A KARATE-loving Suffolk family are as pleased as punch today after all four were awarded black belts in the martial art.The Jowetts - husband and wife Steve and Wendy, both 49, and their children Amy, 18, and Adam, 16 - received the honour having each trained for more than three years.
A KARATE-loving Suffolk family are as pleased as punch today after all four were awarded black belts in the martial art.
The Jowetts - husband and wife Steve and Wendy, both 49, and their children Amy, 18, and Adam, 16 - received the honour having each trained for more than three years.
Mum Wendy said: “My husband used to do karate when he was a teenager but he gave it up.
“My son has always wanted to do it because his dad used to, so when he was 12 my husband took him along to a club.
“But within a week or two, Steve decided he wanted to have another go, too.
“Then my daughter started and eventually I thought 'if you can't beat them join them'.
“We all really enjoy it and it's a great thing for us to do as a family.”
The Jowetts, of Whitton Leyer, Bramford, train twice a week under the watchful eye of sensei Billy Brennan at the Arena club in Needham Market, while also practicing regularly at home.
Wendy said: “We fight each other in class quite a lot and you have to exercise a lot of control, but there's the occasional punch in the face of a husband or sibling!”
Achieving the black belt involves a rigorous grading procedure, which can last up to several hours and involves demonstrating various techniques, stamina and extreme concentration.
Wendy said: “From a technical point of view there are many different components which have to be remembered and you need the fitness to get you through it all.
“Both physically and mentally, it's very hard - but very rewarding.
“It's unusual for a family of four to all learn karate and even more unusual for us all to get black belts because people often give up along the way.
“When you have teenage children it's sometimes difficult to relate to what's going on in their lives and vice versa. Karate gives us all something in common to enjoy.”
Has your family celebrated an achievement? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
The karate grading system
White - tenth Kyu
Yellow - ninth Kyu
Orange - eighth Kyu
Green - seventh Kyu
Blue - sixth Kyu
Purple - fifth Kyu
Purple white stripe - fourth Kyu
Brown - third Kyu
Brown 1 tag - second Kyu
Brown 2 tag - first Kyu
Black - first Dan
Did you know?
Karate is a Japanese phrase which means 'empty hand' and is a martial art of self-defence.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here