‘Memoirs Of A Karate Fighter’ is a gripping and hard-hitting story of karate training in one of Europe’s toughest dojos during the 1980s. The author is the novelist Ralph Robb, who, in his much younger days, was a Wado Ryu karate champion (UKKW 1982) and a European all-styles silver medallist.

Ralph gives an insight into the training methods and philosophy of the Wolverhampton YMCA karate club which was once the top club in Britain. The YMCA won innumerable tournaments but amongst its greatest achievements were two All-styles British Clubs championships, five UK Wado team titles and one Shotokan national team championship (1976 GB Shotokan Karate International)- the only team in the history of British karate not to practise that style ever to do so. Within its ranks were one world, twelve national and three European champions.

REVIEW

‘Memoirs Of A Karate Fighter’ by Ralph Robb is more than just a memoir. My interest was piqued by the blurb. Of course, we do learn of Ralph’s journey within the karate circles, the tough training and the eye-opening details we learn. I must admit I have never had an interest in any martial art and it was the era Ralph grew up in that really drew me in. The 1980s and all the stuff that came along with that particular time, I was born in 1971 so was a teenager in the 80s and this account of Ralph’s as a black Karate fighter took me straight back to that time. I will never forget peoples attitudes back then to anyone who was different; black, gay, traveller and the list went on. I knew as I began this book I would be revisiting those horrible times and my heart went out to Ralph.

I thought it a very honest and from the heart account of how he experienced these times. I enjoyed reading about him from his childhood right through to him maturing to an adult. I really was drawn into Ralph’s world and had a feeling that was almost akin to pride as his story unfolded. This did surprise me as I don’t always enjoy memoirs but Ralph Robb’s life and the way he depicted it had me from the first chapter.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Ralph Robb for the copy of the book.