Trevor Jarrett
5th Dan
Trevor stared his Karate training in 1977, he was dragged along to a Karate classes by his sister Elaine, she had gone along to what started as a self defence for women class but later was opened up to men as well and changed to Karate tuition, the classes were taught by Trevor Huges from Tiverton, (see club History) when Trevor and a few of the others had graded a few times, he stared teaching the second lesson each a week. Most of Trevor’s Kyu, coloured belt, gradings were taken with Sensei Sherry, but he was lucky enough to train with and be graded by Japanese instructor Sensei Tomita on one of his visits to the UK, they had to travel to Barnstaple to grade every three to six months.
In 1980 Trevor won the Southwest championship, Kata up to purple and white belt category. In 1982 Trevor successfully graded for his balk belt under Sensei Enoeda, the week after Trevor Huges passed on complete responsibility for the Cullompton club to him. He has taught nearly every week, twice a week since then!
In 1986 he won the Black belt Kata at the south west championships and came 2nd in the Southern region championships, in 1988 he gained his 2nd Dan black belt. Trevor has always travelled to the Southwest, Southern and National championships and began helping to referee. He later attended the two-day referee and judges course in Coventry and was successful at the judges exam in 1995, and referee in 1997.
Trevor successfully graded for his 3rd Dan on 5th April 1997 . In this year the Karate Union Of Great Britain introduced an examination for an instructor qualification in line with sports council guidelines, Trevor passed this in April 1998
At the nationals in 1999 he was one of small group that was presented with certificates to mark their 20 years membership of the KUGB. Trevor passed his 4th Dan in 2002, also in this year he was made up to assessor for the instructor qualification program. In 2004 he again entered the Southern Regions and came 4th
25 March 2007 Trevor successfully passed his 5th Dan making one of the highest grades in the area.
Trevor is also the instructor at Exeter University club, taking over teaching there in 2000.
Trevor’s wife also trains she is a 4th Dan, in 2002 she received her 20 years certificate, also in this year his son Matthew gained his black belt. His daughter Zoe passed her black belt grading in 2008,the youngest son also trains.
Elaine Lane 2nd Dan
As talked about above Elaine started self-defence classes in 1977 she trained for several months but had to stop when she married and fell pregnant. she had two sons, when the youngest was 18months old she came back to karate, the club by now being run by brother sensei Trevor. Elaine says she enjoys practicing Karate, it's something she does for herself, she admits that Gradings are not her strong point, they were worse than taking my driving test!!, but the grade does not matter as long as you enjoy the training and physical and mental benefits of taking part in it over time. Elaine gained her first black belt in 1993 and was eventually persuaded to take her second Dan in December 2005(and passed).