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On Sunday 11th November we held a very large grading for students nervously taking their first steps onto the grading ladder of 9th Kyu Yellow belt all the way through the grades to students attempting their 1st Kyu grade – the last Kyu grade before black belt.

We once again had a 100% pass rate – and I am proud of the high standards that as a club we are now renowned for – yes in arears there can still be improvements made and some students will have feedback to work on – but as a group largely the standard is brilliant.

I shall start as always thanking those who helped and supported the grading on the day – I always say this but without these people’s valued assistance, days like gradings would be impossible tasks to hold. Thank you then to Senior Instructors Sensei Gavin Oliphant, Sensei Martin Thomas and Sensei Martin Wilmot. Club Instructor’s Sensei Del Knowles, Sensei Jack Churchouse, Sensei Kirsty Churchouse and Sensei Paul Webber. Junior Instructor’s Nathan Crowther and Taigen Swinburn, Sempai Karen Jackson, Junior Sempai’s Brandon Crowther, Danni Williams, Ben Churchouse and Katie Knowles. And to students Paul Preston, Jordanna Williams and Rohan Williams. Thank you also to Sensei Yvonne Crowther for all the admin work, time and effort put into preparations for the grading.

The room was packed with family members and friends all keen to support their loved ones and also everyone else grading too, for some parents this was their first experience of a club grading – and we hoped you enjoyed watching your children or family members from the sides. Everyone was brilliant and really took on the role of getting behind the students – particularly in the kumite section – clapping and encouraging them all on until the very end. Parents and Carers thank you for your continued support – we are extremely lucky to have such supportive and encouraging families and your lovely comments and actions are really appreciated.

As it was Remembrance Sunday we started the grading with asking everyone to stand for a minute’s silence – there were an awful lot of people in the room and some of our students were only five years of age but the silence was upheld impeccably and you could have heard a pin drop – it was a lovely touching tribute to all those that sacrificed their lives for the sake of others – and the minutes silence was ended with a rousing round of applause from everyone.

As mentioned, we had a lot of young students grading – some of those were attempting the grades of yellow belt and very excited to be in their first club grading! All the white belts - both younger and older students, worked really hard all afternoon. They looked like they really enjoyed meeting new people and seeing the higher grades perform. Well done to you all – Congratulations on your new yellow belts and keep up the great work!

The same can be said for students going from 8th Kyu Orange belt to 4th Kyu Purple belts – there are some fantastic students coming through the ranks – and it’s really great to see students evermore progress and advance within their karate. There were some real noticeable differences in development for some students from the last grading – and it was clear to see that these students had increased their training hours and had been working extra hard in classes.

We always mention by name those students who gain the Senior grade of 3rd Kyu Brown belt and above – these students have been training for a number of years and have been determined to overcome challenges within their karate. Their sheer drive to continue moving forward is what gains them these high grades so we personally Congratulate each and every one of the students named below:

Abigail Mackie – 3rd Kyu

Abigail is a lovely gentle girl who always tries her best in every class, she is a real pleasure to teach and has some great friends within the club. Abigail very rarely misses classes and has trained with Sensei Simon since a white belt along with her mum Emma. Abigail is very determined and is consistently improving within her karate – she has not always found certain aspects of her training easy but when Abigail overcomes these it makes it all that bit more special and worthwhile, and it’s an absolute joy to see her achieve her personal goals. Abigail worked hard all afternoon at her grading and was very determined to achieve her senior grade, she did every section with a smile on her face and never once thought of quitting. Abigail had practiced her kata’s well, and she coped brilliantly in the kumite. Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu Abigail, very well deserved. Keep up the great work!

Oliver Preston – 3rd Kyu

Oliver is a quiet young man – who just calmly get on with his training, he is extremely polite and seems to be enjoying his karate. Oliver always concentrates and listens hard in classes and tries his best at everything he does. He regularly trains along with his dad Paul and is a pleasure to have in the dojo.   Oliver did very well at his grading, his katas were of a good standard and were executed well. He had good clean basics and some nice stances and he showed that he had been working hard leading up to his grading. Oliver worked extremely hard in the kumite section and coped brilliantly despite having some challenging rounds. Oliver is starting to gain confidence in all arears of his karate and this is something we will continue to work with now he is eligible for senior class.   Well done Oliver, keep up the great work! Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu!

