On Sunday 18th June, we held one of Musuko Karate Academy’s largest black belt gradings to date and it was yet another fantastic grading – after every grading we don’t think the effort and standard can get any better, but each grading seems to surpass the one before!
The grading had students attempting the ranks of Shodan-Ho, Shodan and Nidan and we are extremely proud to announce we once again had a 100% pass rate after a fantastic and admirable effort from all grading on what was one of the hottest days of the year so far.
Many thanks to our special guest instructor who agreed to sit on the grading panel (you know who you are) and to Sensei Martin Wilmot who gave up his day to sit on the panel and assist grading with the Shodan-Ho’s.
Thanks to Sensei Paul Webber, Sempai Christian Schofield, Sempai Karen Jackson, Junior Instructor Nathan Crowther and Junior Sempai’s Jack and Ben Churchouse and Brandon Crowther, who assisted and encouraged those grading. Your help as always is invaluable!
Many thanks to all the parents, family members and friends who supported and encouraged those grading all day, you certainly helped to spur everyone along towards the end when they were very tired.
Congratulations to Sensei Julie Dudley, Sensei Gavin Oliphant and Sensei Martin Thomas who are now Senior Instructors after gaining their Nidan levels, and Congratulations also to Club Manager and Sempai Yvonne Crowther who now becomes a club Sensei with immediate effect.
Black belt gradings are such special days. For an Instructor to see a student achieve their black belt, or next Dan grade is an amazing experience and I am so very proud of you all. The Shodan-Ho’s really held their own in their first black belt grading, all kept their nerve and did amazingly well. The Shodan’s all showed great improvement from last time they graded and really stepped it up a notch, and the Nidan’s all really came into their own, after a few nervous starts, and rightly showed that all their years of dedication and training all came down to grading day and they were ready to deliver.
To quit at black belt is an easy option – assuming you have ‘achieved it all’, but gaining a black belt is truly only the beginning, to stop training means you are a black belt no more. The real learning starts from the moment that black belt goes around your waist, you then get back in the dojo and the journey continues.
Please take note of the feedback that you were all given on the day – this will only help you all to improve your karate even more.
I have every confidence that all those named below are truly dedicated and I look forward to seeing them ever more progress in their karate. Congratulations to each and every one of you!
Kieron Gray – Shodan-Ho
Kieron is a very talented young man who has always consistently trained and very rarely misses classes, along with his brother Max they are an absolute pleasure to teach and are both truly lovely boys and popular members of the club. Kieron’s karate continues to get better and better, he has recently been selected for the Musuko tournament squad, and after entering his very first tournament two weeks ago came away with two bronze medals – an amazing achievement! Kieron was superb at his grading, he has very clean karate and lots of kimae and he really showed off everything he has learned over the years. He stayed focused throughout and handled his kumite session very well indeed. Congratulations Kieron on your Shodan-Ho keep up the magnificent work and we very much look forward to you taking your Shodan grade very soon!
Martin Kershaw – Shodan-Ho
Martin along with his wife Amanda and daughter Amy joined us from another club around ten months ago, and after an initial settling in period, Martin is now beginning to make great strides in his karate. He is a real character in the dojo and he very often makes the students laugh with his funny antics, he is very determined though and under that exterior he does take his karate seriously. Martin has worked really hard these last few months and he did brilliantly at his grading, rarely putting a foot wrong. He worked tirelessly throughout and he was aware of the things he needed to correct and did this all successfully. Martin was really pushed in the kumite section, but he just kept going with gritted teeth and handled all situations superbly. Well done Martin and Congratulations on your Shodan-Ho, your sheer determination and effort shone through and you thoroughly deserved your grade. Next step Shodan!
Michael Jordan – Shodan-Ho
Michael joined Musuko Karate already a Dan grade in other forms of martial arts but was keen to learn Shotokan karate. Mike has always been a superb student to teach, always humble and always trying his best at whatever he is shown. I’m sure Mike won’t mind us saying that he is currently our oldest member in the club – but this has gained Mike lots of respect, as he has never asked for special treatment or an easier training session. Mike was brilliant on his grading day, from the start he worked tirelessly and with good concentration, and even managed to throw in a bit of humour. He completed every section well and gave it his all, showing what a true karate-ka he is. Congratulations Mike – it was a great honour to see you achieve your Shodan-Ho, and everyone is extremely pleased for you. Keep up the great work – and we have no doubt you will attain your Shodan. Congratulations!
Yvonne Crowther – Shodan-Ho
Club Manager and Sempai Yvonne has not always had an easy ride to Shodan-Ho. Sensei Simon has been tougher on her than most students, but Yvonne wouldn’t really want it any other way! She is rarely out of a gi these days – training three times a week as well as helping to teach the younger students at the Chorley dojo, despite all this she rarely misses classes. Karate doesn’t always come naturally for Yvonne, 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 was starting to tire but kept going with a great steely determination. Two on one sessions with Sensei Kirsty and Chelsea were interesting to watch, but the three of them generally took care of one another and could be heard constantly encouraging one another through it. Congratulations Yvonne, very well done on your Shodan-Ho and on becoming a Sensei. Next step Shodan
Oliver Spencer – Shodan
Oliver is a thoughtful young man, who can be a grumpy teenager at times ..but we love him all the same for it! Oliver tries his hardest at everything he does. He is a great role model to the younger students in the classes and is an absolute pleasure to teach. Rarely missing classes, Oliver is a popular student within the dojo and has made good friends with other boys of his age. Hopefully Oliver now truly believes in his karate as it is strong in all areas. Oliver did brilliantly on his grading day, from the start he pushed himself 100% and gave it his all. His basics were very good, and his kata’s were full of kimae and had been practiced well. Oliver coped amazingly well in the kumite section and showed a greater maturity and understanding than at his last grading of Shodan-Ho, being much more in control this time and able to deal with situations much better. Oliver seems to be really enjoying his karate and we are really pleased for him that he is achieving so much. Well done Oliver, Congratulations on your Shodan you thoroughly deserve your grade!
