A HALE dad had a double reason to celebrate his son's latest success after his son took bronze in the national karate championships.

Karate coach Martin Cockx, 56, has described his son's bronze medal in the national Karate Championships as one of the proudest moments of his life after his son Alex lifted the medal.

Alex, 17, who is a sixth form student at Altrincham Grammar School, took up karate at the age of 12, at the same time his father established Hale Karate Club, which currently boasts 110 members aged from four to 70.

Martin said: “I competed in the national championships in my twenties, but never reached Alex's level so to be one of his coaches as well as his father gives me a special pleasure.”

Martin, 56, who lives in Hale, retired as a solicitor from a hugely successful career after setting up Injury Lawyers 4U, managing an £8 million marketing budget for the consortium of 220 legal firms nationwide.

His retirement was a move that allowed him to return to his first love karate and give something back to the sport.

“Learning karate at the age of 16 gave me back my self esteem and enabled me to prove to myself that I could compete with and yes beat my peers and I see the same growing self-belief in those I train today. I came from the other side of the tracks and for me importantly it also toughened me and allowed me to defend myself."

“When I retired, frankly exhausted from such a demanding career, I felt I could refresh myself and renew my spirit by taking up karate again and now nothing gives me greater satisfaction, than to see the same passion develop in my club members.”

Alex added: “Dad and I have sparred together ever since I took up the sport and it's only recently that I have begun to win.

"It's not so much the technical side I have learned from him, more the tactical approach, treating each match more as a game of chess than a physical conflict.”

Hale Karate Club is located at The Grammar adjacent to Altrincham Grammar School and meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.