INSTRUCTOR

SENSEI BARRY

Q1: How long have you been training in martial arts and which ones have you done?

I have been doing martial arts for about 20 years now. I started of doing boxing and then Kung Fu, then one day a friend who used to do karate said come and give it a try, so I did and I just got hooked!

Q2: What made you start martial arts?

I had a bit of a temper when I was younger [because of something that happened] and they used to teach martial arts at school in the evenings. The teacher said to me that I should put all that angry energy to good use.  I then started my martial arts classes in after school clubs and turned the negative energy into a positive outlook.

 

Q3: Why did you become an Instructor / Sempai? (What made you want to or agree to when asked.)

I wanted to try out teaching and I liked it. I wanted to give back what I had learnt. This is something that’s in your heart and you’ve got to have the heart for it. I think it’s something that makes you a humble person. I have been teaching for so long now and I still enjoy it – even when I’ve got my walking stick, I’ll still be doing it!

Q4: What’s the best thing about being an Instructor / Sempai?

when you teach children and we have grading three times a year. When a student performs well and goes up in grading as an instructor, it gives me great motivation that a new student making progress.

Q5: What other experience do you have?

 I now enjoy teaching people to keep fit. I feel strongly about bullying and feel my experience helped me to mentor people in that situation, along with the martial art skills they learn at the club.

Q6: What do you do outside the dojo … what are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy communicating with people and helping them. I also enjoy keeping fit and teaching fitness.

Q7: Favourite technique:

Front kick- and takedowns.

Q8: Favourite food:

Chinese.

Q9: One interesting fact that people might not know about you:

I stepped in to save a young girl from a gang of boys once. I took a chance by how to do it. I like to keep people safe, that’s just me.

What else might surprise people is… My age!