PYLE
Venue : Pyle Liesure Centre.
Instructor : Darryl Thomas
Grade : 1st Dan
Contact Number : 01656 670201 - 07950214152
Times :
Wednesday 6.00pm - 7.30pm.
Location / Directions:
Click here for directions to the club
Instructor Profile :
Darryl Thomas
Darryl first started Karate in 1985 with the Karate Union of Wales under the instruction of sensei Mike O'Brien. After reaching 3rd Kyu, Darryl decided to try another form of martial art. He joined the Bridgend Taekwondo Club and trained with World Taekwondo Champion Wayne Burnett. Here he spent several years training and entered many competitions. Due to his new family life and work commitments Darryl could not continue training.
In February of 2005 Darryl's brother sensei Wayne Thomas decided to open a new club in Cornelly. This renewed Darryl's interest in Karate and along with his wife and children began to train with his brother.
In August 2005 sensei Wayne decided to take a big step and move forward with the Cornelly club and joined the Welsh Karate Union.
Shortly after becoming part of the WKU Darryl became a Qualified W.K.G.B Assistant Coach and started helping to train the students at Cornelly Karate Club. During this time Darryl also train with sensei Adam Kinsella of Cornelly Shotokan Club.
Under the Instruction of sensei Adam and months of commitment to training Darryl finally gained his Shodan grade in July of 2006.
Founder Club Instructor Profile :
Adam Kinsella
Adam’s first taste of Karate came at the age of 10, at the Cornelly Community Centre where Sensei Les Mundy and Dave Llewellyn run the Kyokshinkia Karate Club. While it only lasted for 3 months, the seed was sown. Seven years later with his leg in plaster Adam visited the Cornelly Shotokan Karate Club run by Sensei Hayden James to watch his nephew train. After the training session Sensei asked if Adam was interested in training. He said he was and once his leg was out of plaster true to his word he attended his first Shotokan Class. Wow!!. That was1982 and the seed that was sown 7 years earlier blossomed. Adam quickly become obsessed with Karate and trained 7 days a week. Not only training at Cornelly with Sensei Hayden James but also going to Bridgend to train with Sensei Paul Watson, there was very close ties with Bridgend and Cornelly, Adam said “we were like a family”. Adam also travelled to Cardiff to train with Sensei Mike O’Brian KUW Chief instructor and on occasions Port Talbot to train with Sensei Ritchie Noblett. Adam achieved his Black Belt in 1984 after 2½ years of hard training and his Ni Dan in 1986 after another 2 years of hard training. Sandan and Yondan came much later as Adam’s karate focus changed from personal accolades to instructing and developing the club and others. Adam was promoted to 5th Dan in December 2007.
Competition was a big part of Karate for Adam in those days and for the next 7-8 years as a member of the Bridgend team he won many team and individual awards. He quickly became a member of the KUW team competing in inter association tournaments in both the UK and Ireland and the trophy tally grew. After becoming a well known face at competitions Adam was invited to attend Welsh squad training. In 1983 as a 5th Kyu. He was selected to represent Wales at the Under 21 European Championships in Rome. Part of a 7 man squad that included Paul Bird (European medallist) and Cedric Wellington, it also included 2 representatives from the Bridgend Team, Carl Prossorr and Adam, what an achievement! Adam went on to represent Wales several times at both under 21 and senior level. Adam is still entering competition today taking trophies and inspiring the Welsh Karate Union students to do the same...
Adam soon became the regular instructor at Cornelly as work commitments kept Sensei Hayden away from class. Over the years this added responsibility has changed the focus of Karate for Adam. He has realised that Karate had so much to offer everyone, not just the good and the great. Cornelly Shotokan Karate Club has now been running for almost 30 years and has contributed to the development of hundreds of people who have passed through it doors over that time. Since the creation of the Welsh Karate Union in 1995 the family that started with Bridgend and Cornelly has grown and developed into many clubs across S.Wales. Sensei Adam said “As an instructor I have a responsibility to develop individuals to be the best they can be, Karate has made me the person I am today and if Karate does for other half of what it has done for me their lives will be better.