then introduced himself to him (he wont remember this but he didn’t have a clue the first time we met outside of karate who I was). Bungie's enthusiasm for karate is infectious and he gives a 100 percent commitment to it all, be it in karate or kickboxing. If you saw how hard he worked in his professional life, you’d wonder where he got the time machine from to fit it all in. It was with a heavy heart that Wayne left his last association but he believes in loyalty and respect which Wayne says "Bungie has always shown loyalty and respect towards me, and has always stuck by my side even when others wanted to have me removed. He is a true friend inside and outside the dojo and surrounds himself with the same type of people. So I consider myself lucky to be a part of the Budokan Wales." Wayne runs the former Swansea Valley Karate Club at Ystradgynlais. The club itself has been running over twenty five years beginning in early eighties. Wayne has now given his club a face lift and new name. The club is now called "Koketsu Karate Club" (meaning 'Tiger Den') |
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Introduction
