About Us - The Karate Dojo

Our instructors

Our highly-qualified coaches all hold black belts and are committed to the ethos and standards of the Ripon Karate Dojo.

Sensei Ady Gray

Ady started his karate journey in 1978 at the age of 7. He was graded to black belt, 1st Dan in 1985, by Sensei Asano, 9th Dan.

After training in Europe and Japan, Ady was awarded his 6th Dan (Rokudan) on 20th May 2017 from his mentor and legendary karate instructor, Sensei Dave Hazard, 7th Dan.

Ady has continued training and developing his own karate as well as his award-winning coaching skills. He likes to push the levels of coaching in a way that promotes the individual’s personality in a person-centred approach.

Ady’s Major Achievements

2022 – Coached the most successful England team in the history of the Commonwealth Championships.

2021 – Became a UK Coaching ambassador.

2019 – Appointed the England Head Coach.

2018 – Winner of the UK’s Children’s Sports Coach of the Year.

2017 – Finalist in the UK Coaching, Children’s Coach of the Year.

2010 – Appointed Assistant National Kata.

2004 – Sports Coach of the Year for North Yorkshire.

1995 – Opened the Karate Dojo in Ripon.

THE COACHING TEAM

All our coaches started their own journeys with Ady here at the Ripon Karate Dojo. Our whole team is therefore able to offer consistent, joined-up coaching for all ages and abilities that reflects the ethos, structure and standards personally developed by Ady for the dojo. And each of us understands the challenges and rewards our members experience as they hone their karate knowledge and skills.