A KARATE master has set up a martial arts school in the city under the advice of his teacher in Japan.

Tim Houghton, who is a sixth dan black belt, started karate when he was just ten.

Now 40, he said he has always been fascinated by the dynamics of the art.

Mr Houghton, from Shoreham, said: “I trained in traditional karate in Japan, which is called Reiwaryu Ryushinkan Karate-Do. ‘Do’ means ‘way’ or ‘method’ in Japanese.

“My master said I should open a dojo in the UK so in 2014, I started a school in Brighton called Reiwaryu Ryushinkan School of Karate.

“I chose Brighton because it’s an open-minded community that always wants to try new things.

“Karate is not just about striking and self-defence, but it’s also about meditation. Brighton is also a place that embraces activities that help build up mind and body connection.

“So I thought this would be a the right place for the school.”

The school’s headquarters is in Tokyo.

Mr Houghton said this style of karate is elegant, dynamic, yet powerful.

And he dispelled some of the myths and misunderstandings of martial arts.

He said: “When you learn martial arts, it’s not just about self-defence. You can’t perform miracles with it, like the ones you see in films where one person can beat ten people.

“Martial arts trains you to be aware of your surroundings, and awareness of your own strength and your opponent’s strength.

“Reiwaryu Ryushinkan is also very relevant to the modern world. For example, we test our students to break blocks to see how they prepare for any challenges.

“There is no room for self-doubt, you are committed to a single strike. If you hesitate, you will fail. This trains students not to be afraid if there are obstacles.

“I use Karate-Do philosophy in my life and it has been very helpful. It has taught be to focus on self-improvement.

“My students are aged eight to 50. I plan to run outdoor exercise classes in Hove Lawns to encourage people to stay active.”

Mr Houghton has more than 20 students and runs his class at the Brighton Youth Centre in Edward Street.