Paul Herbert Sensei – 4th Dan
Former English, British and International Shotokan Karate Champion
Paul Herbert - is a direct and very proud student of the legendary chief instructor to the KUGB and JKA Europe - Keinosuke Enoeda Sensei. Paul has trained worldwide with many of the finest teachers in both traditional and sports Karate and is now developing his Karate-Do under another ‘Enoeda Protégé’, the highly respected and renowned Dave Hazard Sensei.
Competition - For over two decades, Paul Herbert competed all over the World representing England and Great Britain at no more than eighteen major international tournaments, amongst them were seven JKA European championships and the 2004 JKA World championship in Tokyo, Japan. With over two hundred competition medals to his name including international honours, Paul was also a JKA and KUGB National champion in both Individual Kata and Team Kumite respectively. A little known fact is that Paul was also a recognised ABA senior boxing champion.
Teaching - As an instructor, Paul has coached many of his own students to numerous grading and competition merits. These have included students achieving senior Dan grades, winning National championships and even gaining selection onto many of the leading association national squads where they have gone on to compete in European and World championships of their own.
Paul has also had the privilege and honour of having taught classes and taken squad training at Enoeda Sensei’s Marshall Street and Budokwai clubs. The Marshall Street dojo recognised at the time as not only the JKA European headquarters but also as a centre of World excellence. The historic Budokwai dojo is famously renowned as being the oldest Martial Arts club in Europe.
As the holder of nationally recognised instructor and assessor qualifications, Paul is regularly invited to teach for various associations and individual dojos all around the UK and throughout Europe. Paul has also been fortunate to teach Karate out in Africa and has recently been invited to visit Peru, South America.
Japan - To date, Paul has twice made the long journey over to Japan intentionally for Karate training and international competition. In 2000, he spent an extended period training daily at the old JKA Honbu in Ebisu-Nishi with many of the senior instructors.
His second visit to the land of the rising sun came in 2004 when he represented England at the 9th JKA Shoto World Cup at the famous Budokan arena. During this visit, Paul had the honour of training at the renowned Takushoku University with Sensei Tsuyama and also at the newer JKA honbu in Idabashi, Tokyo.
During his time practising Shotokan, Paul has trained with many of the Sensei from the Japanese ‘Golden Era’. Just a few of the names amongst them include Enoeda, Kanazawa, Abe, Yahara, Tanaka, Osaka, Ueki, Mori, Tsuyama and Tabata.
General – Over the years, Paul has appeared in numerous media publications including Traditional Karate Magazine, Combat magazine, Shotokan Karate Magazine, many local newspapers and even Boxing Monthly. In July 2006, Paul featured on the cover of the renowned ‘Traditional Karate’ when the magazine lead with a candid interview and article on him. Following on from this, Paul has also been the subject of numerous on-line Karate interviews.
Paul Herbert is currently the chief instructor and founder of the Dartford Shotokan Karate Centre located in Kent, south-east England and can be contacted for courses and general instruction through his dojo website - www.dartfordskc.co.uk
