A Ripon karate coach renowned for guiding some of the sport’s top talents is celebrating three decades of his club’s success.
Ady Gray founded The Karate Dojo Ripon in 1995, attracting elite athletes and instructors from across the nation. Initially holding classes in the old YMCA hall, the club expanded to various venues around Thirsk and Bedale before moving to a perpose built dojo in Sycamore business park. finally moving to a uk leading venue in a top-floor studio on Queen Street, part of Jion Studios.
A sixth-dan black belt, Mr. Gray was appointed head coach of the England national team in 2019. Under his leadership, the English team achieved remarkable success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, topping the medal table with a total of 6 Gold, 3 silver and 4 Bronze medals.
Mr. Gray began his karate journey at the age of seven in 1978, earning his first-dan black belt by 14. After extensive training in Europe and Japan, he reached his sixth dan in 2017.
Reflecting on his coaching journey, Mr. Gray shared insights on how he became the head coach of the England national team: “I never set out to become a coach; it just evolved that way. You gain recognition through your coaching methods and the success of your students. They are a reflection of your efforts. The more you invest in your students now, the more they will thrive in the future.”
While Mr. Gray has coached competitive karate at a national level, his current focus is on teaching the martial art’s benefits to the Ripon community. He emphasizes the difference between competitive karate and practical self-defense: “In competitive karate, techniques are designed for scoring points against opponents, which is different from real-life self-defense situations. My focus is on helping individuals safely escape conflicts.”
Mr. Gray’s classes cater to students aged four to 77 and specialize in the Shotokan style of karate, which encompasses kihon (fundamental movements), kata (forms and pre-arranged movements), and kumite (sparring).
He also discussed the distinctions between karate and other martial arts, such as judo and jiu-jitsu, which often focus on grappling. “Karate emphasizes striking and kicking from medium to long range. However, it’s equally about character development and discipline as it is about combat,” he noted.
As martial arts continue to gain popularity, karate remains the most practiced discipline in the country, thanks in part to the dedication of coaches like Mr. Gray.
