A KARATE instructor from Ellesmere Port has followed the trail blazed by his late father and achieved his sixth dan black belt.
Lee Williams, 46, is a senior instructor at Ellesmere Port Shotokan Karate Club and he joins an elite group of people in the UK to earn this high-ranking martial arts honour.
Lee said: “It is a very big honour to be awarded this.
Throughout the country there are only half a dozen men who have this ranking – it is a very prestigious position to hold.
“When my father Colin, who was a seventh dan, passed away I took over the position of chief instructor at Shotokan Karate.”
Lee picked up the honour at the Colin Williams Bukonkai Tournament, held annually in Luton his father’s honour.
“I intend to carry on until the year dot, until I can’t do it anymore,” added Lee, who was just eight when he started training in karate.
Lee got his promotion from fifth dan after being assessed by the sport's governing body over the years.
They kept a close eye on his performance and that of his students and everything he contributed to karate before deciding he was worthy of elevation.
