Wyeth sensei joined the club in 1983.  He has competed in several interclub tournaments over the years, winning the Mens’ Intermediate sparring in 1985 and while a black tip, placing second in the Mens’ Senior Sparring in 1986.  He also won the Pattern and Special Technique sections and was awarded Martial Artist of the Tournament.  He served on the Club’s executive for 3 years finishing as President in 1987.

While at University, Wyeth sensei also organised the Inter-faculty Martial Arts Sparring Tournament and won his division 2 years in a row.  Points from this tournament scored towards the Interfaculty Sports Cup.  He was also a member of the Sang Dan tournament team that successfully competed in the ASMAC contact sparring tournaments.

Wyeth-sensei graded to 1st Dan in 1987 and to 2nd Dan in 1989 before heading off to study and work in Japan for nearly 4 years.  While in Tokyo, he trained with Chito-Ryu Karate.  The style is in many ways similar to our own with a strong emphasis on practical application.  Chito-Ryu is the style used by the Japanese Self Defence Force. In 2005, Wyeth-sensei graded to 3rd dan.

As an instructor, he emphasises speed, agility and focus. 

Speed is developed through hard training in good technique so that it becomes ingrained and instinctive thus minimising reaction time and maximising effectiveness. 

Agility provides both the ability to stay out of harm’s way until an opportunity presents itself and makes it possible to change quickly into attack or defence.  The best counter to an attack is simply not to be there when it comes.

Focus comes down to the intelligent application of your strength.  Thinking tactically to take advantage of your strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses with a minimum of expended effort.  If you develop speed and agility, you can think more about the fight and less about the fighting.