Suzy stepped onto her martial arts path in 1987 with Judo and at the age of 7 found her understanding in grappling and throws. Being also a Dancer and a Gymnast her life began to be very demanding, making it difficult to focus on Judo as much as she would have liked.

Early in 1994 at the age of 14 her path unknown to her was about to be awoken. Suzy was assaulted, and soon after determined that she needed to pick up her confidence and ability to defend herself. With the help of her father in her Dorset Town of Weymouth she kick started her training again with International Okinawan Go Ju Ryu Karate, taught by 3rd degree Stuart Edwards, and never looked back.

Suzy continued to train when her dojo had closed down in 1999 but supported her efforts with Tae Kwon-do taught by 4th degree Nick Bale until she started her Law Degree at Brunel University in 2000. Brunel Dojo was starting its transition from Shotokan to Go Ju Ryu Karate so Peat Sensei was delighted of Suzy’s Go Ju Ryu experience and welcomed her to join the Brunel family.

In 2002 she was drafted into the dojo team for the BUSA British Nationals Karate Tournament. She went through intense training in both the gym and cardio along with other members of the team. At this tournament she was very successful and won Gold, becoming the BUSA British National Universities Kata Champion 2002. Other members of the team were also successful taking away 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal.

The dojo had opened new doors along Suzy’s path and soon after enabled her to be awarded her Brown belt by her Sensei and Shihan Barry Mitchell.

Although Suzy was studying and training hard she would supplement her karate by travelling to Florida and being taught American Kenpo by 9th degree professor Manny Reyes.

Unfortunately her Brown belt path at this stage became strewn with obstacles and she was in need of her Sensei’s teachings, which were given to her in Belgium in 2004 during an International Gasshuku. Suzy then came to fight through her path until she attained her Black Belt in Go Ju Ryu Karate in England 2005 at an international grading under Shihan Yamanaka, Shihan Giovanni DeMeglio, and Shihan Barry Mitchell (plus many other renowned Masters).

Being a Black Belt was nothing that Suzy had expected, in fact she felt like she was a White Belt again with plenty yet to learn. With this feeling in mind she made her way to Canada for 4 months to train at a family dojo ‘Shuhari’. Just an hour away from the Yamanaka Budo Life Center, Shuhari, home to Shihan Harrow, became to open Suzy’s eyes to differences in training styles and teaching. With the help of Sifu Harrow at Shuhari, Suzy began to grasp the true basis of Sigung Chong’s Shaolin Kung Fu (literally translated to ‘skill from effort) and she continues to train with Sifu David Ramsey who heads the Shaolin for the U.K.

During this 5 month trip Suzy had a unique training experience when she was invited to stay at the home of Shihan Yamanaka in 2005. She had experienced his life style and personal teachings which expanded her views again of the martial arts wider than she had imagined.

Suzy although now graduated from Brunel with her Law Degree has also completed her Legal Professional Course and is well on track to becoming a Solicitor. Amongst being a lawyer Suzy still continues to train under Sensei Nathaniel Peat, and now with over 18 years experience in Martial Arts her Karate strives to aid others in their self defence and their own mystery paths of martial training.

From her experiences before and after stepping onto her path, she remembers always her dojo motto being:

“Before your hand goes out pull your anger back, before your anger goes out pull your hand back”

And will always remember:

“If you know your martial arts well, you will never have to use it” “If you train hard, you will never have to use it” ‘Shihan Harrow’