IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO COME BACK!

I started Wado aged 12 at a club in Top Valley, Nottingham under the
instruction of Mick Brough Sensei 3rd Dan. After three and a half
years, numerous competitions in Manchester, Birmingham and
Nottingham I achieved the grade of 1st Kyu. I was training up to
four times a week and was quite close to grading for Shodan. At the
age of sixteen I decided I would join the Royal Navy and after a
lighting six months from walking through the careers office door I
was on a train to Plymouth to join HMS Raleigh, the Navy's new entry
training establishment. I would return home when I could but karate
was not a priority on a three-day weekend at home. I lost touch with
all my Karate-Ka and the opportunity to grade for Shodan slipped
away.

Whilst on active duty during the Iraq War 2003, I received an email
from my wife to say that my son Zach had started Tae-Kwon-Do
training and was really enjoying it. When I returned from Iraq one
of my first priorities was to get to know the family again and what
had changed in our lives for the nine months I'd been away, so I
accompanied Zach to the Dojam, and watched with great interest. Five
minutes in to session all my memories of karate came flooding back,
and I had an almost uncontrollable urge to get up and join in. I
managed to compose myself, sit, watch and offer what guidance and
support I could to Zach, however the burning desire to return to
karate was very much alive.

In 2005 I had left my ship and was looking forward to some well-
earned time at home. I had been looking around the bazaars in
Plymouth for clubs that I might be interested in joining, Tae-Kwon-
Do and Shoto-Kan were the big guns, and although I was very keen to
start training again, I just did not have the enthusiasm to start a
new style. At this stage I'd resigned to the fact that it was a nice
idea to think about returning to Karate but it probably wouldn't
happen.

On a lovely afternoon last summer my wife returned home from a
shopping trip and asked what style of karate I had trained in as a
youngster, I told her and she looked very pleased with herself as
she announced that whilst out, a flyer in the back of a white
Vauxhall Caviler had caught her eye, so she took the details (name
and number – very detailed) and handed them to me. After ten minutes
I was on the phone calling a bloke called Gary Swift. We had an
interesting chat and set a meeting for the next training session.
The one big question on my mind was, after eighteen years away,
would I have to start from 10th Kyu? This question was answered in
full by Mr. Swift, "you achieved the grade of 1st Kyu, and our
policy is to honor that grade and respect the grade your previous
instructor assessed you to." I was over the moon but at the same
time very apprehensive. I watched the training session and was
impressed with Swift Sensei's club and training methods. The next
day I was down to the wholesalers kitting myself out with a new Gi.

On the Wednesday evening Swift Sensei had given me a bundle of paper
work to look through, on Thursday I found the time to look through
it. My jaw nearly hit the ground! Gary Swift 7th Dan Kyoshi. The
little details the wife had forgot to jot down when she read the
Flyer that was in the back of that White Caviler! The following
Wednesday I attended my first training session in 18 years. The
highest black belt I had met before this was Roy Stanhope Sensei 6th
Dan, of U.K.A.S.K.O. and that was only when he came to Nottingham to
grade us. The session was daunting but very enjoyable; I put
everything in to it and could not walk properly for three days after.

At this stage Zach was still training at Tae-Kwon-Do, and had
achieved the grade of 6h Kup. I had always wished that he could
train with me but because he had done so well where he was I did not
want to baffle him, however Swift Sensei gave me advice on the
situation and gave Zach the opportunity to transfer over to Wado at
the grade he was. I thought that a seven year old would be totally
blown away with it all but with Sensei's help and guidance, and
Zach's enthusiasm he made the transition with ease and passed 3rd
Kyu after nine months of intense training.

22 March 2006, Yudan grading day. Eighteen years as a 1st Kyu you'd
think I'd be mentally ready for it! Two weeks prior to the grading I
was fine, then the nerves started to set in and on the day of the
grade I felt physically sick. My now good friends and training
buddies (Chucky 6th Dan – Renshi, Zoë 3rd Dan – Tashi, Mark and Nick
1st Dan and training partner, Big Gerald and Adel) all turned up to
offer there support, best wishes and take their part in my grading.
I don't remember too much about the grading but I can remember the
feeling of relief on completion, it would still be another week
before I received the results and this gave me time to reflect on my
achievements in the nine months upon my return to Wado-Ryu Karate.
I always felt there was something missing from life since I joined
the Navy. I let Karate slip away from me too easily and should have
tried harder to stay with it. Anyone who has been away for a while
and is thinking of getting out the old Gi and giving it a go, should
go for it. Yes it probably will be difficult at first but the help
and guidance of your Sensei and other Karate-Ka around you will make
it stress free and above all enjoyable. I have found I am more
relaxed, made some great friends and at peace with myself. The week
after, I was awarded the grade of Shodan; this was a very proud
moment for Zach, my family and me. My youngest, Grace will be
starting soon and there's even a chance I might be able to get the
missus in Gi!

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Senz for
having faith and giving me the chance to return to Wado-Ryu Karate-
Do and AIWa. Thank you.

Richard (Joe) Jordan 1st Dan.