Bob Poynton

Bob Poynton was born on the 30th July 1949 at Walton in the City of Liverpool. In 1965 at the age of 15, he applied to the Liverpool Karate Club for membership. He had to "fib" AbOUT his age, as the minimum age for joining was 16. The day he started at the club, Kanazawa Hirokazu was teaching, so he had his first Karate lesson with a Japanese 5th Dan, ex-champion of Japan.

In 1968 he gained his 1st Dan and left the Customs and Excise to become a full-time assistant instructor to Andy Sherry.

He was first selected for the KUGB squad in 1968 to compete in the IAKF European Championships in Austria. In the 18 years between 1968 and 1985, he represented England and Great Britain as a member of both the KUGB and All-Styles teams, achieving countless victories in National and International events. In 1976 he was the KUGB National Individual Kumite Champion, and the Shotokan Cup Grand Champion in three consecutive years.

Known as a specialist in Keri Waza (Kicking Techniques), he is known for his exceptionally fast Mae-Kizami Geri (Front [...] Kick). The speed of his kick was so great that his shin bone broke on impact against his opponents arm while competing in the 1974 European Championships and he again broke it in the same place at the KUGB National Championships the following year. During the period of convalescence from the injuries, he started to take an ACTIVE part in the administration of the KUGB. He was appointed Affiliations Officer in 1974, a position he has held ever since.

See also

  • Karate
  • Shotokan
  • KUGB
  • Andy Sherry
  • Enoeda Keinosuke
  • Terry O'Neill
  • Frank Brennan