An Aylesbury karate coach was left delighted after his encouraging nature shone through on the grandest stage of all after picking up the Disability Coach of the Year at the UK Coaching Awards.

Dirk van der Merwe has spent the past six months dedicating his time towards sustained participation in karate, a venture that has already helped several hundred young people across Buckinghamshire.

A paraplegic wheelchair user, van der Merwe is a third dan in karate, using his skills and knowledge to encourage young disabled children and their parents to take part in sessions across three regions.

It’s a venture which earned the 44-year-old a gong at the UK Coaching Awards at Holiday Inn, Wembley, on Tuesday night – something which he had never imagined in his wildest dreams.

“It’s a massive surprise; I never thought this would happen. I just do what I love, it’s an amazing feeling to be here as an award-winner,” he said.

“It’s been a long journey getting here, I love coaching but for me it’s all about giving value to the person and not to the sport.

“I’m a former world karate champion so I know what people need, but it’s different for every person – that’s what you have to spend time working out. While a lot of karate is about technique, it’s more about getting yourself there in mental and physical preparation.”

Originally from the Netherlands, van der Merwe has also spent time as a mentor on a disability coach support programme, another string to his award-winning bow.

And he was to be given his prize at the UK Coaching Awards, the annual celebration organised by Sports Coach UK, honouring sports coaches and coaching organisations who have demonstrated outstanding success over the previous 12 months.

HRH The Princess Royal was also on hand to present the awards, making it a truly special night for everyone involved in the capital.

But despite his efforts being considered by many to be a job, van der Merwe believes his role is far too much fun to be given that title, keen to increase the number of disabled coaches granting their knowledge to the sport.

“The most important aspect is to have fun and a person will find himself within that, I absolutely love martial arts and as a coach it is your duty to empower that person to have that love,” he added.

“Coaching is fun, fun, fun. Competition is important but at the end of the day, the man or woman, girl or boy may come to the class every day and have a competition within themselves as a person to get better or just even to get there.

“For them being there is a competition won, a goal achieved. There are different stages and you must make space for everyone.”

The UK Coaching Awards honours sports coaches and coaching organisations that have demonstrated success over the previous 12 months.

This year’s winners came from 11 different sports – highlighting the very best of coaching from high performance to community, from children to disability.

Find out more about coaching in the UK at www.sportscoachuk.org