Ella Chalk-Derby – 3rd Kyu

Ella as one of our younger female members is a great student to have in classes – we can be forgiven for thinking Ella is actually older than her age because she is so tall! She is a very mannerable student and seems to be enjoying her karate. Regularly training along with her mum and sister – Ella always tries in classes and is progressing well through her grades. She is now beginning to take her karate more seriously as she gets that little bit older and this is now reflecting in her standard more. Ella worked very hard at her grading – she focused throughout all day and was determined to give each section her all. She had well practiced kata’s and good understanding of basics. In the kumite section which is one of Ella’s stronger points she coped fantastically well in all arears and was easily able to cope with all sparring partners she was given. Well done Ella – Congratulations, a well-deserved 3rd Kyu! I look forward to seeing you in Senior class as you progress towards your black belt.

Nicola Snowden-Pears – 3rd Kyu

Nicola is one of our talented adult females within the club, she trains along with both her husband and two children – who are also brilliant, and she is doing really well! Nicola is a fantastic student to have in the dojo, she listens intensely to everything she is taught and then puts it straight into practice. A popular member within the club, Nicola has lots of friends and they have a fab time together both in and outside the dojo. Nicola worked extremely hard at her grading she completed every section fully and showed some lovely basics and kata’s. In the kumite section Nicola was pushed further than in previous gradings and at times looked like she was struggling a little – but she dug in and was determined to see her grading through and get that Brown belt. Congratulations Nicola – a very well deserved 3rd Kyu grade! I look forward to seeing you in Senior class now.

Laura Brogden – 3rd Kyu

Laura is another of our great adult females and another really lovely and popular student. She is a very dedicated student and along with son Henry they very rarely miss classes. Laura was super keen to attain her Brown belt as she is really looking forward to starting senior class, a valuable class for all 3rd Kyu’s and above. Laura has improved since her 4th Kyu grade and from the very start of her grading was determined to give each section her all. She had some lovely clean basics and good kicks and her kata’s were clean and had been practiced well. Again, like Nicola, she struggled a little in the kumite section as she hadn’t experienced that amount of intensity before – but she gritted her teeth and kept going throughout showing great spirit and determination. Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu Laura, brilliant work!

Lisa McKenzie – 3rd Kyu

Another brilliant adult student Lisa is very determined and doesn’t really let much get in her way – despite major surgery on her wrist she was soon back in the dojo training away and determined to get that next grade! She trains regularly with her two children and is super keen to improve herself in all areas of her karate. Lisa always tries her best in the dojo and we consider ourselves lucky to have such great females training in our classes and helping to set the bench marks for other female students who are lower grades. On the grading day Lisa worked tirelessly all afternoon, she didn’t let anything faze her and gave every section her all. Despite taking a knock to her wrist in the kumite section she took everything in her stride and coped brilliantly all day. Like Nicola and Laura, Lisa is also super keen to start Senior Class, and I look forward to seeing her continue to improve as she works towards her black belt. Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu Lisa – very well done. Keep up the fab work!

Gary Churchouse – 2nd Kyu

Gary one of our male adult students – is a great member to have in the club and another of our students who is determined to succeed no matter what. Gary a popular guy within the club has his wife Sensei Kirsty and Son Sensei Jack along with Junior Sempai Ben to keep him in check and he is doing a great job making them all super proud! Gary is always very supportive of everything we do and is a great character to train around, he always tries his hardest in classes and never gives up if he doesn’t get something at first – which says a real lot about his character.   Gary worked very hard at his grading and despite carrying a personal injury didn’t let that stop him going for his 2nd Kyu. He completed all his sections well and showed some well-practiced and clean kata’s, and nice basics. In  kumite Gary has earned himself the nickname ‘Rocky Balboa’ for his formidable long arms and lightening quick speed! Gary seems to thrive in the kumite section and although being pushed hard he didn’t let anything faze him at all. Well done Gary! Congratulations on a very deserving 2nd Kyu – keep up the brilliant work!

Ocean Patel – 1st Kyu

Ocean is one of our popular younger members of the dojo and is quite a character to have around. He trains regularly along with his sister and is starting to make good progress in his karate. A popular member with our younger students Ocean is good natured and always polite. Since attending Senior class – Ocean has started to become more attentive in lessons and he has significantly improved both in concentration levels and stances. Ocean worked hard at his grading – he didn’t stop all day and was pushed hard in each section as he was going for his final Kyu grade. He showed some good practiced basics and kata’s – something that he’d been working on in Senior class – and some well controlled kumite. When pushed in the kumite section – Ocean didn’t lose his temper, held his control and kept pushing forward showing he has gained character in this area since his last grading. Well done Ocean – Congratulations on your 1st Kyu – next stop Black Belt!

