Tegwen Ecclestone - Club Instructors

4th Dan KUGB
President 2008-09
OKA Officer 2022-present

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 Sensei Richard and a succession of CUKC's own senseis and guest instructors, three and a half years later she graded to Shodan. 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 taken part 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 now enjoys the challenge of the Dan Grade categories and was proud to take 2nd place in the Ladies Dan Grade Kata at Centrals in both 2016 and 2022.

In 2013 she graded to Nidan and in 2014 she became a member of the KUGB Senior England Kumite Squad. She graded to Sandan in 2016 and to Yondan in 2022.

Tegwen thoroughly enjoys both training and teaching at CUKC. Since becoming a black belt she has taken numerous beginners' classes as well as mixed grade sessions and kata classes. Tegwen's classes are enjoyed for their energy and enthusiasm by junior and senior grades alike.