Sensei Damian started his karate journey when he was 8yrs old with Sensei Bob Chadwick. Due to club relocation he was unable to continue on this journey until he by chance bumped into Sensei Jason Netherton in 2008 while swimming with his son Marcus at Total Fitness in Bolton.

Persuaded by Marcus who wanted to join he reluctantly joined in the classes thanks to Sensei Jason’s well shall we say persuasive technique.

Re-igniting his love of traditional Shotokan while training under the watchful eye of Sensei Jason together with the amazing team he had provided with top class instructors like Sensei Ronnie Christopher, Sensei Elwyn Hall and the Late Sensei Randy Williams, he progressed through his Kyu grades over the coming years entering competitions, gaining 3rd place in Kumite and second in Kata.

In 2010 he took his Dan grade and was awarded his Shodan by Sensei George Best.

With the ever progressing changes in karate and together with Sensei Jason he opened his first dojo under Ippon Karate Academy at his old school St. Peter and St. Paul’s followed very soon by their second venture at St Bede Primary Academy, with over 60 students training hard and with Ippon Karate Academy growing in stature a third club was opened at the Ellesmere Social Club to help cope with demand.

In 2013, Damian took his 2nd Dan under Sensei Jason Netherton and the UKGB  and again he was successful in passing this. This was just another great achievement together with over 15 of his own students passing their Shodan (1st Dan).

In 2015, following Sensei  Jason’s meeting with legendary instructor Sensei Junior Lefevre in Birmingham, England, Sensei Jason became aware of the new organisation lead by Sensei Junior Lefevre. He subsequently contacted Sensei Junior Lefevre regarding association and affiliation. Sensei Jason was invited to Hombu Dojo in Liege, Belgium and following a successful visit, affiliated the UKGB to Champions International Karate Association (CIKA). In August, Sensei Jason was asked to become chief instructor and Chairman of CIKA England by Sensei Junior Lefevre, on his return and after some long discussions Sensei Jason appointed Sensei Damian at Club Secretary of both Ippon Karate Academy and CIKA England, a true honour and great challenge which he gratefully accepted.

His clubs grow in strength and together with his amazing team of his partner Dawn and his Father Sensei Bill the club still has over 60 students training and competing and both Regional and National Level with several of his students bringing home medals both for Kata and Kumite.

In 2017 he decided with Sensei Jason to concentrate on the development of the club and they started working on getting local authority recognition. In 2018, they were awarded The Bolton Mark and Bolton Council sports coaches certification, the first traditional Shotokan Karate club in Bolton to gain this.  Whilst all this was being developed and his club growing in strength under CIKA England and guided by Sensei Junior Leferve he was successful in taking and passing his Sandan (3rd Dan) and most recently attended the EKF coaching course in Leicester and was successful in passing this as well.

Together with and under the guidance and coaching of both Sensei Jason and Sensei Junior Leferve and the endless list of Instructors visiting the clubs on a regular basis (Sensei Michael Dasoul, Sensei Christina Kavakopoulou and Sensei Rebeca Ferrer), both Ippon Karate Academy and CIKA England will grow in strength.