Brad Pinder

I originally started martial arts because i used to love to watch Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee films, i also started because i wanted to be like my father as he did Karate when he was younger. When i went to start Martial Arts, i was looking into Taekwondo, however i could not find any Taekwondo clubs locally.

I was 8 years old when i Started Shotokan Karate with Sensei Keith Bailey, however i had to hand the club over due to him leaving the country. I started Karate with Adam Marshal.

Keith Handed the club over to Sensei Chris Valentine. After a year or so Chris's club shut down due to him not being able to make it to teach with his Work commitments.

I then Joined the YKA with Sensei Sarah Leach. Unfortunately her club was due to close down too, so i transfered to a club ran by Angela Penketh still within the YKA, this is where i acheived my black belt and gained some assistant teaching experiences. During this time my sisters also started Karate in the same club.

Sensei Angela Penketh then handed the club down to me and my father, Brian Pinder who also gained his black belt at the same time as me. We both then gained the titles Sensei Brad Pinder and Sensei Brian Pinder. During this time my friend Adam Marshal left the club at 2nd Kyu due to him leaving for University.

Sensei Brian Pinder and Sensei Brad Pinder (Me) have ran the Bircotes Shotokan Karate Club ever since.

After 4 years of teaching at this club i decided it was time to open a second club up, this was when i opened up Shotokan Martial Arts Recreational Training Karate Club (SMART KARATE CLUB)within the CMAA. This took 4 month planning and getting contacts. I originally heard about the CMAA after me and Sensei Brian Pinder went to a Bunkai Seminar with Sensei John Burke where we met Sensei Andrew Banks.

Sensei Andrew Banks then told us about Sensei Andrew Morrell who is the Top of CMAA, this was a huge opportunity for me to open a club with a association with more opportunities than i previously have had with the YKA.

So here we are, the Beginning of Smart Karate with Me, Sensei Brad Pinder, the Club leader, my father, Sensei Brian Pinder and my sister, Senpai Bethany Pinder