My dad used to be a boxer when he was in his late teens and early 20s. He didn’t
box professionally, but he had some success as an amateur. I suppose I take after
him in this respect, because when I was 15 I took up karate.
I took to it immediately, and I was soon attending lessons 3 or 4 times a week
and going on intensive training courses in the summer.
It took up all of my free time and when I wasn’t in school I was sparing with
friends at the park or in my back garden or training at the local karate club.
The club was run by two twin brothers and because club membership had grown
so quickly, they decided to take on a new instructor.
I had just got my black belt, so I applied for the position and I was thrilled when
they took me on. Within two years I had taken over from the brothers on Mondays
and Wednesdays and on these days I was running the club myself.