Sensei Main served with the BAOR in the 1980's and the TA in the 1990's. He has participated in various sports and recreational activities including winter climbing/expeditions, skiing, backpacking, bushcraft and other martial arts such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Judo.

He was at St.Albans first lesson in 1991 and been training ever since. He currently holds the rank of Rokudan (6th dan), which he received in November 2022. He is the clubs lead instructor, a Senior Examiner/Instructor and Association Judge, and a first aider. Along with the day to day running of St Albans, Sensei Main regulaly helps out at the Association Kyu gradings and competitions.

I am a children's nursery nurse/ manager by trade with over 30 years experience, also having taught in the further education sector.

I joined St Albans in 1995 and started training under the instruction of Sensei Nicholas Lower. The skills that I have learned over this time I use everyday in my life . They have  given me life skills such as confidence, self discipline , self defence and most importantly provided me with a second family.

As I moved through the grades it was a natural to give back to my club by supporting the higher grade. I started teaching 25 years ago, and I am now a fully qualified Instructor, helping to run the same club I started at all years ago.

I achieved my Shodan in May 2002. In the same year I was awarded my full karate teaching certificate by chief instructor Sensei Nursey. I later achieved the rank of Nidan in 2005, Sandan in 2015, Yondan in 2019 and most recently my Godan in 2024.

I am the St Albans and Redbourn safeguarding officer, and the ESKA designated safeguarding lead officer.

I am a qualified financial markets consultant having working in the City of London, and I also took a City and Guilds course in plumbing and heating as I wanted to do something more hands on on occasion. I run, cycle, played football, until injury prematurely ended that, and a keen motorcyclist. 

I started martial arts 44 years ago in Kateda (school of central power), though changed to training in Shotokan Karate at the St Albans dojo only some 16 years ago. I am a Kata judge for ESKA, treasurer and instructor at St Albans and Sensei of my own dojo in Redbourn.

I started training in Shotokan Karate back in 1994 in my home town of Peterborough at the tender age of 17. My first few years (make that 8 years) was spent at various clubs as I went off to University and then in to the real world of work. As I trained at several different clubs it gave me great insight in to various methods and ideas in training Shotokan karate as well as dabbling in Wado Ryu and Korean Karate when Shotokan clubs were not available locally. I eventually managed some stability in training with the KUGB while living in London and gained my Shodan (Black belt). After another move to St Albans and after the arrival of numerous children, I was on the look out for a club that could cater for my own training needs as well as those for my children. I found that with St Albans Karate Club.

The club has the benefit of being very family friendly, socially focussed as well as being part of a larger organisation that offers the opportunity of training every day of the week all over Hertfordshire and beyond. I have since earned my Sandan (3rd level Black belt) and got the kids (and wife) on the grading ladder.

My martial arts journey started at age 11 when I joined a kung fu club in Wolverhampton. Unfortunately, it didn't last long as I moved house and was no longer able to train in the same place. This short period of training and the benefits I gained was the reason why 25 years later I wanted my children to learn martial arts.

I started training at St Albans in 2013 with my children. I am now a Third dan black belt and my two daughters have also achieved their black belts with ESKA. I am also a qualified ESKA karate instructor, a first aider and support the association with kyu gradings and at the annual ESKA competition.

I like to keep fit by running regularly and doing aerobic exercises. Over the past year I have also started teaching core exercises to students at the club as core strength is vital in karate.

Neil is a husband and dad of 2 children. As a chartered suryeyor he now specialises in commercial property project management and construction. Beyond karate his other passions include cycling, running, good red wine and chips with mushy peas

After a 25 year break, Neil returned to Shotokan in his early 40s. “Karate is great for everyone, whatever your age and ability and ESKA St.Albans is a very welcoming club”. Neil particularly enjoys training hard and the traditional side of the art. He believes it is now a study he will continue with for life.

Sensei Matt has trained with St Albans since childhood. He currently instructs at St Albans and Redbourn clubs, and recently achieved his Sandan in April 2025.