Ray started training in martial arts in 1968 aged 13 at Professor Jack Holt’s club in Accrington, the headquarters of the Tegatani Martial Arts Organisation (TMAO). He was awarded student of the year in 1969 by the TMAO. The following year 1970, he won four competitions at two different events. He was first in sparring and board breaking TMAO event and was again first in sparring and first in kata at the Isle of Man championship.

At the end of the year while he was training for his black belt grading in kempo/Ju Jitsu at his local youth group building he founded our club there. He continued to successfully compete at national and international level until one year later he was graded at Sensei Phil Milner’s club in Sheffield. There, he was awarded his 1st dan by Professor Holt and Sensei Milner. He followed this in 1972 with an entry into the Guinness book of records has part of a local martial arts team who demolished a house with their bare hands.

In 1974 he was graded 2nd dan ratified by the TMAO and the BJJA. Each year following, he continued to establish his reputation as a skilled martial artist with further success in competition, public demonstrations and raising money for charity.