Carmarthenshire Karate - About Us: Instructors

INSTRUCTORS

There is no legislation covering the practice of karate; it is possible for anyone to claim a teaching qualification and instruct newcomers. Nevertheless, all of our instructors are registered with the Welsh Karate Governing Body, holding current instructor qualifications and having undergone strict competence and suitability checks. It should never be forgotten that, whilst the study of karate conducted by a competent instructor is beneficial and rewarding, the martial arts themselves are dangerous when taught by incompetent coaches to unsuitable students.

Unlike some organisations, Carmarthenshire Karate is purely voluntary with funds used only to cover hall hire, equipment and insurance; the instructors and assistants give their time and effort without pay.

Chief Instructor Profile: Sensei Mair Phillips [4th Dan]
WKGB Qualified Coach
European Kumite Judge, British Kata Judge
WHKK Child Welfare Officer

When I first took up karate many years ago it was the best thing I could have possibly done, as I was always pushing myself to do better at anything that came my way. Karate is challenging to say the very least and I just knew that this was for me. That thought didn’t falter as I worked my utmost towards my 1st Dan grade. It took eight years of very hard work to achieve this and I loved every minute. I was brought up to believe that I could achieve anything I put my mind to, as long as I tried hard enough; effort and hard work has never been a problem to me and so success followed.

When I walked into Narberth dojo for my very first training with Shihan Keith Mumberson I was hooked. Keith’s drive and inspiration also inspired me to work hard and become dedicated to karate; to this day, the ten years I trained with Keith remain the most special of my whole karate career and I will never forget them. When Keith became very ill he called a few of his Dan grades to his home, sat us around his dinning room table and asked us to look after his life’s work. I, along with the others, made a promise then that we continue to honour it to this day.

Suzy Soravia and I took over the running of his Carmarthen club, while others took over the other clubs. I had been helping out in club and teaching in the children’s groups, under Keith and Barbara’s supervision, since I was a 4th kyu (purple belt) but nothing could have prepared me for the shock of losing our leader and having to step up to keep it all together. By digging deep and drawing from all Keith and Barbara had taught us, our club continued to succeed. We travelled all over the country to continue our own training and expand our own knowledge which we could later bring back to our own club. Success continued and a second club seemed the natural next step, so St. Clears club was born in the year 2000. It has become a solid club in its own right and compliments Carmarthen club very well, offering a second training evening for our progressive students.

Having run a business with my husband for over thirty years, I am a firm believer that "if you stand still you go backwards,” so I continue to strive forward in karate. Six years after opening St.Clears, I decided it was time to start up my third club in Laugharne, which is also standing up and becoming a solid club. I’ve gathered the three clubs under ”Carmarthenshire Karate” which belongs to WHKK (Welsh Higashi Karate Kai) and our chief instructor is Shihan Barbara Mumberson. I often draw from Barbara’s experience and leadership and act under her instruction and guidance at all times.

I spend four evenings a week teaching and I also find time to regularly train with other instructors, which I enjoy very much. Nevertheless, the biggest reward of all is to see the confidence gained by young, shy students when they work hard and achieve some of the skills karate can bring. Then to see some of them progress to become senior students in the club and climb the ladder of success gives me tremendous pride. During this time, I have also been training as a National Official and have qualified as an ‘A’ Referee, which takes up a fair bit of our weekends all over the U.K. This work has been invaluable to the progress made by our competition squad and we intend to do better and better in this field. The future is what we make it and I will continue to do the best I can in all that I try to achieve.