Beginning Wado-ryu karate in February 1979 under Yoshi Shinohara and the UKKW in Romford, Essex, at the age of 16, Graham embarked on a lifelong journey. After training for four and a half years, he achieved Shodan (1st Dan) and, six months later, left Shinohara Sensei and the EKA to join Higashi Karate Kai. Training at a local club under Peter Hall and the late Paul Hurst Sensei, as well as at the HKK Hombu under chief instructor Peter Spanton, he progressed to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dan, and qualified as an association referee (under Pete Whitney) and EKGB coach – Senior level. Since 1985, he has regularly taught, guiding many students to a high standard up to 4th Dan and nurturing several successful competitors at various national and local events. He has organized numerous courses, both Karate & Multi-art, and received invitations to teach in the UK and abroad, including a multi-art seminar in Portugal in 1996 and two visits to American summer camps for children in 1984 and 1993.

After much soul-searching, he left the HKK in 1996 and founded the Wadoryu Karatedo Kenkyukai in order to teach traditional Wadoryu, the style created by Otsuka Meijin, 10th Dan.

The following year, he was honored with the opportunity to become Chief Grading Examiner for the South Wales Karatedo Wadokai, a role that highlighted his expertise and dedication to the martial art. This prestigious position not only allowed him to assess the skills and knowledge of aspiring practitioners but also enabled him to contribute to the growth and development of Karatedo in the region. In 1998, after years of rigorous training and dedication to the discipline, he was awarded the esteemed rank of 5th Dan, a testament to his mastery and commitment to teaching the values and techniques of Karatedo to new generations of students.

After moving to the Southwest of England, he established a new dojo in Plymouth in 2002 and affiliated it with the Alliance of International Wadoryu (AIWa).

In March 2003, he regraded to 5th Dan under the AIWa panel, undertaking a full technical grading. The following year, the Wadoryu Karatedo Kenkyukai became a founding member of the Amalgamated Warrior Arts (AWA), a group of like-minded martial artists whose sole aim is to train together and share knowledge of their respective arts. He was also invited to become the Southwest representative for the AWA and served as their Child Protection Officer.

In May of 2005, he graded to 6th Dan under a joint AIWa and AWA Dan grade panel.

On the 23rd of September 2012, he took a technical grading for 7th Dan under Chris Thompson, 9th Dan, technical director of the English Karate Federation. This grade is recognized by the European and World Karate Federations alike.

In 1995 he qualified as a fitness instructor (YMCA). He is a Boxercise & Kickboxercise coach and has been a practitioner of Yang style Tai Chi, Ju-jitsu and Bo-jitsu. He has taught self protection & awareness at various schools in Devon & Cornwall, to Scout groups and to adults since 2003.

In over 40 years he has studied under many famous Masters and teachers in Wado and other styles of Karatedo. He has attended courses and trained under the following Wado teachers:

Hironori Otsuka II, Toru Arakawa, Katsumi Hakoishi, Tatsuo Suzuki, Mizuho Ashihara, Kuniaki Sakagami, Toshiaki Maeda, Shingo Ohgami, Shuzo Imai, Fumio Sugasawa, Rob Zwartjes, George Grimes, Tony Heap, John Moreton, Joe Balko, Barry Wilkinson, Willie Vincent, Mick Rapley, Colin Clapperton, Steve Rowe, Mike Sutcliffe & Gwyn Evans. 

He has also trained under many varied and well known instructors including:

In Karate: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Koei Nohara, Ticky Donovan, Dominique Valera, Cezar Borkowski, Patrick McCarthy, Chris Thompson, Tetsuhiro Hokama, Masakazu Kinjo, Kinjichi Uezu, Yoshinobu Ohta, Terry O’Neill, Steve Cattle, Terry Pottage, Pete Whitney, Alan Flook,  Dave Wheatley,  Timmy Francis, Vic Charles, Jeoff Thompson, Roy Jerome, Steve Gul, John Smith, Viv Nash, Chris Rowen, John Richards, Steve Quinn & many others.

In other arts: Mally Holmes, Alan Tattershall, Kevin Pell & Brian Herbert (Ju-jitsu), Dave Rubens & Master Inoue (Aikido), Paul Wheel (Muay Thai),  Yoshitaka Gakiya, Craig Finch, K Nohara, M Kinjo, T Hokama, K Uezu, C Borkowski  (Kobudo), Neil Garland & Bob Poyton (Tai Chi) & Ron Holt (Kenjutsu/Budo). 

His philosophy on Karate: Train hard to understand yourself and others.