AFTER practising karate for almost 40 years a Nottingham man has been awarded the rare honour of becoming a 7th Dan.

Paul Mead started the sport when he was a 14-year-old schoolboy and has been having weekly lessons ever since.

Now 53, his dedication has paid off.

He is the first UK member of the Shotokan Karate International group – which has more than 2.5 million members worldwide – to achieve the grading.

"It was a real honour to achieve the grading," said Mr Mead, of Bestwood Village.

"It takes some time to get to this grading. It is a lot of hard work.

"I reached my 5th Dan in 1989 and my 6th Dan in 2000, so I may be looking at a few more years if I am going to get my 8th Dan."

To get his grading, Mr Mead, who is a supervisor in the distribution centre at Imperial Tobacco in Nottingham, had to pass three stages.

The first was khion, which tests the basics of kicks and punches, the second kata, which tests movements against opponents, and the third kumite, which involves fighting.

He has achieved it all under the tutorship of Hanshi Asano, the chairman and chief instructor of the Shotokan Karate International of Great Britain group, at the Wilford Karate School.

"I really enjoy doing karate," he added. "It is all about self defence, but has some great benefits as well as that.

"It is great for discipline, for your health and for your self confidence. It is also good for the social side as you can meet different people.

"I have travelled to more than 20 countries practicing karate. I originally started because my uncle did it and I haven't looked back since."

Mr Mead's wife Sarah also practices karate and is currently at 4th Dan grade.

He said he is hoping his three young sons will take it up.

"We joke here that we are going to form a team, but it would be great if they joined up as well," he added. "I will be encouraging them to join up."

At the same time as Mr Mead reached his grading, two of the Wilford club's other members achieved success.

Pasq Mura, 46, achieved his 6th Dan, while Danielle Asano, 33, achieved her 5th Dan.

Hanshi Asano, their instructor, said: "It is a great achievement for Paul to get his 7th Dan. He really has worked hard for it and deserves his success."