I too am suprised I haven't got a classful!!!!, I tend to vet the younger lads coming in with an extreme warm up which the regulars have become acustomed to (note, I do all the warm up exercises with them). I had one lad who said he's got to go 1/2 way through the lesson. If they stay and attend the next I know they're serious.

I may have had a class 3 times the size by now if it was for my 1st lesson warm ups lol

Osu

Where and what do you teach? I started training at 17 in London after I moved South so I did not train much in Manchester, except on occasional trips back when I trained in Shotokan in a place in Didsbury with someone called Jim Lakeson (I think connected with the Red Circle as opposed to the Liverpool Red Triangle) and in Altrincham with a Shukokai (Shito Ryu) group, instructor's name long forgotten. This was in the mid-80's so a good way back...

B.

I know it's a bit off topic but my chief instructor is Eric Tomlinson (Manchester). Trained under Kimura, Stanhope & a couple of others. Do you know him?

Apologies for hijacking this thread for just this one time

I train and teach in Ashihara Karate (UK Organisation) predominately, and I also cross train in Wado Ryu (Seidokan).

My Ashihara Instructor is Barry Rutter who has trained in many styles including Shitoryu, Shotokan and Kyokushin. I am sure the instructors you mention my instructor will know them he has attended seminars with Eneoda Sensei and Suzuki Sensei amongst others.

I personally have heard of Shihan Stanhope, although I have not met his acquaintance

Again my Wado Ryu Instructors, Rob, Roy and Tony will have probably trained along side these KarateKa at seminars

It just shows how much of a small world it is on a Forum like this

Osu