[i]Grandad says he gets a big kick out of karate
Sep 21 2005
Alwyn Heath lives and breathes karate.
The grandfather-of-two started taking part in the sport at the age of 19 after fracturing his skull while playing rugby and decided to take up a safer hobby.
He’s represented Wales but it’s since his retirement from competing in 1979 that Alwyn has concentrated on coaching, teaching and promoting karate.
Alwyn runs two karate clubs - one in Pontypridd, approaching its 30th anniversary and the other in Llantrisant - and is one of a handful of Welsh men to be handed the prestigious 6th Dan.
‘I love everything about what I’m doing,’ said Alwyn, 55, who has organised innumerable national and international competitions.
‘And throughout my knowledge of sport and my contacts, I like passing that on and putting something back into the community.’
Over the years the father-of-three from Glyndwr Avenue, Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, who is married to Melanie, said he’s taught thousands of pupils.
‘When I started teaching, children were very active but in the last 15 to 20 years, children have become less active,’ he said.
'Sport is a great way to get them active and it helps to develop them to their full potential.
'People with disabilities think they can’t do sport but I think it’s all about attitudes and I teach people that you can do whatever you want and give them encouragement.
‘I believe in what I do and I get a big kick out of seeing people I’ve taught grow up and teaching others themselves.’
Alwyn is the founder of Mas Oyama’s Kyokushin Karate Organisation Mokko and is an elected member of the Welsh karate governing body.
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