Niall Christie
I joined this dojo six months ago on the recommendation of a friend, in the process returning to karate after *mumble* decades away. I immediately felt welcomed and made a part of the community, and have continued to feel that warmth and kindness as my time with Sensei Lucas and my fellow students has passed. The style of training at this dojo has also proven to be exceptionally enjoyable. While primarily karate-focussed, we have also incorporated elements of tai chi, aikido, judo, and this summer we have also been training in a nearby park, working on kobudo (weapons training) with bokken (wooden swords) and bo (quarter)staves. This variety is one of the appeals of the classes, along with a valuable emphasis on practical application/self-defence. For a middle-aged gent like me, the training has also helped to maintain the strength and flexibility of my body, and is helping to counter the increasing stiffness that comes with age. Sensei Lucas is himself an outstanding teacher: knowledgeable, compassionate, patient, good-humoured, and also keen to help his students to achieve their best. There are certainly times when I feel like I have been thrown in at the deep end, getting lost in particularly complex katas or exercises, but have never felt judged or denigrated for it. It is, after all, only by jumping into the deep water that one learns to swim! Other students in the class have also been excellent teachers, and I have been very grateful for their patience and kindness. Highest recommendation!
