My Karate Journey By Sophia Bruce
Starting Karate
Hi! My name is Sophia Bruce, and I have been asked to write about my karate journey. I suppose the best place to start is at the beginning!
When I was six years old in 2017, my parents enrolled me in a local Shotokan Karate club. They wanted me to learn how to protect and defend myself because, unfortunately, the world isn’t always a kind place to be in. I really enjoyed doing karate and learning lots of different moves and katas. I stayed at this club until I was 1st kyu in 2019.
My parents noticed a few changes happening in the club and, regrettably, realised it wasn’t progressing my learning or developing the abilities I might need in a worst-case scenario later in life.
A New Beginning at TSKC
They heard about a club called Tividale Shotokan Karate, run by Sensei Les and Sensei Steve Knight. I went, lined up, and trained with them. It was fantastic! I made the move in 2019 and have never looked back since.
I soon realised I had a lot more to learn to be at the standard of the belt I had previously been graded to. Getting up to their standard was a massive challenge. I had to unlearn bad habits I had unfortunately picked up at a young age.
Training Through COVID
Then COVID struck. I attended every Zoom lesson and had private lessons with Sensei Steve as well. They were fantastic, and they kept me training even when we, as a club, physically couldn’t be together.
It was tough. Trying to unlearn bad habits while training on a computer screen—when the Senseis were technically in the opposite direction to me—was something I personally found hard. Not to mention my mum in my ear to the side of the laptop, telling me to go the opposite direction!
Back to In-Person Training
Finally, the restrictions were over, and we could train together again. We hit the ground running. The learning was intense. I was understanding a whole lot more and started to learn why the moves were done in katas and how they could protect and defend me. It was mind-blowing.
I was really lucky and privileged to have Sensei Steve award me his Young Student of the Year in 2021. This was where I first heard the words in his awarding speech: "We don’t create princesses, we create badasses!"
The Road to Shodan
Training was twice a week, sometimes three times. The club is 25 miles away from where I live—so a 50-mile round trip—but it was worth it because I felt I was getting somewhere on my journey.
By May 2023, it was time to assess whether I was up to standard to go for grading to my 1st Dan (Shodan). Thankfully, I was! The biggest challenge ever was about to follow. There was no one else grading alongside me. My only options were to grade on my own or wait until November for the next Dan grading.
I was 13 years old at this point.
Did I chicken out? No!
Was it tough? Yes!
Did I put my brave face on? Yes!
So, I graded in front of Sensei Les and Sensei Steve on my own. It was brutal. All eyes on me. It was hard, it was emotional, it was tough. But I did it—and I passed!! That was my biggest achievement. All that hard work was 100% worth it to get to that place, and I am eternally grateful to my Senseis for getting me there.
Honoured with the 1st Samurai Award
I was also very privileged to be awarded the 1st Samurai Award at the club’s presentation night in 2023, in memory of Pete Rowley, who helped TSKC in its early days. His contributions helped make the club what it is today as it approaches its milestone 40th anniversary this year.
Expanding My Martial Arts Knowledge
TSKC is amazing, hosting seminars from guest instructors in different styles of martial arts. This has really benefitted my growth on my journey.
A favourite of mine is Sensei Steve Lowe from the Koryu Kyudokan Dojo. Our sensei, Steve Knight, attends the Koryu kyudokan as part of his own personal karate journey, and we are incredibly lucky to have his teachings in our lessons.
Looking Ahead to Nidan
Now, in February 2025, I am aiming to take my 2nd Dan (Nidan) in May. The butterflies are there, the training is hard, but I know I will put my mind to it and do my very best to achieve—and make TSKC proud.
As Sensei Steve said:
"We don’t create princesses, we create badasses…".
Sophia Bruce, 14 years old
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