Black Belt Graduates

- Former Member of National Higashi Kata A Squad
- 2004 WKC World Champion
- 2005 Carlow National & International Gold Medalist
- Other Styles Shotokan Karate 1st Kyu

Ayushi started learning Shotokan Karate at the age of eight in 1997. Upon achieving her 1st Kyu Brown Belt, she decided to switch to Wado Ryu Karate to add a different flavour to her training. She finds that her new style imposes its own challenges to her mental and physical abilities and helps improve patience and concentration.

In the July 2004 kata course in Forest Gate, Ayushi was promoted to the Kata A Squad and went on to represent Higashi all around the world. In 2005 she was awarded her Karate Black Belt.

Ayushi competed in the 2004 WKC Juniors & Children's World Cup held in Germany. This prestigious event was attended by well over 1,400 competitors from 42 federations from a total of 36 countries and of 5 different styles. Ayushi did herself and her instructors proud by winning the gold and becoming WKC World Kata Champion for her grade category.

In 2005, Ayushi was called upon to represent Higashi again at the Carlow National & International Championships held in Ireland. Ayushi again won the gold to retain her world championship crown.

Ayushi is now studying for her undergraduate degree at Cambridge University, no doubt beneffiting from the discipline and high achievement she has found in Karate.

- Other styles: Kickboxing 1st Dan, Jiu-Jitsu 7th Kyu

Chris was the first graduate of Sensei John Hurley’s Black Belt Course in 2001.

On achieving his Black Belt, Chris used his skills to teach karate to other students. He took a break from Martial Arts to start a family and has now not only taken up Kickboxing but has been awarded his Black Belt in that as well!

- Former Member of National Higashi Kata A Squad

James was awarded his Black Belt in 2006 at the age of 15. He has used his skills to teach other students karate, teaching class sizes of up to 30 people and children from the age of 6.

This has increased his confidence in presenting to an audience, teaching and communicating as he commands the class with ease.

He was also picked for his Federation's National Kata Squad, and was appointed by Sensei Peter Spanton (8th Dan).

Hiroko was awarded her Black Belt at the age of 49. She embarked on John Hurley’s course to concentrate on something positive as she went through an unpleasant divorce. Getting her Black Belt has given Hiroko her independence and confidence. As she says herself “nobody can push me around anymore!”

- Other Styles: Judo 5th Kyu

Jeff started his martial art career in 1987 training in Judo where he achieved a green belt and came second in the England championships in 1989. He spent 4 years training in Judo and gained a good understanding of ground fighting.

He trained in Win Chun Kung Fung for a brief period in the mid 90's before a chance meeting in 1999 with Sensei John Hurley led hin to start training in early 2000 in Wadu Ryu. After only a few months training he had found that Wado Ryu was an all encompassing style that encouraged people from different martial arts back-grounds to attend. Jeff found that the style of Wado Ryu, suited him and his previous martial arts experience and has never looked back.

Jeff has won several trophies in the Higashi championships over the years, for both kumite (fighting) and kata, and was awarded his 1st Dan in 2007. He has had the good fortune to attend numerous courses under Sensei Peter Spanton (8th Dan) both before and after his Black Belt grading and is currently preparing for his 2nd Dan.