Tegwen Ecclestone - Club Instructors

1st Dan KUGB
President 2008-09

Tegwen joined CUKC in 2006 as a white belt fresher, keen to try on a pair of the white pyjamas and less concerned about learning to hit people. However, thanks to excellent tuition from CUKC's own senseis and a wide range of guest instructors, three and a half years later she graded to Shodan under Sensei Sherry and Sensei Brennan. During this time Tegwen took an active role in the club, becoming President in 2008-2009 and stepping up her training to rapidly advance her karate and set an example to other club members. As a result she became the third recipient of the club's annual 'Most Improved Student' award.

Tegwen's first foray into competition was at Centrals 2008 as a green belt, where she took silver in kyu grade kata. Since then she has competed in numerous competitions, including the 2009 Varsity match where she participated in both kata and kumite and had her very first experience of team kata. Tegwen has won several individual gold medals, including kyu grade kumite at the KUGB Student Nationals in 2008, and the Women's Kata and Kumite categories at the Kyu Grades competition in Prestatyn in 2009. She is now enjoying the challenge of the Dan Grade categories and was proud to take 4th place in the Ladies Dan Grade Kata at Centrals in 2010.

Tegwen thoroughly enjoys both training and teaching at CUKC and she often trains alongside the lower grades in the Junior sessions, to concentrate on her basics and to get to know everyone in the club.