Reading Club:

Before and After
by Master Nazim Gokcezade (4th Duan)

25 November 2007

I make no apologies for being a very proud father. On November 25th, Korel and a few more 3rd Duans took their Masters grading. This is the day all parents whose children do martial arts wait for.

For those of you who do not now Korel's background in martial arts, he started when he was four years old. For many years he trained six hours a week with myself, training in Reading for one lesson and then getting into the car to travel to Oxford to reach the other lessons the same day. Not many people would be so committed at that age.

In his early teens he was twice chosen to play football for South of England counties but this meant football training every weekend. I gave him the choice, this was to be his choice and only he could make it; football or martial arts as the training days clashed. He had no hesitation in dropping football.

I still laugh when I remember his earlier days in Championships. He for many years got Gold medals. One year he got Silver and he was so happy because he did not have that colour medal in his collection. (The young hey!).

I take this opportunity to congratulate all those who took part in the grading, I feel very proud to be a part of Ren Yi Wu Kwan.

TANG SOU!

Master Nazim Gokcezade (4th Duan)

Korel as a young boy ......

.... and in November 2007 wearing his Master's belt

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