John Hudson, United Kingdom
John Hudson from the UK started with GKR on a trial membership in 2011. Fourteen years later, John shares with GKR Stories his latest achievement and the obstacles he overcame to get to where he is today.
In early January 2011, someone from GKR knocked on my door as classes were opening close by and they were offering memberships to new students.
As a 45-year-old overweight father of 3, I was hesitant at first but I decided to start on a trial membership. I attended my first class on 18th January 2011 and after just one session, I decided to take out a full membership and my karate journey began in earnest.
Over the next couple of years, I began to lose some excess weight, my fitness improved, and I progressed through the kyu grades, receiving my 5th kyu blue belt in October 2012.
Following a bad dose of flu in November 2012, I had a heart attack on 22nd December that year. The doctors told me it could have been worse, possibly fatal, if I had not been as fit as I was, thanks to my karate training.
Immediately after my heart attack, I wasn’t sure if my karate journey would continue, however 6 weeks later I was back in the dojo, with some restrictions on what I could do and having to wear a heart rate monitor while I trained.
Over the next few years my recovery continued and 2 of my 3 children joined the GKR family. Eventually I attained 1st kyu in April 2017. At about the same time I completed the Sempai Training Program and received my Instructor Accreditation in August 2017.
Initially, I was a Sempai at my local Dojo in Dursley, Gloucestershire, before becoming the lead instructor. I am proud to have been able to continue in that role for more than 7 years. In that time, the dojo has moved to a larger venue, and the number of sessions has increased from 2 to 4 classes a week. I have taken great pleasure in teaching many students across the years and in their own way, they have all contributed to my personal karate journey.
In December 2024, I received my Ni (2nd) Dan, a rank I believed back in 2012, would never be possible for me. I have not been the quickest to attain this rank, but I have always believed what Senior Instructors told me from the very beginning of my karate journey, that the only way to achieve Black Belt was to train regularly, put in my best effort and most importantly, never give up.
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