Paul Herbert (karate champion)
Paul Herbert (born 1974) is an English martial arts champion and instructor who became known for his success in Shōbu Ippon competition which enabled him to achieve titles of English, British and International champion in both Kata and Kumite and attain the Shotokan Karate rank of 5th dan.
Born in South London, Paul Herbert was ten years old when he began martial arts training in 1984 under the tutelage of a local club instructor and, within five years, in 1989, was graded to 1st dan black belt by Sensei Pauline Laville Bindra. He ratified this rank with the JKA in 1995 following studies with the Japanese Master Keinosuke Enoeda (8th dan, 9th dan awarded posthumously JKA), at his Marshall Street Baths dojo in the Soho district of London, who also graded him to the JKA ranks of 2nd and 3rd dan in 1996 and 1999 respectively. In 2003, after the death of his mentor, Herbert was graded to 4th dan by JKA chief instructor Sensei Massaki Ueki in 2003 and, five years later, in 2008, to the rank of 5th dan under Sensei Dave Hazard.
Paul Herbert is also the founder of the International Shotokan Training Camp, an annual karate course held since 2005 in the French city of Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy, which attracts practitioners from all over the world who come to train with Herbert and other senior guest karate-ka. Throughout the week, he continues to teach at his Kiryoku dojos in the Kent town of Dartford and as a guest all over the UK and Europe. Since 2004 he has taught within, and is affiliated to, Hazard's Academy of Shotokan Karate.