BOB DAVIES (below) of Torbay Karate Club has just achieved 4th dan status - more than 40 years after receiving his first black belt.
Workload and the circumstances of life - with long journeys required to progress through the ranks - meant it was not until 1985 that Bob took his second degree exam. And it was another ten years before he took his third.
Nearly 20 years later, Bob has finally passed his fourth degree exam but, as he says, 'every journey begins with the first step'.
Bob started his journey back in the late 60s after 'crossing swords' with a formidable 6ft 3inch bouncer.
Bob decided he needed to toughen up with weightlifting and judo lessons before joining his first karate club in Plymouth.
Another bushido club started a little later, in Paignton, but was on the verge of closing 18 months later before Bob took it over and built it up.
Bob had four years experience behind him when entered and passed black belt examinations at Crystal Palace conducted by the chief instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain, Keinosuke Enoeda, a 6th degree black belt from Japan.
Some years later, during his third degree examination, in 1995, Bob received a cut to the head.
"I had to receive five stitches to the side of my head in order to continue and pass," he explained. "No anaesthetic was used, or needed, as my adrenaline levles were sky high," said Bob.
He described his latest 4th dan success as 'a very gruelling and tiring experience which has involved travelling to Bath and Chesterfield, leaving home at 5am and returning at midnight.'
Read more: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/year-journey-takes-Bob-4th-dan-black-belt/story-21323339-detail/story.html#ixzz36UMXRd98
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