AKA Karate Black Belt Academy

The story so far:

Sensei Paul Banbury started his Karate training, under Sensei Graham Wilkes, at the age of 33 in Hastings old town. In his first year (1989) Sensei Cally Bothwell also started and they trained together for many years.

After about 2 years Sensei Bryan Dumbrell (who trained in Eastbourne) came to Hastings for some extra training and the three all trained together under instructor Richard Woolvern.

Sensei Paul passed his 1st Dan Black belt December 1993; on the same day Sensei Cally passed her 1st kyu.

A year later Sensei Richard formed his own organization (GDF) with Ski Algar a fellow instructor and Sensei Paul as a junior partner. Many other students also moved with these three instructors. Unfortunately this new organisation was not to last due mainly to poor management.

With the impending collapse of the GDF Sensei Paul was forced to start his own Karate academy having many students who relied on him for their tuition, so in late 1997 the AKA Karate Black Belt Academy was born.

Sensei Paul was now responsible for four classes in and around Hastings. Over the years a variety of church halls, community centres and schools have been used for training. In January 2005 Sensei Paul took out a lease on the Earl Street Dojo. After two months working 7 days a week and spending £11,000 the new Dojo was opened. All other AKA classes were moved to the new Hall.
 
For 2010 there are plans to open a further training venue in Bexhill, this will be run by Sensei Nikki Payne.

Hironori Ohtsuka

About our style of Karate You are probably aware that the martial arts have many forms but we bet you didn't know that the history of martial arts goes back at least 1,000 years. Karate, one of the martial arts, originated on the island of Okinawa (a little place between China and Japan). Whilst karate if one form of martial art there are also many forms of karate. The style you have expressed an interest in learning (you're reading this aren't you?!) is Wado-Ryu, founded by the legendary master Hironori Ohtsuka who trained until his death just before his 90th birthday. Wado-Ryu is one of the most popular, practised styles of karate in the world. As long as you are human, not too decrepit (i.e. can breathe and walk) and aged somewhere between 5 and 89 then you can do Wado-Ryu.

Who will be my Sensei? Unless you have done karate before or are swotting up for an appearance on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' you probably don't know what a 'Sensei' is; prepare to be enlightened! 'Sensei' is a fancy Japanese word for 'teacher'. The Sensei at the A.K.A. is Paul Banbury. Paul has been practising karate for 18 years and teaching for 12 years. During that time he has never had a student die on him or even be seriously injured - hence setting your mind at rest about possible safety issues! On a serious note, Paul and all of his instructors have been CRB checked, in accordance with Child Protection legislation.

Sensei Paul