World Team
Champion - Twice
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Silver Medalist in World Championships - Twice
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Senior European Team Champion - Five Times
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Senior European Individual Champion
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Under 21 European Team Champion
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Under 21 European Individual Champion
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English Karate Board British All Styles Team Champion
- Four Times
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English Karate Board British All Styles Individual Champion
- Three Times
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Karate Union Of Great Britain British Champion - Four
Times
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Karate Union Of Great Britain Shotokan Cup Champion
(National Individual Championships) - Four Times
Ronnie Christopher
being presented with the Wilkinson Sword by the late
Sensei Enoeda for the best overall performance at
the National Championships in 1993.
Ronnie Christopher
began his Karate training at the age of 14 and it soon
became obvious to his instructors that he had something
special. He lived up to their expectations by being selected
to represent England and Great Britain at junior and senior
level competing in numerous international competitions.
This meant that he would spend the next 16 years training
under the personal guidance of the world famous Sensei
Enoeda and KUGB senior coach, Andy Sherry of whom Ronnie
says: "That squad session pushed me to my absolute
limit physically and mentally; it came within a hairs
breath of breaking me. It was one of those defining moments
in ones life when you have to make a decision... give
up totally or put in 110% effort; for me there was no
half way house. I trained diligently and I would allow
myself 2 days a week off from karate training, which meant
I was training 5 times a week. Psychologically saying
I can rest for 2 days sounds great, as opposed to I must
train 5 times a week."
Ronnie very
quickly became renowned world-wide for his unstoppable
fighting spirit, drive, determination and he remained
on the England team until he retired from international
duties in 1995. Since this time he has been the focus
of many books and videos and "Inspirational Karate"
has set the benchmark for education in the martial arts
and has become his world-wide #1 best-seller.
Ronnie devotes his time to passing on his vast amount
of knowledge to his karate students. One of the key components
to his very effective and enjoyable teaching style is
his unending passion and enthusiasm. Some of his students
have followed in his footsteps and have also represented
England at junior and International senior level winning
the karate Union Of Great Britain British Championships.
Ronnie believes that the mental side of karate is just
as important as the physical side and this is the reason
why his karate clubs bare the name Ruach. This is a Hebrew
word meaning "Spirit" hence he promotes his
karate clubs as:
"The
Spirit of Karate is not just about fighting spirit; it's
about having self respect and respect for each other.
You need the spirit to dig deep within yourself when you
need to and the spirit to help others whenever you can."
"The
greatest sense of achievement that I get now is when a
young boy or girl comes along to my club, they are shy
and unsure of themselves and they hide behind their parents.
Some months later they stand self-assured volunteering
to go out in front of the whole class to demonstrate a
karate technique. This transformation of character and
demonstration of unerring self belief is the real Spirit
of Karate for me."
Sensei Ronnie Christopher fighting
in 1995
at the WSKA British Championships
