INSTRUCTOR PROFILES
VISITING CLUB INSTRUCTOR & EXAMINER
Sensei Gary Harford - 7th Dan KUGB
Gary was born in Salford on 21st April 1960. He was 12 years old when he first began Karate training. His first club was KNK Karate Club, Ardwick, Manchester. He took his first kyu gradings under Sensei’s Andy Sherry and Bob Poynton; both of whom influenced his Karate immensely. Gary was graded to 1st Dan in 1976 under Sensei Enoeda.
His competition career started in local tournaments moving on to KUGB regional championships and in 1977 he was selected to fight for the KUGB British Karate Control Commission (BKCC) Championships where he came third in the Junior Kumite.
He was selected for the first KUGB Junior squad and was part of the squad, which competed at the 1980 European championships, held in Bregenz, Austria. Gary was part of the team that won 1st place in the junior team Kumite and Kata plus 1st place in the senior team Kata.
Whilst a member of the junior squad it was sensei Sherry’s sheer energy and determination had an enormous impact on him which enabled him to develop his strengths in and out of Karate. Even today, whilst training under sensei Sherry he still feels that very same energy which made him perform to the best of his ability.
Gary’s style focused on speed, timing and quality of technique, which was often displayed in his performances. He was also comfortable using both feet and hands to combat his opponents.
In the KUGB National championships Gary regularly came 3rd in the Kumite events and placed 2nd in the Kata. He has also won the KUGB Shotokan Cup competition on two separate occasions, once in Kata and once in Kumite.
Gary’s main competition highlight was being part of the team that beat Japan in the 1990 World Championships in Sunderland. Gary was a member of the team that for many years dominated Karate in Great Britain, Europe and the World.
Senior Club Instructor – Sensei Rob Taylor 2nd Dan.
I was born on the 23rd of January 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa to British parents. My first introduction to karate came when I was attending a South African school and was ten years old. A friend of mine was a 1st Kyu and he attended a very well known club with an excellent reputation in the Orange Grove district of Johannesburg.
This club was run by an 8th Dan by the name of Stan Schmidt. He was the highest-ranking non Japanese instructor within the JKA at that time. Sensei Stan Schmidt was a highly regarded friend of the late KUGB Chief Instructor, Sensei Enoeda. Sensei Schmidt visited the UK as a guest of Sensei Enoeda several times and regularly trained with him at his London dojo.
After watching my friend walking round the playing field at school punching and kicking and generally just showing off his new skills, I decided to find out more about karate. Shortly after I managed to find out that my Dad had actually done karate before and had reached a green belt. He also had a small collection of old karate books and magazines that he had saved. One of the dusty magazines was an old ‘Fighting Arts International’ magazine from the early 1970’s! My dad then went and bought me a cheap and cheerful suit and proceeded to show me some basic karate techniques (something that never happens now!) in the back garden.
Before I had chance to really pursue my karate interests my parents decided to return back to Great Britain and the lovely British weather. With all the political problems within South Africa and the trouble that was developing my parents decided to return to a cold, wet but much safer England. We eventually settled back in Leeds, West Yorkshire and moved to a place called Rothwell. Shortly afterwards I started at my new High School (Rodillian High School), aged 11.
A few years passed then one day when my Father was browsing through our local newspaper he saw an advert for his old karate club, which was based in the centre of Leeds. This club was run by Sensei Bob Rhodes who is a Senior Instructor and Examiner within the KUGB. He now holds the rank of 7th Dan. After my beginner’s course was finished I found that I was totally hooked. I started training in July 1988 at the age of fifteen. My Father also came along to train for some moral support and probably to re-live his youth. Little did we realise how hard the training would become. The club we had joined had an excellent reputation for producing some excellent kata and kumite competitors within the KUGB.
The really big influences in my karate training are Sensei’s Andy Sherry 8th Dan and Frank Brennan 6th Dan. Sensei Sherry is by far my most preferred instructor. His ability to be able to push more out of your training when you think you can’t give any more is amazing. Any less than 110% out of your training when he is stood in front of you is purely not good enough. Sensei Sherry always gets the best out of me. Sensei Frank Brennan is by far one of the most talented karate-ka that the KUGB have produced. His overall karate ability is totally inspiring, his outstanding ability to instruct, fight and perform karate techniques to such a high level does leave you wanting to achieve better things within your own training and teaching.
