British Karate Federation News

Letter to Terry Connell regarding the BKF Championships 2012

Jun 14, 2012

Thank you for your kind words Terry, they make the event complete.

This year I celebrate 50 years in Martial Arts, Judo Aikido and Wado Ryu and for the past 27 years Shotokan.

During that time I have undergone 130 major operations and skin grafts and, for the past 26 years, battled with Multiple Sclerosis.

I feel that my involvement in Budo has improved my quality of life, albeit stopping me from achieving World and or European levels at Refereeing,

Being a BKF/EKF official with the support of not only yourselves, but with the support of Chico,Terry and now Dale helps me keep the illness as an inconvenient part of my life.

Using many medical aids to suit the way of life I insist on maintaining, (despite many arguments from consultants) I keep the illness at my pace, not the easy way to suit them.

Martial Arts has given me, and will continue to give me a good quality of life and long may it reign.

On a really good note Terry, the Disabled athletes again, gave me a very good feeling, to see people of all walks of life being applauded and allowed to be part of our important family.

To that end Terry I came home and immediately offered my services to Middlesbrough Council on condition, they give me peppercorn rates for my dojo, for 1 hour a week and notify all schools and establishments that a new Karate lesson is starting for disabilities of all kinds.

Having mentioned this to my group of officials, 2 of them want to be involved.

This Terry is as a direct result of being inspired by the way the British Karate Federation has embraced fully, the involvement of other (I refer to as inconvenienced ) Disabled people.

Many thanks

Harold Stephenson.

EKF/BKF Referee

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