Instructors
Eric Krappinger | Ken Harrison | Michael Alford | Yvette Holyoake | John Grantham
John Grantham
John began his Martial Art training at Grimsby Judo Club 1974 - 1977, he won Bronze in 1977 at Espoirs Judo Under 21 National Tournament.
John also began training in Shotokan Karate in 1975 for a period of 6 months, but he preferred Judo more at that time.
He started Karate training proper with Yoshi Shinohara at Leyton in September 1987 and trained regularly with BWKS until 1998 when he joined the ELWK.
1st Dan - July 1993 summer camp with Yoshi (BWKS) Shinohara
2nd Dan - February 2001 with ELWK
3rd Dan - June 2005 with ELWK
John attended 7 summer camps with the BWKS throughout the years.He fondly remembers that he got to first know Eric at these camps where hard training & long Karate discussions bonded the two vetrans. It was at these camps that he also got to know & train alongside Peter, Mike & Ken. John also admits that 'Eric definately helped with his spiritual awareness'.
John took part in many Competitions over the years - both as Competitor & as the First Aider at these events - as many of the old hands will remember.There was a funny story where John was fighting a guy & some minutes later he was treating the guy for a split lip, John said 'It took him a minute to realise why I looked so familiar ?'
He has also run a couple of half - Marathons for Charity at Southend in 1998 & recently in early June 2006 during that very hot spell, where many runners had collapsed due to the extreme heat ( John did complete the course ).
As a member of St. John Ambulance 1981 - 1997, he attended many events as First Aid/Ambulance Aid Instructor - during the Ambulance strikes, Notting Hill carnival, New Years Eve (Trafalgar Square), Wimbledon, Competitions of various kinds, Royal events, Handicapped transport to clubs etc.
John will be opening up a Karate Club very soon in the Leytonstone area, all enquiries to him through the contacts page please for now and he will get staright back to you.
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