About Ormskirk
Dojo:
Written by Sandra
Brookfield, Instructor, EGKA Ormskirk Dojo
Instructor History:
I first started training in September 1993,
I saw an advert offering fitness with self defence at The
Southport Miyagi Karate School, The classes
were instructed by two of the Nidan students of Sensei Peter
Mc Dowell and Sensei Garth Graham. Training was on a Tuesday
and a Friday evenings and over the months proved to be inspiring
as well as muscularly painful after many years as a couch
potato.
It took some time to get to the point in
December 2000 (this was due to us having difficulty finding
a permanent home for our Karate School) however all the
remaining students persevered under the instruction of Sensei
Guy Keen when my partner Sensei John Birch and
I were extremely proud to be awarded our Black Belts, after
a 5 and a half hour gruelling Grading.
We were fortunate to be asked to affiliate
to the EGKA in 2003, and this has opened up a whole new
range of martial arts possibilities for our club and has
enabled us all from SMKS
to get involved in some really enjoyable and demanding events.
The trip to Okinawa to train with Sensei
Higaonna being the best so far, followed by
Sensei Nakamura's visit to Liverpool, another
opportunity to train with a superlative Goju Ryu Practitioner.
We are looking forward to this year's trip to Spain Gasshuku
and also The Chojun Miyagi Festival 2006
IOGKF World Championships in Niagara Falls Canada.
EGKA Ormskirk Dojo Opened in September
2004 and I have 20 students at the moment. Class times are
Tuesday 5-15 to 6-30 and Saturday Morning 10-15 to 12-00.
I would highly recommend Karate to anyone, According to
one parent I am something of a rare thing a Lady Sensei,
at the moment I have 3 girls training and would welcome
more, as well as the boys of course.
My son Jordan who is now 13 has just reached
his Brown Belt 3rd Kyu and has already picked his spot on
our Dojo wall for his Black Belt Certificate! My partner
John was very pleased when he announced this as he believed
it demonstrated Jordan's desire to continue in the art of
Goju Ryu karate, something he enjoys immensely.
Training once a week at Sensei
Roy Flatt's Dojo is something we all enjoy
as a family.
As a final word Karate has inspired me to
enter National body building competitions, something I had
always wanted to try, I have some great trophy's from two
competitions. Karate gave me the confidence and mental attitude
to train for these events.