William Marland – 1st Kyu

William is a lovely polite young student and a real pleasure to teach in the dojo. He always tries his hardest in every lesson – listening attentively and then putting it into practice and he is now growing both in confidence and ability. A brilliant student to train around he is a popular member within the club and like many of our other students is very loyal and supportive in everything we do. William has significantly improved since his last grading – something that was pointed out to me on the day from other Sensei’s, and all his lessons at Senior class are definitely paying off for him. William worked tirelessly all afternoon – showing some lovely basics, good clean kata’s and lovely stances. In the kumite section William was pushed harder than ever before – and he definitely came out on top showing real steely determination and a character that was absolutely superb! Congratulations on your 1st Kyu William – absolutely brilliant! I look forward to seeing you attempt your black belt grade next year!

Lydia – May Geddes – 1st Kyu

Lydia is a fabulous student to have in the dojo and is vastly improving all the time. She is working very hard at her karate and it’s all starting to pay off for Lydia now. An absolute pleasure to teach, Lydia is a lovely popular girl who always listens well in classes and tries her hardest at everything. She has significantly improved since her 2nd Kyu and she seems to be really enjoying her karate. Lydia worked tirelessly all afternoon at the grading and coped with all sections brilliantly. She had very clean basics and stances and good practiced kata’s and executed them all with real confidence. In the kumite she was pushed harder than in previous gradings – but coped with all situations well and was very determined to succeed showing good control and movement. Lydia is now starting to believe in herself much more and this is really good to see! Well done Lydia. Congratulations on your 1st Kyu – keep working hard towards that black belt next year!

Georgia Jackson – 1st Kyu

Georgia is an absolutely lovely student to teach and a real delight to have in the dojo. A popular member with other girls of her age Georgia is super talented and has progressed through all her grades well. Along with her mum Sempai Karen Jackson she rarely misses classes and is a very loyal and supportive student. She always tries her hardest in classes, is extremely polite and always has a lovely smile on her face. Georgia has trained really hard leading up to her 1st Kyu grade and was very determined to successfully achieve her new belt. At the grading Georgia displayed well honed basics and kata’s and had some lovely kicks and stances. In the kumite section she handled everything well and was unfazed by all opponents, even in the two on one section right at the very end. I am extremely pleased how much progress Georgia has made and I look forward to seeing her attempt her black belt grade next year. Very well-done Georgia – Congratulations on your 1st Kyu.

 

On Sunday 7th October we held a open kata seminar in Blackpool with National Kata coaches Jonathan Mottram and Aimee Sell.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported- it was lovely meeting new people from other clubs and making new karate friends. 

The turnout was fantastic with over 90 students travelling from Essex, Newcastle, London, Wales, Leicester, Yorkshire and Manchester to take part. With a lot of Musuko Karate Academy's students also super eager to attend it was a huge event and everyone had a fantastic day.

Children and adults alike enjoyed the challenge of new kata's and lots of our younger students were wowed training alongside a lot of the National England Kata Squad members.

It was an amazing day and there are already plans in place to host another event like this next year. Watch out for the date coming in the new year - with the fantastic feedback we received it's going to be another busy one!

 

From Monday 15th October - Saturday 21st October 2018 we will be 'Wearing It Pink' karate belts in all classes in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this fantastic cause - we have had a huge response! 

Photos will be taken in all classes nightly showing everyone wearing their belts and posted on our Facebook Group.

 

 

On Thursday 16th August 2018 two of our super talented elite squad members flew out to Finland to compete as part of the EKF Youth Squad Team and to represent England in the Helsinki Open Championships on Saturday 18th August.

Brandon Crowther and Danni Williams both aged 13, were chosen to represent their country in both individual and team kata in their respective categories. 

After a brilliant and very positive training session on the Friday afternoon both Brandon, Danni and the rest of the EKF Youth Squad were very excited but fully prepared for the tournament the next day. 

On the morning of the comp they all travelled to the arena together as one whole team and all looked extremely smart in their England tracksuits. The whole squad were very keen and eager to get on the tatami and perform their kata's, and the strong bond and suppport they had with each other was brilliant to see. 

