HE made have had two hip replacements but Barry Crozier is alive and kicking today.

HE made have had two hip replacements but Barry Crozier is alive and kicking today.

The 60-year-old only took up shotokan karate because his daughter did not want to start classes alone.

Now, 14-years later and with two new hips, he has gained his second Dan black belt.

Mr Crozier, a retired chemical engineer who lives near Christchurch Park in Ipswich, said he hoped to carry on with karate for a long time to come.

He said: “My daughter who was a teenager at the time wanted to do karate and I said 'I'll take you along' as I played football and tennis with my two boys, so I couldn't refuse.

“I don't know what I expected but I found I really enjoyed karate. It is a way of life.”

So when Mr Crozier developed osteoarthritis in 2000 then had his first hip replacement operation in 2002 and his second in 2003, he was determined not to quit the sport.

And although he has limited mobility in his lower half he still attends the Ipswich shotokan karate club at Maidenhall Sports Centre two or three times a week.

He said: “I was hoping the operations wouldn't stop me and they didn't though I admit I don't move like a 20-year-old.

“I don't usually tell people I've had two hip operations, they might be quite surprised.

“But I hope to keep going because in karate it doesn't matter how old you are.”

Jon Donohoe, chief instructor at the club, praised Mr Crozier's commitment and attitude, adding that he was an inspiration to youngsters at the club.

He said: “When he came back from the operation with walking sticks we weren't sure he'd be able to do it, but he has.

“He has no rotational range in his kicks but he has great upper body strength.

“A lot of people would have given up, but not Barry.”

n Are you celebrating an against-the-odds sporting achievement? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

FastFacts: shotokan karate

N Shotokan is one of the four traditional karate styles

N It was developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868 - 1957) and his son Yoshitaka Funakoshi (1906 -1945). Gichin is recognised as having brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan.

N Gichin reportedly found traditional martial arts like jujtsu to be too focused on combat and he emphasised health, breathing, release of energy, and concentrated mind and body control.

N Training is divided into three parts - kihon (basics), kata (forms or patterns of moves), and kumite (sparring).