On his first grading in 1978 aged 12 Sempai John was awarded 8th Kyu by Hanshi Steve Arneil at the Wimbledon Dojo.   Over the years John also trained under Sensei Kinaird at the Tweedale Dojo and earned a place in the Junior England Squad. Other merits included twice winner of the National Kata Competition and twice runner up at the Crystal Palace National WUKO Championships.   Sempai John took a break from Kyokushin to play Rugby for Lensbury RFC and also took part in the Operation Raleigh Expedition to Zimbabwe .   John is a regular at both Wallington and Sutton Dojos not forgetting the Phoenix Dojo where he teaches with Sempai Graham Russell on a Sunday morning.