After some really strong opposition in his individual rounds we are delighted to announce that Brandon achieved a Silver medal in the Boys U14 Individual Kata and a Gold medal with his team mates in the Boys U14 Team Kata category. 

Danni  also had some really tough oppostion to contend with in the Girls U14 individual rounds and sadly narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in repercharge. However, Danni then came back stronger and more determined than ever with her team mates in Girls U14 team kata to secure the Gold medal postition - an amazing result!

Musuko Karate Academy are very proud of these two brilliant young athletes and we're sure there will be many more successes coming their way in the future as they continue to stride forward on the competitive circuit.

Huge Congratulations to them both!                       

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Congratulations to all our tournament kata squad teams who competed at the Central England Championships in Worcester on Sunday 1st July.

In what was a particularly high standard of competitors in really large categories everyone did amazingly well and whether medal winners or not this time we are extremely proud of you all and commend you for getting onto the tatami and giving it a go.

Below are the athletes who achieved medal placings:

Molly Wignall-Smith - Silver - Girls 4th Kyu & below 13-15 yrs individual kata
Brandon Crowther - Bronze - Boys 3rd Kyu & above 13-15 yrs individual kata 
Jordanna Williams - Bronze - Girls 3rd Kyu & above 13-15 yrs individual kata
Lydia Paterson - Bronze - Girls 9 yrs & under individual kata 
Brandon Crowther & Danni Williams - Silver - Pairs kata 13-15 yrs 
Brandon Crowther, Danni Williams & Lauren Welsh - Silver - Team kata 13-15 yrs
Taigen Swinburn, Jordanna Williams & Lauren Welsh - Bronze - 16yrs+ Team kata

 

     

 

                         

 

         

 

 

 

On Sunday 24th June we held a black belt grading for twelve students who were attempting the grade of Shodan-Ho, Shodan or Nidan grades.

Due to the dedication and hard training here at Musuko Karate Academy we had another 100% pass rate! Yes - there were some areas where there can still be improvement in students, but generally the standard was very high!

Many thanks to those who gave up their day to assist – Sensie Julie Dudley, Sensei Gavin Oliphant, Sensei Martin Thomas plus our special guest instructor who kindly agreed to sit on the grading panel. I know from your comments that you were all very impressed by the overall standard and I couldn’t do days like grading’s without your brilliant support.

Thank you to all the parents and families who supported on the day, and who drive their children around to the karate classes, grading’s and events all year round, your ongoing support and commitment to the club is fantastic!

I must also mention the people who kindly gave up their day to assist with the grading and jumped in line to partner and support those grading.  Sensei Jack Churchouse, Sensei Kirsty Churchouse, Junior Instructors Nathan Crowther and Alfie Appleby, Sempai Karen Jackson and Christian Schofield and Junior Sempai's Ben Churchouse and Lucy Hulme.  Thank you to each and every one of you. Your commitment to the club does not go unnoticed.

We are sure the whole club will join us in Congratulating the students individually named below along with their new ranks.

To get to these grades in Karate takes many, many years of dedication and it takes a very special student to go all the way to black belt and then continue beyond that with their training. Some students simply hang up their belts when they achieve it, thinking that is the end result but this action is an awful waste.

We sincerely hope that the students listed below will continue with their training for many years to come as their karate journey truly only begins at black belt level….

 

Paul Webber  – Shodan-Ho
Sensei Paul has continuously trained at the Fleetwood dojo’s since a white belt and tries his hardest in every class and every challenge he is given. He is a great example to the other adult male students in the club and enjoys his role of Sensei immensely. He is becoming a great teacher and his confidence within classes is growing.  He is a fantastic student to have in the club and along with partner Sensei Julie Dudley, supports every event we hold.  Paul has always been consistent with his training and this has really helped his karate to improve at every grade he has achieved along the way. Paul worked really hard at the grading, he put effort into all the basics and tried his best at everything. His combinations were generally performed to a good standard, his kata’s were lovely and clean and had been practiced well and his basics were done with confidence and assertiveness. Paul’s kumite is his stronger point and he is now also starting to show much more control and respect in kumite rather than just throwing kicks and punches around, he was really pushed in this section but remained calm and composed throughout and showed great character in his karate. Congratulations Paul, you thoroughly deserved your Shodan-Ho grade. Well done!

