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Profiles of our guest instructors:
Sensei Billy Higgins 7th Dan
Sensei Paul James 5th Dan
Sensei Billy
Higgins 7th Dan
 Billy Higgins was born in
Bootle, Liverpool on 14th August 1945. Taking a keen interest in sport from
an early age, he took up boxing, gymnastics, and football while still at
school. In 1965 he started to study Wado Ryu Karate and he very quickly
established himself as a fast and skillful fighter.
He was selected for the BKCC All Styles Squad and during training, he
rapidly realised the high technical standard of the KUGB members of the
squad. As he was having difficulty traveling to his Wado club, he decided to
join the KUGB in 1970.
He has had a long and distinguished competition career, with many national
and international titles to his credit. These include Individual 2nd in the
WUKO All Styles World Championship in Paris 1975 and 1976 European All
Styles Champion. He was captain of the highly successful 1975 British All
Styles team that defeated the Japanese team to win the World Championships
in Los Angeles. He was also a member of the very successful KUGB Senior
International Team that won the Championships of Europe no less than five
times!
He was coach and manager of the EKB squad and was squad coach for the KUGB
Scottish and Southern Regions. He is a KUGB Grading Examiner and a qualified
International Referee.
He is renowned for his fast and effective fighting style, particularly his
lightning-fast Ashi-Barai/Gyaku-Tsuki combination which devastated his
opponents and won him many events. Also noted for his dynamic Tai Sabaki, he
is a popular teacher and examiner, always in demand around the KUGB clubs.
Since joining the KUGB, he has been a dedicated and active member of the
organisation, particularly in the field of coaching. He intends to continue
to be involved in making sure that the KUGB maintains its Strength and
technical ability in the future.
Profile and image from
www.kugb.org
Sensei Higgins visits Brecon to
conduct courses and our Kyu gradings.
Sensei Paul James 5th Dan
 Sensei Paul James
has had a highly successful tournament career which includes: 2008 JSKA
World Kata Champion, Welsh Champion twenty times (12 x KUGB men's kata, 3 x
WKF men's kata, 5 x KUGB team kata), two times European Bronze medalist and
many times British finalist, captain of the Welsh Kata team.
Also having valuable experience as a doorman or
"bouncer", combined with an extensive knowledge of self protection methods
makes Ikkyo Karate a practical and effective martial arts system.
Paul James is a fully qualified karate
instructor and holds a KUGB Instructor Assessors Certificate and has taught
students from novice up to 4th dan black belt.
Career Achievements
JSKA World Championships 2008
Men's Kata 1st - Team Kata 3rd - Team Kumite 3rd
World Shotokan Karate Association WSKA
Championships
2007 Poland - Men's Kata 6th
1999 Moscow - Men's Kata 8th
European Shotokan Karate
Association ESKA Championships
Men's Senior Individual Kata.
2007 Portugal 5th - 2006 Switzerland top 16 - 2005 Poland top 16 - 2004
Spain 4th - 1999 Spain top 16.
Men's Team Kumite - 3rd.
KUGB National Championships
Men's Senior Individual Kata
2008 5th - 2007 3rd - 2006 3rd - 2004 4th - 2003 5th - 2002 3rd - 2001
4th
KUGB Shotokan Cup
Men's Senior Individual Kata
2007 4th - 2004 4th - 2003 4th - 2001 4th - 1999 4th
British Karate Federation BKF
Championships
Senior Individual Kata
2000 3rd
VSO British All Styles
Championships
Senior Individual Kata
1996 4th - 1995 4th - 1994 3rd
KUGB Grand Slam
Senior Individual Kata
2005 1st - 2005 3rd - 2003 3rd - 2003 3rd - 2001 3rd - 2000 2nd - 2000
3rd
KUGB Welsh Championships
Senior Individual Kata
2008 1st - 2007 1st - 2006 1st - 2005 1st - 2004 1st - 2003 1st - 2002
1st - 2001 1st - 2000 1st - 1999 1st - 1998 1st - 1997 2nd
Team Kata
2007 1st - 2006 1st - 2005 1st - 2004 1st - 2003 1st - 2002 2nd - 2001
3rd - 2000 3rd - 1997 4th - 1996 3rd
2002 - Awarded "Most Outstanding Competitor"
Welsh Karate Federation WKF
Championships
Senior Individual Kata
2002 2nd - 2001 1st - 2000 1st - 1999 1st - 1998 2nd - 1997 2nd - 1996
1st
British Universities Students
Association BUSA Championships
Men's Senior Individual Kata
2000 1st, 1999 1st, 1998 1st
Team Kata
2000 3rd - 1999 4th - 1998 2nd
KUGB Inter-Regional Championships
Men's Senior Individual Kata
1997 2nd - 1996 2nd - 1995 2nd
Paul has been a member of the Welsh Squad
since 1994 and is currently a regular member of the KUGB Welsh Team.
Profile and image from
www.aberkarate.co.uk
 
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