Andy Watson

 Hi I'm Sensei Andy Watson, Chief Instructor at Hinotori Shotokan Karate School. I have trained in Shotokan Karate since 1989. I first started as I had seen an advert in a local paper for a beginners class in Karate. So I took my first lesson and was hooked. The first lesson I went to on my own, but quickly made friends, one of those friends in that very first lesson ended up becoming my best man at my wedding!

From that first lesson I trained as much as I could and in 1994 I took my black belt (1st Dan), then in 1996 I graded to 2nd Dan. Due to family reasons I took a few years off, but returned when my son wanted to train and worked hard to achieve my 3rd Dan in 2007, then 4 years later (in 2011) I graded to 4th Dan which was awarded to me by Sensei Anne Hastings (6th Dan).

Since then I have continued to train and was a Senior Instructor at Samurai Karate School for over 10 years, until I decided to leave and set up my own Karate School.

I am DBS checked, I have passed the level 2 Senior Coaching Course, and completed the Safeguarding Children Training. I have also completed a First Aid Course.

 Hi I'm Sensei Andy Clarke, Assistant Instructor at Hinotori Shotokan Karate School. I have trained in Shotokan Karate since 1989, where I met Chief Instructor of Hinotori Karate, Sensei Andy Watson. I, like Andy, trained for approximately 8 years within the Shotokan Karate Association (SKA) under the Chief instructor and founder of the SKA Sensei G.A.J.Durrant 5th Dan, being awarded my 1st Dan in March 1994 and my 2nd Dan in March 1996.

I then stopped training for approximately 11 years  due to moving away from the local area and a knee injury. I restarted training in 2007 under Sensei Robin Reid and Sensei Martin Gadd in Werrington & Market Deeping under the Katsu Academy. Martin later went on to form the Deeping Shotokan Karate Club in 2008 which I joined as Senior Instructor. 

I eventually decided to train for my 3rd Dan, which I was successfully awarded in November 2013 under the Amateur Martial Association ( AMA) by Sensei Christine Pullan 7th Dan and  Sensei Peter Allen 6th Dan.
 

I am DBS checked and I have completed a level 3 First Aid Course.

And I was the Best Man!

I started Karate some 8 years ago at the age of 51, when I decided that I could not just sit and watch my two children have all the fun, so I joined in. I vividly remember Sensei Andy Watson persevering with teaching me the basics in those early months, a struggle that has continued through the years as the techniques get ever more complicated. In September 2021, all three of us took our Black Belt grading together and I could not be more proud of what we have achieved. We have trained together and competed together; there have been tears but a lot more laughs; we have made friends that are almost family; and our fitness and confidence has grown. I am honoured, as an instructor at Hinotori Karate School, an experienced teacher and sports coach in a number of disciplines, to begin to give something back by helping introduce others to the joys of Karate … no matter what your age!

Grace like her father Mark started her Karate journey at Samurai Karate School and when Sensei Andy left to form Hinotori Karate she followed with her father & brother on this new adventure! Grace achieved her Junior Black Belt in September 2021. Then in September 2022 she was successful in passing her Adult Black Belt. 

Grace was awarded the title of Sempai due to her knowledge and support since she has been part of Hinotori Karate School. She is a role model to all the junior students and a massive help in the class.