AN ARTHRITIC karate instructor with two artificial hips has been graded as a Sixth Dan black belt.

Teacher Allan Parrish, 55, from Hadleigh, was diagnosed with arthritis in 2005 and has since undergone two hip operations.

Mr Parrish earned the grading after two days of intensive training on the World Traditional Karate Organisation International Course.

Mr Parrish said: “I was devastated when I was diagnosed in 2005, but luckily, I was eligible for an operation – and I’m not the type to give up easily.

“So after extensive rehabilitation and hard work, I was back karate training as normal.

“I never dreamed, when I started training in 1974, I could reach a level very few achieve.”

Mr Parrish had a second operation in 2012, meaning after battling back to fitness, he had to go through a second resurfacing and start all over again. After resuming a second time, he travelled to train in Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA to prepare for his grading.

To achieve, it he was required to perform a choreographed routine, chosen at random from everything he had learned.

Mr Parrish also had to take part in a free sparring session and answer questions on technical self-defence.

Having go this far, Allan will no longer be able to progress by a simple grading system.

Seventh to Tenth Dan gradings are honorary and given for special merit and experience.

Allan, a teacher at the Westwood Academy, in London Road, Leigh, is now the highest graded Shotokan karate instructor in the area.