 

Freya Hulme -Shodan-Ho
Freya is one of our brilliant young female students in the club and a real little pocket rocket. Freya is only ten years of age and has made great progress in her karate as she has steadily come through her grades. Freya is consistent with her training, and her focus and effort in class is improving all the time and this along with her belief in herself is helping her karate tenfold. She is a real little character in the dojo and can often make everyone laugh with her comments and facial expressions. She is also a popular member in class and has made some great karate friends. At the grading Freya was brilliant from the start, her basic overall karate was sharp and clean and her kata’s were practiced and flowed well. She had brilliant kicks and her general basics were very good. Freya also handled the kumite section amazingly well for someone so young. She dug in, unfazed by any of her sparring partners, and showed kumite of great speed and control. Congratulations Freya a brilliant effort all day and fully deserving of your Shodan-Ho!

 

Lauren Welsh – Shodan-Ho
Lauren is one of our super talented young females who has been training with Sensei Simon from a white belt. Lauren has always had strong karate in all areas, and the sky really is the limit for this young lady. She has had numerous successes in tournaments and is a member of our Elite Kata Squad. Lauren is an absolute delight to have in the dojo, she tries her hardest in every class and absorbs everything shown to her like a sponge!  Lauren was brilliant at her grading her combinations were very sharp and brilliantly executed, her kata’s are done with real confidence and are very clean and all her basics are of someone more advanced than Lauren’s current grade. Lauren was also fantastic in the kumite section, she held her nerve and just got on with what she had to do, showing everyone around some brilliant kicks and controlled punches. Lauren has lots of friends within the club and is a great role model to have in the dojo. A lot of the younger female members look up to her and she is a fantastic Junior Sempai and takes her role seriously.  Congratulations Lauren on your Shodan-Ho. Keep up the fab work!

 

Jack Southern – Shodan-Ho
Jack is a very dedicated student and started karate at the Fleetwood dojo’s at a very young age. He has trained consistently ever since and this is a real testament to his determination and drive to succeed. Jack is still only ten years of age and a real little pocket rocket. For someone so young he has remained focused throughout all his gradings and really made brilliant progress. He is an absolute pleasure to have in the dojo, is a popular member in class and has made some great friends. All the years of training for Jack came down to his grading day and it all paid off. After a nervous start he got his head together and then was not fazed in any areas and just got on with the job in hand. Jack has good all round karate, his basics are quite strong and his combinations were completed well. Jack’s kata’s were of a good standard, nice and clean and he was confident when performing them which was great to see. In the kumite section Jack handled all aspects brilliantly –  every section was very admirable to watch and he worked tirelessly all afternoon showing why he really deserved his Shodan-Ho grade. Very well done Jack, Congratulations!

 

Jacob Greaves – Shodan
Jacob is a lovely and quite shy young man in the dojo who has been training at the Fleetwood dojo’s from a white belt. He has always tried his hardest in classes and is a real pleasure to have in the dojo. Jacob enjoys teaching and helping others in the dojo and this is really good to see. On the grading day Jacob was extremely focused from the start, his basics and stances were good, and his kata’s were well practiced and clean. In the kumite section Jacob did really well and showed a greater maturity with his understanding of control and distance, and when pushed Jacob took it all in his stride and stayed very composed throughout. Jacob’s karate will improve even more I’m sure as he continues to make great strides in classes. Congratulations Jacob on your Shodan achievement. Keep up the great work!

 

Harvey Atkinson – Shodan
Harvey is a polite and thoughtful young man who has been training with Sensei Simon from a white belt. He has always had good consistency in his training, and tries his hardest in every class. He has taken his role as Junior Sempai with a flourish and really enjoys teaching others and is a fantastic example to the younger kids in the club.  Harvey’s karate is really coming along, he has significantly improved in all areas since his Shodan-Ho grade and his kata and kumite are of equal strengths. At the grading Harvey gave it his all from the very start, his basics and combinations were all good and his kata’s were controlled and practiced well, he showed some lovely hip work and he went through all sections of the grading efficiently and with real confidence. Harvey’s kumite was also very good with controlled movement and skill. He handled the whole day really well and it showed that he has listened and put into practice what he has been taught in classes. Well done Harvey and Congratulations on your Shodan – a very deserving grade!

