The Tom Hoesli Interview

Question 1

Congratulations Tom on recently passing your 1st Dan. How did you feel when you were told you were successful?

Answer

I was so relieved and excited that I had passed. It made all the preparing and the extra training completely worth it.

Question 2

Were you nervous or confident before the grading?

Answer

The day before and the morning of the grading I was quite nervous. But when it came to training, then during the grading I felt alot calmer than I had expected and was quite confident.

Question 3

What year are you in at school Tom? What benefits do you think karate training can offer young people?

Answer

I am in year 10 (4th year), and I think the benefits of karate for young people are fitness, discipline, confidence and what I think is most important self defence.

Question 4

Why did you take up karate?

Answer

I took it up as I wanted to be able to defend myself and I wanted to offer all that I could to Shotokan karate.

Question 5

Who is the biggest influence on your karate?

Answer

Apart from Sensei Ingham and the other higher grades in our own club, it has got to be Sensei Toze and of course Sensei Ohta who I imagine is a big influence on many other peoples karate. He is someone that I would love to one day have a fraction of his skill in Shotokan karate.

Question 6

What is your favourite aspect of karate?

Answer

I enjoy all karate and I enjoy learning new katas and kumite techniques.

Question 7

Do you have any ambition in karate and if you have what are they?

Answer

I would like one day to instruct myself and to be able to teach in the true spirit of Shotokan karate.

Thank you for this interview Tom and all the best for the future.

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