In 1977 Dave joined the Mold karate club under the tuition of Vernon Davies 2nd Dan and continued to train until 1984 achieving the grade of 1st kyu.
All Dave’s kyu gradings were carried out by the late Sensei Frank Cope. Also, during this time, Dave had the privilege of training with the ‘boss’ Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda at special courses.
Sadly, Dave’s training ceased in 1984 due to a year long debilitating illness and later due to pressures of higher education studying.
Dave returned to training in 2010 at the age of 50 as there was always the regret in the back of his mind that he never took his Shodan grading. As there had been such a long interval, Dave was made to grade again from scratch with a non KUGB club, and achieved 1st kyu for a second time in October 2012.
In February 2013, Dave decided he wanted to be a KUGB member again in order to be able to train and benefit from the vast experience and knowledge of it’s senior instructors and joined Handbridge SKC under the tuition of Sensei Mike O’ Connor (then 6th Dan KUGB). Sensei O’ Connor was awarded 7th Dan in May 2018.
In April 2013, Dave achieved his Shodan grade under the watchful eyes of Sensei Andy Sherry and Sensei Bob Poynton. In April 2015 Dave achieved his Nidan grade with Sensei Andy Sherry and Sensei Bob Rhodes.
In order to ensure Dave was ready to grade for Sandan both physically and mentally, he supplemented his regular training at Handbridge with regular visits to the famous Liverpool Red Triangle SKC (Sensei’s Andy Sherry and Frank Brennan) and also West Kirby SKC (Sensei Jimmy Brennan). In October 2018, Dave achieved his Sandan grade at the Special Dan Grade Course in Bath under scrutiny from examiners Sensei Andy Sherry, Sensei Bob Poynton and Sensei Frank Brennan.
On 1 October 2022, Dave attended the special Dan course in Bath where he achieved the grade on Yondan (4th Dan) under scrutiny from Sensei’s Frank Brennan, Billy Higgins and Garry Harford.