 

Daisy Oliphant - Shodan
Daisy is one of our fantastic young female students and another real little pocket rocket! Daisy has again been training with Sensei Simon from a white belt and is a very devoted student and along with her dad Sensei Gavin supports every event we do. Daisy is a popular student in the club and has made lots of karate friends, she is super talented, and I don’t think she realises how good she really is! She is an absolute delight to have in classes and always trains well. Daisy was brilliant at her grading she had good basics in all areas of her karate, her combinations were done to a really good standard and her kata’s were very tidy and precise and you could see that they had been practiced well. Her kumite was very controlled and although Daisy got extremely tired she didn’t give up and continued to push through to the very end. Daisy gets very apprehensive and nervous before grading’s but she comes through strong once the gradings begin and this is a real testament to her sheer drive and determination and I am so proud of Daisy for this. Congratulations on achieving your Shodan Daisy – a fantastic achievement!

 

Yvonne Crowther- Shodan
Club Manager and Sensei Yvonne has worked tirelessly through her grades. Rarely missing classes she has been a steady student who also tries her hardest in the dojo. In between running the club admin and her teaching role on Friday’s at the Chorley class she is rarely out of a gi these days – but she enjoys the logistic challenge (or so I’m told). Karate hasn’t always come naturally but she has kept moving forward - never giving in, and this has encouraged other female adults to take up karate, and to challenge themselves.  Yvonne did really well on her grading day, completing all sections cleanly and holding her focus and nerve all afternoon– not easy in front of Sensei Simon! Her combinations were clean and her kata’s had been practiced well. During the kumite section on a very warm day, she held her focus well and didn’t allow anything to faze her and handled the whole grading much better than her Shodan-Ho grade. Two on one sessions with Sensei Kirsty and Sensei Julie really pushed her but she remained calm and in control throughout and kept going right through until the end.  Congratulations Yvonne, very well done on your Shodan grade. Brilliant work!

 

Mike Jordan – Shodan
Mike is one of our adult students who has been training with Sensei Simon since a white belt. He is an absolute inspiration to all adult students as considering his age (I know he won’t mind me saying that) he is so determined and focused and really wanted to attain his Shodan grade no matter what!  Mike is very consistent with his training and despite a tough year in some ways he is never defeated and always upbeat. On the grading day Mike showed that he has significantly improved since his Shodan-Ho and he was brilliant all afternoon, he worked tirelessly through every section and it was very admirable to watch. His basics and combinations were all done to the best of his ability, and his kata’s were well practiced and done with confidence.  In the kumite section he was unfazed and handled each opponent and situation very well. When pushed in kumite he stayed controlled throughout and handled everything with real composure.  A very well deserved Shodan grade Mike. Congratulations, you should be really proud of what you have achieved. What a fantastic achievement!

 

Martin Wilmot - Nidan
Martin is another of our male adults in the club, and really enjoys his karate. He has trained with Sensei Simon from a white belt and has always been a consistent and focused student within his training. Martin is a brilliant student to have in the dojo and supports everything we do, he is a popular member in classes and is a great asset to the club. Martin always tries his hardest when challenged and has good karate in all areas which really showed at the grading. His basics and combinations were to a generally good standard and he performed his kata’s well. Martin was pushed hard in the kumite section but showed control and distance and handled this section much better than when he attempted his Shodan grade. Martin had constantly attended Senior class leading up to his grading and this definitely paid off for him on the day. Martin is now a Sensei in his own right and runs successful classes in Blackpool on Tuesday and Friday evenings with a significant number of students who all have a good standard. This is a testament to Martin’s keen interest in karate and his own personal development moving forward. Brilliant work Sensei Martin. Congratulations on your Nidan grade and keep up the fantastic work you are doing!

 

Brandon Crowther - Nidan
Brandon at thirteen years of age is one of our youngest members to attain the grade of Nidan. Brandon has trained in karate from the age of four as a white belt and has trained around four to five times a week ever since! He is part of our Elite Kata Squad and has had numerous successes in tournaments, he has also recently been chosen to represent England in the EKF Youth Kata Squad which is an amazing opportunity.  Brandon is very determined in his training to succeed in everything he does, and always trains with 100% effort and focus. Brandon has strong karate in all areas, his basics are very good and he has really good combinations. His kata’s are very well practiced with outstanding stances and he has some beautiful kicks. Brandon could have more Kimae in his karate but this is something to work towards in the future as he is still quite young. Brandon also has good kumite with control but needs to aim for more power as he gets older. If Brandon continues to train like he currently is - and with the same drive and detemination, he has a fantastic karate future ahead of him. Congratulations Brandon on your Nidan grade. Keep up the fab work!

