Paul Howson (2nd Dan)  

In 1982, at the age of 14, Paul started practising Judo at a Youth Club in Barton on Humber.  Although he didn't grade, he learnt a lot, including how to fall, which would prove useful later!  When the club folded, he joined a boxing club, and learnt how to get hit, which would also come in handy later on!

At 17 Paul joined Goxhill Karate Club, learning Shotokan.  He graded to 5th Kyu (purple belt) under Sensei Kato (7th Dan).  He then gave it all up for a few years, doing what teenagers do, before starting again.  He now practised Shukokai, under the AMA and graded to 1st Kyu (Brown belt), starting his own club under the guidance of the then black belt instructor Ian Clipson.  When Ian gave up, Paul was left with a club, 15 or so students, and no black belt!

In his search for another club which practised Shukokai, Paul met Tony Grainger (6th Dan) and began training under his guidance in Hull, changing over to the SSU.  Tony agreed to oversee the Goxhill club and to grade the students.  In December 2003, Paul achieved his 1st Dan, then took and passed his 2nd Dan in December 2007.

Paul continues to train at Tony's club in Hull as well as running the club in Goxhill, which is growing all the time.

Tony Grainger (6th Dan)

Tony began his karate training in 1972, training under Stan Knighton until he achieved his 5th Dan in 1996.  As a 2nd Kyu Brown Belt, he became joint Chief Instructor of Hull Shukokai Club, along with Mike McLocklan around 1978-79.

Tony won many local and national championships in Kumite and Kata from 1974 to 1994, and in 1990 became the Eastern Area and National Kata Champion of Shukokai Karate Union.

Tony was a founder member of Shito-Ryu Shukokai Union (SSU), which formed in 1998, when he became Assistant Chief Instructor to Denis Casey Sensei (7th Dan), who is the Chief Instructor for England.

He attended the Shito-Ryu Shukokai World Cup, held in Japan in 1999.

In September 2003, Tony achieved his 6th Dan, grading in Austria with World Chief Instructor SSU Harayoshi Yamada (9th Dan) and European Chief Instructor SSU Tsutomo Kamohara.