My future plans are to develop Rothwell Shotokan Karate Club into a success with my students gaining good grades in the future. My heart is in Karate and while ever I’m able to keep fit and injury free then I will keep training, competing and strive for higher grades for my students and myself.
ROB’S MAIN KARATE ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE ARE:
- 16th August 2001 – Gained Sho-dan.
- March 2002- 3rd Senior Male Kata at ‘North West Open’
- July 2002 – Selected for KUGB English Kata Squad.
- March 2004 – 2nd Senior Male Kata at ‘North West Open’
- April 2004 – Reached Semi-final (7th Place) at ‘KUGB National Championships’
- September 2004 – Reached Semi-finals (6th Place) at ‘ KUGB Shotokan Cup’
- 6th February 2005 – Gained Ni-dan.
- March 2006 – 1st Senior Male Kata at ‘North West Open Championships’
- April 2006 – 1st Black belt Kata at ‘TWC Course’
- September 2006 – Reached Semi-finals (5th Place) at ‘KUGB Shotokan Cup’
- October 2006 – 1st Senior Male Kata at ‘ All England Open Championshi
Assistant Club Instructor – Sensei Sharon Taylor 2nd Dan KUGB
I was born of the 10th of December 1974 in Pontefract, which is near Wakefield. I have spent most of my childhood in the region of Wakefield, South Elmsall and South Kirkby. While I was at school I had very little interest in sport, but I did find long distance running to my liking. I achieved good positions in my school for cross country running and was picked to run against other schools in various competitions.
My first introduction to karate came when I met my future husband (Rob) while out on a night out with friends in Wakefield. It wasn’t long after meeting him that I discovered how involved he was with karate and it was just a matter of time before I started training too. The karate training I found very physically challenging but also very rewarding. When I first started training Rob was already a first Kyu (brown belt) so naturally he helped me with all my gradings and he taught me all the katas that were required. I remember him once showing me my first kata on one of the platforms at Wakefield train station at around midnight! Heaven knows what some people would have thought if they had seen me.
SHARON’S MAIN KARATE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE:
- 26th August 2002 – Gained Sho-dan.
- 15th April 2003 – Gained KUGB Instructors Qualification.
- 9th June 2005 – Gained Ni-dan
Assistant Club Instructor – Sensei John Taylor 1st Dan KUGB
From a young age I have always had a keen interest in sports particularly Rugby, Weight lifting and Judo. I first started weight lifting upon leaving school and I used to train on a regular basis at a local club near Beeston, Leeds. I did achieve moderate success from weight lifting and received various awards from the Society of Amateur Weight Lifters Association.
Shortly afterwards I started to take a keen interest in combat sports and in particular Judo. I trained hard in my Judo training and after three years gained my Sho-dan (first degree black belt). My progress in Judo was cut short after entering a competition and injuring my knee and back.
My first introduction to karate came many years ago when I saw an advert for a club run by Sensei Bob Rhodes who back then was graded to 1st Dan. This was in 1976 and the KUGB only had a small membership but the KUGB had a reputation which was second to none. I began training twice per week and it wasn’t long before I was involved in the very hard and vigorous training that was conducted at Sensei Rhodes ‘Tempest Rd’ dojo. Some of Sensei Rhodes students of that time have now gone on to become very well known karate-ka themselves. After a long break in training due to emigrating to South Africa and working and living there for many years we finally moved back to Leeds, West Yorkshire.
It was at this time that my youngest son (Sensei Rob Taylor) was suffering with some very serious medical problems and was being bullied at school by other pupils. We thought that karate would be good for him so I tracked down my old club and we enrolled on the next beginner’s course. Little did we know the impact that karate would have on his life and it wasn’t long before he started training all the time and he seemed totally hooked. The things that he has achieved within his karate are really good to see. Karate has made such a difference to his life and you would not think he was the same person.
My current aims and goals within my karate training are to keep training as long as possible. Since Rob opened Rothwell SKC I have taught for him on many occasions. I find teaching a way of passing on your knowledge and a chance to give something back to the art of karate. I am also training hard in preparation for my 2nd Dan which I hope to be attempting soon. Injuries permitting!
JOHN’S MAIN KARATE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE:
- December 2003 – Gained Sho-dan.
- 21st May 2005 – Gained KUGB Instructors qualification