 

Danni Williams – Nidan
Danni joined us from another club around eighteen months ago and has become one of the clubs best young females and is a fantastic student to have. She is a lovely polite young lady and an absolute pleasure to teach. She has formed a close bond with Brandon Crowther and they are constantly seen working together in classes. Danni’s karate continues to go from strength to strength, she is a member of our Elite Kata Squad and has had numerous successes in tournaments, she too has also recently been selected for the EKF England Youth squad and will compete for her country - an amazing achievement. She is another of our students who supports everything we do and she absolutley loves her karate and trains four or five times a week. Her drive to succeed is very admirable and she always trains with 100% effort and focus. On the grading day Danni was brilliant from start to finish, she has really good basics and her combinations were generally of a good standard.  Danni’s kata’s were extremely good and she showed her true ability brilliantly, executing them with real kimae and control.  Danni also has really strong kumite, she has good kicks and punches and she stays in control and never loses her temper when pushed showing real grit and determination. The future is very bright for Danni, I'm sure she will have a fantastic karate future ahead of her and that she will continure to have many more great successes moving forwards. Congratulations on your Nidan grade Danni a fantastic achievement and one you should be really proud of! 

 

 

On Sunday 17th June 2018 we held a grading at Fleetwood for students grading from their very first grading of white belt all the way through to students grading to 1st Kyu. Everyone on the day was superb and give it their all – for some of our very young students this was their first taste of a club grading but they all behaved impeccably and showed some real promise for the future!

Once again thank you to everyone who helped and supported on the day and for giving up your time to assist – Senior Instructors Sensei’s Julie Dudley, Gavin Oliphant and Martin Thomas. Club Sensei’s Del Knowles, Martin Wilmot, Kirsty Churchouse and Jack Churchouse, Junior Instructor Nathan Crowther, Sempai Christian Schofield and Junior Sempai’s Brandon Crowther and Danni Williams and to Sensei Yvonne Crowther for all preparation and admin work for the grading.  You were all a fantastic help on the day and a vital part of days like gradings.

To the parents and family members watching – thanks again for being superb throughout and being so encouraging to all those grading – you truly are a fantastic bunch of people and are for ever supporting everything we do! I often say this but to have such supportive families is fantastic and we are extremely grateful for the time and effort you take bringing your children to classes and events.

We once again had a pass rate of 100% and this is a great testament to our Instructor’s and Sempai’s  and the time and effort they put into every student to ensure they get the very best out of them and ensue they are prepared for days like gradings.

Back to the grading - and very well done to all our new yellow belts who showed real effort and determination all afternoon – both children and adults alike all worked very hard and showed some great karate off, there are definitely some promising students to watch for the future. I hope you all enjoyed your first club grading.  Congratulations on your 9th Kyu’s.

Our new 8th Kyu Orange belts showed significant improvement from their 9th Kyu grading and seemed to really enjoy themselves all afternoon and gave real effort throughout  – well done to you all!

We had a particularly large number of 7th Kyu Green belts, 6th Kyu Red belts and 5th Kyu Blue belts grading – who all worked very hard throughout the day.  Congratulations to you all on achieving your new belts.  You are now at the halfway stage of your Kyu grades – keep up the great work and continue to train hard to ensure you move forward on time for future levels.

Congratulations to all our new 4th Kyu purple belts – all brilliant on the day and vastly improved since your last gradings. You are all now one Kyu grade away from senior grades! Your understanding of karate should be vastly improving, and your basic learning of Heian kata’s is almost complete. The key to developing your karate and moving forward is to train regularly and apply what is being taught and you will have no problems obtaining these senior grades in the future. Well done to you all!

We always name those students who reach grades of 3rd Kyu and above – these grades take many years of training and dedication to reach, and although the timescale of reaching them may differ from student to student, nonetheless every student will have gone through massive personal achievements to obtain these grades.

Therefore, huge Congratulations to the following students –

 

Paul Preston – 3rd Kyu

Paul is a true gent and is a great person to have in the club. He is very respective in the dojo and always tries his hardest at everything he does. He takes his karate very seriously and always applies what he has been taught. For Paul achieving the milestone of 3rd Kyu was a huge achievement as he had trained in karate previously a number of years ago but due to circumstances outside his control had to stop training just before reaching his 3rd Kyu. Paul did brilliantly at his grading he worked extremely hard from the offset and gave every section of the grading his all. His kata’s and combinations were nice and clean, his basics were completed with good technique and his kumite was controlled and had good distance and understanding. Paul is eager to start senior class now which he has already enquired about – and he understands this is an essential part of training for anyone wishing to move forward in these higher Kyu grade and black belt levels. Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu Paul, a very deserving grade. Well done!

