Sempai Charles McKinley

*How long have you been doing Kyokushin?* 5 years come February 05 *What made you start?* Always wanted to try Kyokushin. I came from a Thai boxing background but I always rated Kyokushin as a real hard fighting style. In 1996 I broke my foot pretty badly whilst Thai boxing and didn't train for a few years due to being lazy. My fat gut made me want to get back training and get back in shape again so I asked Sempai Angela if she minded if I came with her to train at Docklands as she had been training there for a couple of years. I knew who Nick Da Costa was and reckoned if I was going to start this style I might as well train under one of the best. *When did you achieve your Shodan and how did you feel about it?* March 04. I felt pretty emotional as one of the last things my dad said to me before he passed away was to make sure I got my black belt. I still can't believe I've got a black belt. Tell us about some of the peaks/highlights of your training . . . The highlight must be when Shihan Nick asked me to represent Great Britain in an international knockdown tournament. I felt proud to be asked. Another highlight for me was winning my second British novice knockdown tournament. Every one wants to win in knockdown by putting their opponents down so they don't get back up. I had three fights that day and managed to knock all 3 opponents down so they couldn't get back up. All 3 were in quite a bit of pain. It might sound cruel but that felt good. . . . *and some of the worst parts too?* Me getting knocked down and not being able to get back up whilst fighting in the British Open last year. I didn't even know what day it was. My little brain was in orbit! *What is the funniest memory you have of Kyokushin?* During one summer camp when I was a green belt everyone was in the main hall going through basics as only Hanshi would make you do. As is the norm most of the brown belts and below where bungling their way through the moves hoping the instructors wouldn't notice how rubbish they were doing. All of a sudden Shihan Nick strolls past and without even looking at me he says out the corner of his mouth "get it together Charles, you look like a red belt". He didn't miss a step and proceeded up the dojo chuckling away to himself. Laugh? - I nearly we wet myself. *What is your advice to karateka just starting out or anyone thinking of taking up a martial art?* Anyone starting out should be patient and give the style they choose a chance. I feel a lot of beginners expect to be doing ushiro mawashi geris and all the Van Damme stuff right from the start and when they realise they have to learn the basics they get bored and leave. If they are patient and put the time in they'll get there, A bit like the tortoise and the hare! *What is the most important thing you have learnt from Kyokushin?* To keep your hands up (see third previous question). *What are you future ambitions in Kyokushin?* To spar with Sensei Maria without getting kicked in the chops. *What is your favourite fighting style and why?* Definitely knockdown. A far as I'm concerned the whole essence of a martial art is about fighting. The sole reason the arts were developed was for combat purposes. Of course there is so much more to an art other than fighting, but at the centre of everything we do, the reasons we do all the basics and katas is ultimately to make you a better combatant. If you never fight for real you'll never know how effective what you have learned is. Obviously we're not going to go to the street looking for real fights but being on the mat fighting knockdown is as close is it gets.