Question 1

Is Luke injured again?

Accepted Answer

Probably

Question 2

What Kata is Luke attempting

Accepted Answer

Hangetsu

Question 3

How I Started

Accepted Answer

I started Karate at the age of 5 because of dyslexia and dyspraxia, and my parents were advised that the sport would help with my hand to eye coordination.

(It didn’t help, for many, many years)…

Question 4

Training as younger Kyu Grade

Accepted Answer

Originally I trained at Ware club in 1998, run by Senseis Bill and Ange, but was taught by Senseis Tony & Owen (brown belts at the time). I trained at many different ESKA clubs during my younger years, including St Albans, Stevenage, Aston, Hertford, Hitchin and Sandy.

At one of the old ESKA mini Olympics Sensei Paul Grimsey asked me if I wanted to join the Kata Squad, and shortly after that introduction I began training with Sensei John Gillespie at Hatfield / Birchwood. This is my main dojo to this day.

I got my Shodan in 2010, (with ESKA) while I was at university, I commuted back from Wales for training and gradings.

Question 5

Training / Cross Training, as a Shodan / Uni

Accepted Answer

I was at university for 6 years and trained in Traditional Japanese Jujitsu at Mori No Yokai Dojo, Tanjun Dojo and Jinenkan Tatsumaki Dojo.

This was all in addition to training Karate (at ESKA) when possible.

Previously I also dabbled in Wushu and Tai Chi with, Shi Yan Wu at the CCCUK (2009)

Question 6

Injury / Recovery

Accepted Answer

After university, I came back to Hertfordshire and full time karate, with hopes of doing my Nidan, this is when I had a Total Achilles tendon rupture, while sparring at Birchwood (2016) and I was out of action completely for around a year after the surgical repair.

This was a devastating injury, and while the surgery was successful the overall recovery process took approximately 6 to 7 years, as I had to rebuild my fitness from scratch, re-learn Karate, and most important learn to trust my Achilles again.

Question 7

Covid

Accepted Answer

Towards the end of that time we had covid and lockdowns, I continued my training and attended zoom classes, as well as training on my own.

Question 8

Recent Years

Accepted Answer

Once the world reopened, I set my sights on the Nidan again, and upped my training to three times a week, I was ready to go for my Nidan in 2024, when I received broken ribs and a fractured sternum while sparring at Hatfield, recovery from this took 10 months as the cartilage at the sternum was very slow to knit back together, resulting in a slipping rib and trapped nerve. Eventually cortisone injections in to the nerve under ultrasound resolved the issue.

Following recovery, I increased my training to four sessions a week, with the occasional five sessions a week.

And now I’m here at the grading… hopefully… injury free…

Question 9

Qualifications

Accepted Answer

Shodan - 2010
Instructor certification - 2023

Question 10

Teaching

Accepted Answer

I often assist and teach at Birchwood and Hatfield clubs as needed.

Question 11

Courses / Seminars by - (I don’t remember the dates)

Accepted Answer

Twenty Years Of ESKA Millennium Event 1999 
Sensei Patricia McCarthy 
Sensei Kanazawa 
Sensei Wayne Otto
Sensei Steve Pell - The Gasshukus (I attended at least three) 
(All ESKA Events and Courses over the years)

Question 12

Competitions

Accepted Answer

AMA International 2010

Question 13

The Future

Accepted Answer

I see the Nidan as a new beginning for me, this is very much a life long journey, and iv’e just hopped back on the road.

the aim is to get the grade and train for the ESKA competition, as a prelude to entering the competition circuit next year… I know there is a lot of work to do, and I am under no illusions about my abilities. I want to use competitions to test myself under pressure, to improve my responses under stress.

Aside from that, I wish to focus on bunkai and the roots of Budo Karate, so that I can get a better understanding of the art, its origins and its practical uses.

Luke Santilli

Adventure / Lifestyle Photographer & Karateka

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