Family affair for karate kids

The sport has become a real generation game both at home and at their club.

Father David, a black belt, first got involved in the sport as a youngster and now he has passed on his passion to his five sons who all train.

And his only daughter Amy, aged four, won't feel left out as she is due to take it up next year.

The only family member who doesn't take part in the practical side of karate is mother Alison, but she still does the books for their family-run club, The Pensnett Shotokan Karate Club, which now has 50 members.

Eldest son David, aged 14, trains seven or eight times a week and is already a black belt himself. Next up there is Peter, aged 13, who is a brown belt, then Keiron, aged 12, who is an orange belt, then Aidan, aged eight, who is a purple belt and last but not least, Aaron, aged seven, who is also an orange belt.

The proud father of Langstone Road, Dudley, said: "I first began aged nine, I had a bit of a break when we started a family but I wanted the children to have the same start in life as I did. Karate teaches you respect and discipline as well as focus. It is just a dream come true to see them all together taking part in it."

The club which meets several times a week at Pensnett School of Technology in Tiled House Lane and Sutton School in Scotts Green Close, Dudley, has been run for three years and is going from strength to strength. In the last few months it membership has more than doubled.

And next month David junior and Peter along with fellow club member Scott Reynolds will be competing in Ireland after being picked to compete by the FEKO, the English karate federation.

Mr Bowater added: "My goal is to get all of the club up to a high level."

The club meets on Tuesdays at Sutton School and Fridays and Sundays at Pensnett High School. Call 01384 263 001 or 07713906559.