Anfield Sports Centre off Lower Breck Road, Liverpool played host to nine times world Karate Champion Dr Wayne Otto OBE last weekend.
This was the first international Kobukan Seminar organised by World Kobukan Federation (WKF) President, Sensei (translates a teacher) Harris Jonas from Toxteth, a Shotokan 7th Dan. Wayne is a 5th Dan in Uechi-Ryu Karate.
He gave lessons to youngsters aged 5 - 13 and then a senior class to 14 years and up. Trainees were welcomed by Wayne, and a special guest appearance by Liverpool's triple world boxing champion Natasha Jonas.
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Wayne told the ECHO: "A friend of mine came to school with a really big trophy. I wanted it, I was jealous as hell with it. I asked him to take me to his karate club and he did.
"Me thinking if he could get one, I could get one. It wasn't as simple as that, I had to work really hard, that's how I got into Karate."
Wayne won his nine titles during the late 1980s to early 90s. He is a former British squad coach and is now the coach for the Norwegian team.
Wayne added: "I've had great success with my career, but even though it's been really successful there have been a lot of people who have also been involved in making sure I got to this stage. If it wasn't for my trainer, Terry Daly, I probably would not still be doing Karate.
"I grew up with a poor background and could not afford to do Karate. I told my instructor I have to quit because I can't afford it. He said to me, "Don't worry about the money, just come and train. Pay me when you can.
"He's still my instructor to this day. I was 14-years-old and from that moment I trained and worked hard and managed to do well".
Harris said: "I was on the British All Stars Squad with Wayne in the 1980s. I have brought him in for our first international seminar. We will be holding another one later in the year and hope to hold at least three a year.
"You have your own association. I come from Bushido WKF which was my former teacher, Master Ronnie Colwell's.
Training partner to Harris at his Bushido school, Brian Benthan, a 7th Dan in Shotokan with 46 years training added: "Sensei Harris asked me to come on board to help run the WKF after Sensei Colwell's passing.
"I operate from a club in Wigan and I come over to Lverpool as often as I can. We have known each other for quite a long while through meeting through Sensei Colwell and have become firm friends and now colleagues. I've just been awarded by 7th dan, this afternoon".
Alan Hughes who runs a martial arts school in Southport said: "It was brilliant. You're learning different things and I've been doing training for 40 years now and I’m learning something different today. A different way of doing techniques.
"You might go to loads of courses and pick nothing up and then every now and again you pick just one thing and you add that to your arsenal".
For information visit Harris Jonas on Instagram @Liverpool_Bushido HERE
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