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Jack in his early years had always been interested in martial arts and boxing but hadn't really followed it to any degree until his wife Iris started going to the hairdressers. With time on his hands he would wander to a bookstore and discovered a book on aikido and was fascinated by it. Having bought and studied it. he decided to seek out an instructor.

He discovered Alan Pirie who'd been involved in a whole range of sports including judo and wrestling for many years. It was he that trained Jack at the onset of his journey.

Jack says aikido differs from other martial arts in that it is totally defensive. There are no attacking moves and says there's a spiritual aspect to aikido which is concerned with self-development and improvement. However, in training a wooden sword called a bokken is sometimes used along with a 'tanto' or dagger to help perfect certain moves.

The Cavendish Aiki-Do Club where Jack acts as instructor takes place weekly at the Garden Village Police Club building in East Hull and welcomes people of all ages and abilities.

Aikido has a world-wide following and the main picture shows Jack in London along with his son on the far left, another instructor and some other students at an event to enhance their skills.

Jack has also visited Japan and briefly met with Mr Okamoto. Born in 1925 this Japanese practioner is reputed to be able to fend off an attacking opponent with barely a movement and garners tremendous respect amongst the martial arts community.

Later this month a charity event is being organised involving martial arts and is due to take place at the Haltemprice Leisure centre. The event (International Budo Course 2008) takes place from June 28th-29th and has attracted some of the world's instructors including some from Poland and Australia.

Money raised form the Β£20 entry fee will go to help the Cavendish Club and other clubs affected by the floods of 2007 and the Richard House Children's Hospice based in London.