Gary started Karate in 1986, training at the SKIGB Honbu Dojo in Radford,
Nottingham under Phil Cooper and the late Cyril Goodridge. After a few Kyu gradings he soon progressed into
Hanshi Asano's twice weekly sessions. It was whilst training at these classes that he came into contact with such
senior SKI Karateka as Paul Mead, who would deputise for Hanshi Asano when away on teaching commitments, Pasqualino Mura,
Chris Chapman, Phil Danns, Jerry Groom, Ken Davis and Steve Carless to name but a few. The advantage of training at
the Honbu was that it attracted karateka from all over the country, providing a varied and high standard of sempai(senior),
which Gary feels helped him in his development. He graded to Shodan in 1989 and Nidan two years later. As most Karateka come
to realise, he found that attaining the mythical "Black Belt" was not the end of the mission,
it was the start. He continued to train at the Honbu Dojo, with Hanshi Asano, through it's many changes of location, but
in the mid 90's,
attracted by the high standard of Sensei Pasq's karate, he also started to train with Pasq Mura at Chilwell Olympia Karate
School, where he remains to this day. Gary graded to Sandan in November 2001.
Forays into competition produced a 3rd place as part of the Chilwell Olympia Kumite team at the 1997, 2001 and 2002 SKI Shiro
Asano Championships. The 2002 SKIGB British Championships saw the Chilwell Olympia Team
attain 1st Place in the Team Kumite event with Gary fighting alongside Pasq Mura and Susumu Asano. Gary also marked his
40th year by entering the Veterans category, coming third in both the Kata and Kumite events.
Gary's Karate was curtailed by the diagnosis of cancer of the oesophagus in October 2002. Following
chemotherapy and major surgery in January 2003, there followed months of recuperation. Much of his recovery he puts down to
the years spent training in karate, which has developed both his
physical strength to withstand the cancer and surgery and mental spirit that has kept him positive throughout.
Gary returned to training at Chilwell in June 2003.
Gary entered the Veterans Kata event at the 2003 SKIGB British Championships, and
against stiff opposition managed to come 1st. This achievement however was eclipsed when Gary was presented with the
Wilkinson Sword of Honour by Hanshi Asano for showing "True Karate Spirit", an honour which truly shocked him and he
regards as the pinnacle of his Karate career.
Gary gained his Yondan(4th Dan) in August 2006, and the following day came 1st in the Mens Veteran Kumite at the 32nd
S.K.I.G.B. National Championships,and is currently training and instructing at Chilwell.
Sensei Gary Moore 4th Dan
with the SKIGB Team Kumite Trophy
