Welcome To Cornelly Karate

Paul started karate in October 1972 with the Bridgend Kyokushinkia Karate club and after only nine months took over as instructor. Two years later in October 1974 Paul was invited by Mike O'Brien, (Welsh coach) to train with the Welsh All Styles squad which was then under the Welsh Karate Board of Control. Paul said "I remember that first encounter with the squad as if it was yesterday". "Kyokushinkia senior instructors always told me that Kyokushinkia was the strongest and best style of karate. So naturally I went along to the squad training thinking to myself I was going to show them a thing or two". Paul recalls at that session were Karateka like Von Johnson, Chico Mbakwe, Gerry Mbakwe (Shotokan), Unel Wellington, Steven Wellington, Ritchie Noblet (Wado Ryu) just to name a few, what an introduction to other styles.

After realising Kyokushinkia was not necessarily the strongest or the best style of karate Paul started to travel to train with other clubs. Paul trained on a regular basis with Ritchie Noblet at the Afon Lido club, Port Talbot and Mike O'Brian, at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. These two clubs had most of the Welsh squad training with them at that time. Obvious choices to improve his karate.

In December 1974 Paul was selected to represent Wales in the "European Karate under 21 Championships" to be held in Germany.

In the following year Howard Collins, the senior Welsh Kyokushinkia instructor told Paul that if he continues to train with other styles he would have to consider leaving Kyokushinkia. As Paul was running a club and was representing Wales at the time he made a decision to join Mike O'Brian and license with the Karate Union of Great Britain and convert the Bridgend club to Shotokan. Paul still trained regularly with Ritchie Noblet, where he trained with the likes of Unel, Steven and Cedric Wellington, Roberto Masterangelli (Swede), Dave Afon Jones, Andy Morgan, Mopsey, Paul Bird and many other great fighters. After his first selection to represent Wales in 1974 Paul went on to represent Wales at senior level on numerous occasions throughout the 1970's, 1980's and until his retirement from competition in the early 1990's. Paul won many individual and team titles nationally and internationally. Some include European Silver Medallist, twice Karate Union of Wales National individual and three times team champion, North Wales individual and team champion, Irish Open team winner and individual silver medallist, Northern Ireland Champion, twice Welsh Open team kata winners, Welsh Open Tamashaware, Welsh Open Knockdown medallist and many others.

As an instructor Paul has helped many karateka to reach International level such as Adam Kinsella, Carl Prosser, Haydn James, Cath Havard, Phil Cooper, to name a few.

Paul is now the Chief Instructor of the Welsh Karate Union which is affiliated to the Welsh Karate Governing Body.

  Adam’s first taste of Karate came at the age of 10, at the Cornelly Community Centre where Sensei Les Mundy and Dave Llewellyn run the Kyokushinkia Karate Club. While it only lasted for 3 months, the seed was sown. Seven years later with his leg in plaster Adam visited the Cornelly Shotokan Karate Club run by Sensei Hayden James to watch his nephew train. After the training session Sensei asked if Adam was interested in training. He said he was and once his leg was out of plaster true to his word he attended his first Shotokan Class. Wow!!. That was 1982 and the seed that was sown 7 years earlier blossomed. Adam quickly become obsessed with Karate and trained 7 days a week. Not only training at Cornelly with Sensei Hayden James but also going to Bridgend to train with Sensei Paul Watson, there were very close ties with Bridgend and Cornelly "we were already like a family then". Adam also travelled to Cardiff to train with Sensei Mike O’Brian KUW Chief instructor, and on occasion Port Talbot to train with Sensei Ritchie Noblett. Adam achieved his Black Belt in 1984 after 2½ years of hard training and his Ni Dan in 1986 after another 2 years of hard training. San Dan and Yondan came much later as Adam’s karate focus changed from personal accolades to instructing and developing the club and others.

Competition was a big part of Karate for Adam when he first started and for the next 7-8 years as a member of the Bridgend team he won many team titles and many individual trophies. He quickly became a member of the KUW team competing in inter association tournaments in both the UK and Ireland and the trophy tally grew. After becoming a well known face at competitions Adam was invited to attend Welsh squad training. In 1983 as a 5th Kyu He was selected to represent Wales at the Under 21 European Championships in Rome. Part of a 7 man squad that included the likes of Paul Bird (European medalist) and Cedric Wellington, it also included 2 representatives from the Bridgend Team, Carl Prossor and Adam, what an achievement! Adam went on to represent Wales several times at both under 21 and senior level. Adam is still entering competition today, occasionally taking trophies and inspiring the Welsh Karate Union Students to do the same...

Adam soon became the regular instructor at Cornelly as work commitments kept Sensei Hayden away from class. Over the years this added responsibility has changed the focus of Karate for Adam and he has realised that Karate has so much to offer everyone, not just the good and the great. Cornelly Shotokan Karate Club has now been running for almost 30 years and has contributed to the development of hundreds of people who have passed through it doors over that time. And since the creation of the Welsh Karate Union in 1995??? The family that started with Bridgend and Cornelly has grown and developed into many clubs across S.Wales. Sensei Adam said "As an instructor I have a responsibility to develop individuals to be the best they can be. Karate has made me the person I am today and if Karate does for others, half of what it has done for me their lives will be better."

Sensei Wayne Thomas started Karate in 1985, He was part of the Karate Union of Wales under Chief Instructor Mike O Brien and Instructor Phil Cooper in Porthcawl.  In 1989 he gained his 1st Dan and then went on to represent the K.U.W in the men's Senior International Team, he was part of this team between the years of 1992 to 1994.  He Competed against teams from the South of England and the Ireland Karate Union to name a few.  He was also picked to be in the old W.K.F under 21 squad and picked to fight in Ireland.  He was picked to be a part of the squad for the W.K.B this included members like Sensei Phil Cooper and Sensei Adam Kinsella from the  K.U.W, W.K.G.B and kyokushinkia. He was W.K.U Kata champion in 2002.  He went on to recieve his 2nd and 3rd Dans Under Sensei Paul Watson 6th Dan of the W.K.U.  Over the years Sensei Wayne has achieve many awards and medals for second and third for both Kata and Kumite.  He is now training children and adults in Cornelly and Kenfig Hill so that they may have the opportunities and fun that Sensei Wayne had over the Twenty Years that he has participated in Karate.

Darren started training in July 2004 with Sensei Adam Kinsella in the Cornelly Shotokan Club.

After a few months he became a regular committed member with his two oldest daughters on both Monday and Wednesday nights.

When the under 14 class was started Darren became an assistant to Sensei Adam on these nights.

In December Darren gained his brown belt and is due to attend the next coaching course later this year.