Paul started training Karate in 1996 at LELA Shotokan Karate Club in Loughborough.  He trained twice a week and was eager to learn and improve techniques and attended many courses with Sensei’s Akita,  Kawasoe, Kanazawa, Matsuda and Aragani. He competed in the ASKA National Championships with some success. 1997 2nd  place Kata, 1998 2nd place Kata, 2nd place Kumite, 2nd place Team Kata. 1999 1st place Kata, 1st place Kumite, 2nd place Team Kumite. UKTKF Championships Blackpool 2001 2nd place Kumite, SKA Championships 2005-6 2nd place Kumite plus many 1st and 2nd places in the East Midlands championships. When LELA joined SKA it gave Paul a lot more opportunity to train with and learn from Sensei Shinji Akita. He graded 1st Dan in London with Sensei Akita and Sensei Matsuda in 2003.  He first trained with Sensei Kevin Lomax when he visited his club and was impressed with his knowledge, technique and power.  When Sensei Akita left to live and train in Germany, the opportunities within his club to train at that level were limited and so Paul chose to train with Sensei Kevin at his club in Ilkeston. He continues to train twice a week with Sensei Kevin and graded 2nd Dan with him in 2010. Paul is the Ilkeston Shotokan Karate Association Secretary and Licensing Officer and is also responsible for the design and updating of the associations websites.