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Our Promise to You

Since 1982 Pagham Karate Club has been instructing many hundred of members in the art of Shotokan Karate and the life skills this study brings.  All Instructors have Enhanced CRB checks and give their own time and effort to passing on their knowledge gained by thousands of hours of diligent study.  Come and be part of this family who's overriding purpose is to make you and better person.
Children's Karate
Karate Gi and Belt

Our Instructors

Sensei Ian Gregory

Ian Gregory - 5th Dan

Club Chief Instructor
Sensei Ian has been training since 1980 when he remembers the courage it took to walk into the Dojo for the very first time. 

Little did he know that this first step would lead to a lifetime of study that is more rewarding today as it has ever been.

Sensei Ian has trained with many UK and Japanese Instructors, but his inspiration still comes from his long term instructor of over 30 years, Sensei Dave Hazard.  "Sensei is my biggest inspiration and every training session I get with him gives me another years worth of study to perfect and hone his ideas".  

Sensei Ian has been the Chief Instructor at Pagham Karate Club since 1988 when he took the club over shortly after achieving his 1st Dan.  Twice a week he gives his time to coach and develop students of all ages and abilities and believes in his adage of "sweat more, bleed less". 

His reason for his dedication to the club is purely to see all members become better people through the benefits of hard physical work.  The foundations of respect and discipline and above all to come back and build on that very first step.
Sensei Craig Gregory

Sensei Craig Gregory - 3rd Dan

Senior Instructor
Sensei Craig started training in 1995 at the age of 6. Being so young he was not allowed to grade until he was 8 and took his first grading on the 11th May 1997.  He has always excelled in his studies and even passed two gradings' within a month of each other in 2000 when he graded in April to 4th Mon and then attended a special weekend course in the May which culminated with a grading which he passed 4th Kyu with Sensei Dave Hazard, some 29 days later!
Sensei Craig has graded extensively with Sensei Dave Hazard and Sensei Mick Dewey throughout his Kyu grades. Under Sensei Dave Hazard, he achieved Junior Shodan in December 2004, Adult Nidan in September 2012 and Sandan in September 2017. 

He has had several titles at National level within his early career with a 1st in Kumite at National Championships and the following year a 3rd in Kata.  He's competition career unfortunately had to stop due a heart operation undertaken to fix a congenital problem which meant a stop to his fighting career but it hasn't stopped his training.  He now trains harder and faster than ever before.

Sensei Neil Matijuk -  2nd Dan

Assistant Instructor
I first stepped into the dojo on 12th of January 2005. I was so nervous I didn't know anyone but I soon settled in put my head down and tried my hardest to get everything right. It was a challenge and hard work but I enjoyed the challenge. 

There have been a lot of high points throughout my path and some low points too, but I'd say my biggest achievement so far would be obtaining my 2nd Dan Black Belt. I never thought I'd ever get that far and the feeling inside when I had done it was overwhelming. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into getting that grade.

The Physical and mental challenges are big part of what I get out of karate. But the biggest part is the fact that karate is always evolving. You learn one technique and after doing it a certain way it then changes to a more effective and efficient way of doing that same technique. You're always learning new things and you can learn from anyone.
Sensei Neil Matijuk
There is always room for improvement and that's what I get out of it. It's about being better than you were the day before. 

There are a few inspirations in my karate.  Sensei Ian Gregory and Sensei Craig Gregory have helped me dramatically improve myself over the years of my karate training and helping me through my lowest and highest points in my training. For that I am truly grateful and I wish I could be as inspiring to others as they have been to me. After attending many training courses with Sensei Hazard and seeing how his techniques get quicker everytime I see him.

When I first learnt how to move in a stance I remember Sensei Ian saying your posture wants to be a belt full of lead and a head full of helium. Basically to keep your core low and centered and your head lifted so it's easier to breath. This has stuck with me and will always because even now I'm still being told to lift my head don't hunch. 

The most important piece of advice I can give is never give up. We are only human we are going to have high positive points and we are going to have low points we are struggling with but never give up and keep training. 

Sensei Mark Sturges 2nd Dan (EKO)

Sensei Mark Started training in 1997 in Greater London under the AMA (Amateur Martial Arts Association with Wallington Karate club. He attended many Karate sessions and competitions held in the London area.. He left Greater London in 2000 as a 5th Kyu to move to West Sussex.


He joined Chichester Karate Club part of the EKO (English Karate organisation) in late 2000 where he obtained his 4th,3rd,2nd and 1st KYU grades.

In November 2002 he took his 1st Dan and 2004 his 2nd Dan respectively.

He then trained with Worthing and Bognor Karate club which belonged to the SESKA (South East Shotokan Karate association) from 2005 – 2011. Unfortunately, due to a long-term injury sustained from a motorcycle accident a few years before he had to retire from training for 7 years.


He joined Pagham Karate Club in 2018 after extensive physical rehabilitation and a way of learning how to manage his injury. Unfortunately to the nature of the injury this means he would never be able to compete in kumite again.

Having trained with multiple Sensei’s, different organisations and different students, Sensei Mark sometimes brings a different outlook into his training sessions not only for his students, but also his own training. 

Sensei Ann Firlotte - 1st Dan

Tigers Instructor
I went to my first karate class in October 2002.  I started at Pagham Karate Club after my daughter, who was already a member, encouraged me to start going with her. I continued to attend even after she lost interest as a way of exercising both body and mind.  I helps me keep physically active while learning katas helps me to keep an active mind. The self defence aspect of training has helped me increase my confidence.  I also enjoy teaching and helping others in the same way I have been helped over the years.

After 17 years of training I achieved the grade of 1st Kyu, Brown belt with two white stripes.  I've never rushed grades and its made my karate all the better for it.

My most memorable class was when I had the honour to train with Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan and is son Sesnei Daizo Kanazawa 5th Dan at a class in Windsor in 2009.  It was a rare opportunity to experience a large scale class taught in Japanese.

One piece of advice I would give to my Tigers or new students joining us is relax and enjoy.  Its all about staying calm and enjoying the challenges we face.

After 20 years of Training, Ann was awarded 1st Dan by Sensei Dave Hazard in March 2023.
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