Andy Sherry
Encyclopedia
Andy Sherry is one of the most senior British
practitioners of karate
and the chief instructor of the KUGB
.
, Andy Sherry showed an interest in the martial arts
as a young man. Initially training in judo
and jujutsu
, he soon took an interest in karate, starting his study of the art in 1959. In 1966, Sherry became the first person in the UK
to earn a black belt
in Shotokan karate, having trained with JKA
instructor Keinosuke Enoeda
.
In 1966, Sherry won the first British all-styles championship, beating competitors from all of Britain's karate styles. He went on, in 1968, to become European champion in kumite
, an achievement he repeated in a number of subsequent years. Andy dominated the early KUGB karate championships, winning the kata competition for the first four years running (1967-1970) and the kumite in 1968 and 1970.
On the competition circuit, Andy Sherry was well-known for using a yori-ashi gyaku-tsuki (lunging rear-hand punch) as his "trademark" manoeuvre, leading many competitors of the time to joke that he only knew one technique.
Retiring from competition in 1977, Sherry continues to coach the KUGB international competition squad to this day, and now runs his own karate club, the Liverpool Red Triangle. Sherry recently earned 8th dan (8th level black belt) making him Britain's highest ranking Shotokan karate practitioner. He adjudicates many gradings throughout the year in many karate clubs registered under the KUGB.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
practitioners of karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and the chief instructor of the KUGB
Karate Union of Great Britain
The Karate Union of Great Britain, or KUGB is an association of Shotokan Karate clubs and Karateka operating across Great Britain, with some oversea affiliations. The 1960s saw a growth in the popularity of Karate, and the KUGB was founded in 1966 to be a democratic, not-for-profit organisation,...
.
Biography
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Andy Sherry showed an interest in the martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
as a young man. Initially training in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, he soon took an interest in karate, starting his study of the art in 1959. In 1966, Sherry became the first person in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to earn a black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in Shotokan karate, having trained with JKA
Japan Karate Association
Japan Karate Association is one of the most influential Shotokan karate organizations in the world...
instructor Keinosuke Enoeda
Keinosuke Enoeda
was a Japanese master of Shotokan karate. He was a former Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain. Enoeda was ranked 8th dan in Shotokan karate, and was widely renowned as a formidable karateka . Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded the rank of 9th dan.-Early...
.
In 1966, Sherry won the first British all-styles championship, beating competitors from all of Britain's karate styles. He went on, in 1968, to become European champion in kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
, an achievement he repeated in a number of subsequent years. Andy dominated the early KUGB karate championships, winning the kata competition for the first four years running (1967-1970) and the kumite in 1968 and 1970.
On the competition circuit, Andy Sherry was well-known for using a yori-ashi gyaku-tsuki (lunging rear-hand punch) as his "trademark" manoeuvre, leading many competitors of the time to joke that he only knew one technique.
Retiring from competition in 1977, Sherry continues to coach the KUGB international competition squad to this day, and now runs his own karate club, the Liverpool Red Triangle. Sherry recently earned 8th dan (8th level black belt) making him Britain's highest ranking Shotokan karate practitioner. He adjudicates many gradings throughout the year in many karate clubs registered under the KUGB.