Chris Hogg

Bio

• Training Since: 1994
• Grade: Yondan

Chris has trained with Tring Shotokan Karate since it’s inception in 1994 and is now one of the senior instructors. While never really being interested in competitive sports while in school, there was something about Karate that challenged and kept him interested. Through the years other sports and hobbies have always taken a backseat to karate.

Earning his Shodan in 1999 and Nidan in 2001 under the association TASK, after this the club decided to break away and to join Shotokan Karate England. Chris successfully graded for Sandan in 2007.

Chris successfully graded to Yondan with Shotokan Karate England in October of 2017

Thoughts on karate

Karate is like boiling water, if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.

 

James Wheeler

Bio

• Grade – Sandan
• Training Since – 1978

James is originally from Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire and was first introduced to Shotokan Karate in 1978 at age 8 when, disinterested with mainstream sports like football and cricket, he persuaded his father to enrol him with the Karate-Do Shotokai (KDS) where he practiced for four years and was graded by the renowned Mitusuke Harada, a member of the original group that trained under Gichin Funakoshi.

James drifted away from karate during his secondary education but was drawn back whilst at college, joining the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) and was graded to 1st Kyu in 1991 by Bob Poynton.

After a number of work relocations that interrupted his regular training, he settled with his young family in Tring in 2001 and returned to practice with the Shotokan Karate England (SKE) shortly afterwards. He was awarded his current grade, 3rd Dan, in 2012 by Rod Butler

Thoughts on Karate

The attainment of grades should be unhurried; the journey is more important than the destination – because the more we learn, the more we realise how little we know.

Andrew Herbert

Bio

• ​Grade: Sandan
• Training since 1978

Andrew first became interested in martial arts in the mid 70s learning judo but then joining a karate club in 1978 training in Shukokai Karate in Bradford where he achieved 5th Kyu. He then changed to Shotokan Karate training regularly at two clubs in Manchester. However, after moving to London work commitments made it difficult to train regularly and it wasn’t until his son was old enough to join Tring Shotokan Karate club that he returned to the art. Both of Andrew’s children, Joshua and Samantha also train regularly at the club.

Thoughts on karate

 Karate is a journey with the enjoyment coming from the journey and not the destination.

 

Len Keen

Bio

• Training Since: 1983 (With breaks)
• Grade: Nidan

Len started training in the early 80’s with the Asakiri Karate Club in Hayes under Sensei Roy Mushens, achieving 2nd kyu. Work and family commitments then meant a break from regular training and over the following years he trained with a couple of different instructors in a less formal environment.

Len joined Tring Shotokan Karate in 2009 following a move to the area with his work, initially taking his son along to introduce him to the art but his daughter now trains on a regular basis.
Len has recently passed his Instructor course within SKE and is currently working toward his Nidan grade.

“Spirit first, technique second.” – Gichin Funakoshi