The club was first formed in 1990 by Sensei Norma Robertson who set up a children’s karate club based in one of the wooden sheds at Dinton Pastures.
Here the club took shape with Sensei Norma Robertson and Sensei John Barnes regularly teaching a plethora of eager young children aged between 6 and 14 years old. The wooden teaching sheds soon became too small for the rapidly expanding group of about 20 students.
The decision was then taken to move the club to a larger hall half a mile down the road. The club stayed at St Mary’s hall for approximately one year before again having to move to a larger hall, which is now the club’s present site at Hurst Village Hall.
In 1992 an adult karate club was formed with many of the children’s parents being enlisted by Sensei Norma. The adults’ classes were mainly run by Sensei John Barnes whilst the children’s classes continued to be run by Sensei Norma, although each instructor still maintained an active roll in both classes.
During the many years that the club has been established it has enjoyed success at various tournaments and boasted a junior British champion in Leroy Hayward. For a while we also had the youngest black belt in the country: Daniel Hook obtained his 1st Dan grade in 1997 aged 11.
The club’s two sections continue to go from strength to strength and now have over 60 members from 6 years old through to 70.
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Hurst Goju Ryu Karate Club 