I have been training in the art of goju ryu karate since the age of Ten.  I joined Sensei James Rousseau's Dojo along with my two sisters, Penny and Susie in July 1978, at the time he was the Chief Instructor of England in our style. During those days, there were no childrens classes as such, so I was tought and graded along with the adults.  I was the youngest member of Sensei James' class.

One vivid memory from those early days, I would like to share with you is, during a regular training session Sensei James reported that we were to have two important visitors to our Dojo. I felt very nervous with anticipation as to who they could be.  During the lesson, I kept looking at the door and eventually in walked Sensei Higaonna, and Sensei Chinin. At the time I didn't realize just how important theses two great men were. I remember Sensei Chinin walking over to me and asking "do you know kata Gekisai Dai Ichi?", a bit taken aback, I replied "uz Sensei", to which he then said "let me look at it for you"  Nervously i went throught the Kata for him, and when I had finished, he said "Again please.", so i went through it again, following that he requested it yet again, so i faithfully went through it once more, each time gaining more composure and confidence.

I must have repeated the kata over twenty times for him, but at the time, it seemed more like a hundred!  It tought me a very important lesson right from the start, and that is that you have to practice over and over again to perfect all your techniques.

As i mentioned i was graded alongside the Adults, and after my very first grading i was awarded 8th Kyu, or a white belt with 2 black stripes.  My sisters were awarded Yellow belts.  Although i didn't achieve my yellow belt immediately, i felt happy and proud of myself to make the advancement i did. Even more exciting was receiving my certificate, printed with my name and new grade on it from Sensei James.

I always believe, from a Childs point of view, your very first grading will always capture your most vivid memories of Karate, and will stay in your mind for ever. Making that first step on the ladder makes you realise that all the efforts and perserverance are worth it, and to receive recognition from someone else who commands your respect like Sensei James does, magnifies the experience.

My mum and dad taught me about respect for others, and through my Karate, and the hard training and dedication at even that young age, I applied to it strengthend that virtue.  I had (and continue to have) so much respect for Sensei James, and through the Dojo made many good friends who became almost like extended family.

Karate also ensured I stayed away from smoking, drinking and many other bad influences which may affect your health.

We moved to Lincoln Hall in Bournemouth after some time, and trained at least twice a week for one and a half hours at a time.  Amoung the adults there was just myself and another young lad called Jonathan.  At this time, one of my sisters, Susie decided to stop going to Karate, by myself and Penny perservered, and we found that each day karate gave us something very special. It gave us "A way of life", (japanese "Do", and the most important statement included on every page of this site) and also taught us to try hard at everything we work for, and built a good moral character.

Soon Jonathan left the dojo.  This saddened me because now i was the only child left in the Dojo. But it also strengthened my resolve to continue, and my sister Penny was just great. She always looked after me, and so did the other members of the group. To all of them I was known as the baby of the club.

I remember once, that I was practising Kumite with Penny. Sensei James Rousseau asked us to change partners. Well to my great excitement Sensei James Rousseau said "Annie you come over here and be my partner". I can still remember this, to me, he looked about 10 feet tall. And although he was a big and powerful man, and an obvious master at his art, when he was practising Kumite with me he was very gentle but at the same time he made me work hard with my blocks.

Throughout my training with Sensei James, other children did come and go. And when we had new children join the dojo he would sometimes get me to help teach them their Jodan, Chudan and Gedan blocks, and also their basic stances and kicks. Little did I know at the time this would help me in the future for when I had a doju of my own.

Time went by so quickly and before I knew it I was as tall as my sister Penny. We often partnered up, but we also partnered other people, in particular, Sensei James ensured we did not shy away from partnering with the men in the Dojo, even for our kumite.  I felt this too was
important because it taught me that although a female may not be as strong as a male, if you are small you can become faster and this would help you if you were ever in a situation where defence was necessary. Also it taught me that if needed you could defend your self against a man by aiming to the vital points on his body. For a child or small person that would be the groin area. But sensi James always taught us that control was very very important.

One day Sensei James had to go back to south africa. We were all extremely sad. Sensei James didn't leave his students without arranging a new instructor for us.

Sensi Ernie Molineux took over and he was a very very good instructor, and as with all the great
sensei's i had and continue to have great respect for him.

In 1985, after Penny and I achieved our black belts we started teaching karate as well as still
training with Sensi Ernie Molineux.

I hold 5 black belts, one is a junior and four at senior grades. I got my Junior black belt when I was Sixteen. I took my ni dan at the Littledown Centre in Bournmouth with Sensei Higanonna.  It was electrifying to be in the presence of this great master, but to be actually graded by him, and your every move considered by him, and then finally to be awarded your grade by him made this an occasion which i will remember for the rest of my life.  I know i have said it before, but the rspect that this man commands i immense. Just meeting him when i was a little girl of ten was memorable but this time being graded by him, it was a great honour.

My sister Penny has done a lot of the family history for this site and I very proud to say she is a great instructor and a wonderful person and an inspiration to me. I have always looked up to her and I am very honoured to be sharing something as wonderful as Goju Ryu Karate with her.  Penny is not just very good at teaching karate, is also a very good person and a special friend.

I married Pete in 1991 and he has always been very supportive and encouraging in my karate and I am very grateful for that. We also have two little girls, Caroline in 1993, and Abigail in 1996. They are both lovely, kind and lively little girls. They both enjoy their karate.  And are doing well.

My own views on teaching karate.

As we know karate is all about respect, and I truly believe that you have to respect all students
and then they will respect you in return, also each and every student is important and each one
has a special quality.

Everyone is different and as an instructor you should get to know the differences from one person to another. One person might be good at kata and feel confident, but the same student might not feel so confident with their kicks. And as an instructor you always praise what your student feels confident with but also encourage them further in thoses areas in which they feel less confident.

I feel Karate is about feeling good about ones self. Help them to reach the point where they do start to feel more confident. It may take time and as an instructor you should always have time.

My own views on teaching children karate.

All of the above applies but also it is very important that each child enjoys their karate, I believe that if a child enjoys something than they will learn. Self defence is very important for children to learn and should be taught regulary. As an instructor you should never look down to a child and think you are above them,

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