KARATE coach John Tumman this week joined his father by being awarded an ‘eighth dan’ black belt by the English Karate Federation on his 60th birthday.

John, who has been involved in the sport for more than half a century and runs Shaw Lane-based Barnsley Karate Centre, was presented the award by his dad Jed, 87, who is also an eighth dan.

The highest belt you can be awarded in karate is tenth dan.

Tumman won an English title twice then, as a coach, produced a host of English and British champions while his students won three European bronze medals.

He has worked in ‘nearly every school in Barnsley’ putting on karate after-school classes and self-defence classes for girls, while he raised £80,000 in sponsored events for local charities including a walk from John o’Groats to Land’s Ends in karate suits.

John said: “It was a very special moment for me.

“The EKF board look at what you have done to promote karate in England over your years training.

“Hopefully I have contributed to the youth of the town in keeping them safer.

“I’ve never chased higher grades. It never made me any better.

“I just continued to train, coach and enjoy my karate. The only thing that makes me take higher dan grades is because the backlog of my own black belts students who you hold up, as they respectfully wait for me to move up first. I’ve been in karate 52 years and loved every day, every competition, every class and hope every student has taken something away that’s made them feel more safe.”