 

Matthew Lacy – 2nd Kyu

Matthew is a lovely guy and a real pleasure to have in the club. He has improved again since his 3rd Kyu and has a great understanding of all his karate across the board – his kata’s are precise and very clean  and he has good hip work, however his kumite still needs a bit more control but I’m sure this will come with time. Matthew is a very determined student and his extra practicing at home and in the dojo before the class starts has paid dividends as he makes great strides forward. Matthew coped brilliantly with all aspects of his grading and nothing really troubled him all afternoon. Congratulations on your 2nd Kyu Matthew, keep working hard as you get ever nearer to your black belt.  

 

John Lacy – 1st Kyu

John is another lovely guy to have in the club and has trained at the Chorley dojo since a white belt. John has significantly improved since his 2nd Kyu,  he now has a better understanding of his kata’s and his basics are becoming much cleaner and with much more technique. His kumite is also showing much more control and is not as wild and thrashy as in the past. John did brilliantly at his grading, he was very determined to gain his 1st Kyu and from the very start gave every section 100%. He definitely handled the day better than previous gradings and it’s a real pleasure to see how far John has come in his karate. Congratulations on your 1st Kyu John – next grade black belt!

 

Karen Jackson – 1st Kyu

Sempai Karen is one of our fantastic female students in the club – she enjoys her role as Sempai and takes it very seriously. Karen is making great strides in her karate and is improving all the time. She always attends senior class, and this is the key to Karen’s success moving forward. Karen always applies herself to everything she does with full focus  – sometimes she is a little hard on herself but that’s because she cares so deeply about her training. Karen coped brilliantly all afternoon at her grading she had nice clean kata’s, good tidy basics and good controlled kumite. She was extremely tired towards the end and was pushed further in her kumite section than ever before – but she dug in deep, showed real character and never gave up. Many Congratulations on your 1st Kyu Karen – a thoroughly deserved grade!

 

Emma Mackie – 1st Kyu

Emma is another of our brilliant female students – she is very determined about her training and applies herself really well at every class, trying her hardest at everything she does. She rarely misses classes including senior class and is really making fantastic strides in her karate. Emma worked tirelessly all afternoon at the grading – she was focused throughout and displayed, good clean kata’s and basics and nice controlled kumite. She was pushed hard in the latter stages of the kumite section but she dug in and just kept going – despite being extremely tired. Emma should be proud of how far she has come and I know she has the determination and drive to go all the way to black belt and beyond. Well done Emma, a fantastic achievement. Congratulations on your 1st Kyu!

 

Max Gray – 1st Kyu

Max is one of our fantastic young male students in the club. After coming back to training after breaking his leg not once but twice –  it’s really great to see him back in class again and we have all missed him! Max is a lovely polite student, he tries his hardest at everything he does and is a real pleasure to teach. It’s never easy to get back into the swing of things after taking time out but Max has just slotted back in and carried on where he left off. Max was awesome all afternoon at his grading, he was unfazed in every section and gave everything asked of him his all. He had lovely basics and kata’s and his kumite was well controlled and had good distance. Max should be extremely proud of all he has achieved so far, he hasn’t let his injury hinder him and he has a real steely determination to move forward with great purpose. Congratulations on your 1st Kyu Max. A very deserving grade. I look forward to seeing you attempt your black belt very soon!

Three students from our Elite Tournament Squad Team recently travelled to Leicester on Saturday 26th May for the British 4 Nations Championships. 

After competing in tough rounds in individual kata against some brilliant competion Nathan Crowther who is also in the EKF Junior 'A' squad and Danni Williams  who is in the EKF Youth Squad both came away with a Silver medal each in their respective categories - a fantastic achievement for their first British 4 Nations event!

Massive Congratulations Nathan and Danni we are so proud of you both!

Brandon Crowther who is also in the EKF Youth Squad, and is EKF National boys champion for his age group was really poorly on the day but Brandon being as determined as he is still insisted on competing - he did well in his rounds of individual kata and narrowly missed out on a medal position - well done Brandon we loved your sheer drive to still compete even though you could hardly speak and had a high temp!

Keep going guys - you and the rest of our tournament squad members are doing an amazing job!