Katie Knowles – Shodan
Katie is a lovely thoughtful student and never really misses any classes, she has made some good friends within the dojo and always trains with a smile on her face. Along with her dad Sensei Del they are two students who always support everything we do. Katie has worked hard leading up to her Shodan and has consistently practiced her kata’s over and over before class – with guidance from Sensei Del. Katie enjoys helping and teaching white belts and young students, her gentle caring nature really helps to settle our younger students and she takes her role of Junior Sempai seriously. Katie did really well on her grading day, she was well prepared and after her Shodan-Ho knew what was expected of her, her basics, combinations and kata’s were all nice and clean and she completed them all with confidence. In the kumite section Katie continued to show much better understanding and control, in the past Katie may have be troubled a bit in this area, but now Katie is much more confident and virtually came through the whole section unfazed! Congratulations Katie. Your Shodan belt symbolises all the demanding effort you put in to achieve it. Keep up the great work!
Lucy Hulme – Shodan
Lucy is another lovely girl, who rarely misses classes. Junior Sempai Lucy has always had good clean karate and along with her sister Freya they are a pleasure to teach. She is a popular student in the class who always has a smile on her face, she has made some great friends, and seems to be really enjoying her karate. On the grading day, with mum Jenny and dad Chris proudly watching from the side Lucy gave it her all from the word go. All those years of regular training and dedication really helped Lucy and she coped brilliantly from start to finish! Lucy had excellent basics in all areas, her combinations were clean and had been practiced well and she had brilliant effort and focus. In the kumite section Lucy handled everything thrown at her amazingly well and showed off those fantastic kicks of hers to their full potential, letting nothing faze her. Well done Lucy, a thoroughly deserving Shodan grade. Keep up the brilliant work and wear that Shodan belt with pride!
Kirsty Churchouse – Shodan
Sensei Kirsty is a popular member within our club and has made lots of friends. She started training around four and a half years ago and has consistently trained since – rarely missing classes and trying hard in everything she does. Karate hasn’t always come easy for Kirsty but this has made everything she has achieved so far even more admirable, and again like Yvonne she has been a great role model in encouraging ladies to join in with karate. Kirsty also enjoys her teaching role within the club and is very often seen helping out at Sensei Julie’s class on Thursday evenings. Along with husband Gary, and son’s Jack and Ben – karate is a real family affair for the Churchouse family and they support everything we do. Kirsty did brilliantly on her grading day, she completed all areas with good focus and tried her hardest at everything that was thrown at her. In the kumite section Kirsty’s kumite was much more controlled – much less crash, bang, wallop and this helped her to cope with the section much more comfortably. Her sparring session with Sensei Julie was interesting to watch but she coped very well, and never gave in even when Kirsty took a slight kick to the head! One of the overall key factors of the day for Kirsty was seeing a huge stride forward in her karate from when she took her Shodan-Ho grade. Congratulations Kirsty on your Shodan, a fantastic achievement! Be proud of everything you have accomplished, we look forward to seeing you in your new Shodan belt soon.
Chelsea Grundy – Nidan
Chelsea is another of our very talented teenagers. Chelsea has again been training with Sensei Simon from a white belt and is a very devoted student. She supports every event we hold and her karate means an awful lot to her. She is a popular student in the club and has made lots of good friends. A member of our tournament squad team Chelsea has had brilliant success of late attaining a silver medal in the pairs kata with Amy Kershaw a few weeks ago, a fantastic achievement for their first competition together as a pairs team! Chelsea is a real pleasure to teach, she has worked hard on her karate over the years and her dedication and determination to succeed is now showing real results for her. At her Nidan grading, Chelsea’s kata’s and combinations were extremely good, showing great movement and making them look effortless! Her kumite was very good and nice and controlled, in fact no area troubled Chelsea all day! She is now growing much more in confidence and will I’m sure continue to be a great role model to the other young females within the club. Huge Congratulations on your Nidan Chelsea. Keep up the fantastic work you are doing!
Alfie Appleby – Nidan
Alfie is a polite and thoughtful young man who has been training with Sensei Simon from a white bel. Along with his mum Sensei Julie he has consistently trained and rarely missed classes. Alfie has always enjoyed his training, and supports all events we hold. He is a popular member of the club and has made some great friends. Alfie is a member of the Musuko Karate Academy squad team and has very recently had brilliant success in Liverpool winning two bronze medals in his first attempt at pairs kata with Keiron Gray. Alfie’s karate has significantly improved as he has got older he now has much more speed and strength in his movements and as Alfie continues to train hard his karate will just keep getting better and better. He has great karate in all areas and his kata and kumite are of equal strengths. At the grading Alfie gave it his all from the very start, his basics and combinations were all extremely good and his kata’s were controlled and practiced well. Alfie’s kumite was also very good with good clean controlled moves and a greater maturity and understanding than when he graded to Shodan. We are very proud of Alfie’s achievements and all his training and pushing himself hard is now starting to pay off for him and show real results. Congratulations on your Nidan Alfie, brilliant work young man, keep training hard and aim high!
Martin Thomas – Nidan
Sensei Martin is a very dedicated student and Instructor who very rarely misses classes, his training is always consistent and he totally loves his karate. Martin is an extremely popular member of the club both with adults and children alike and he has a fantastic personality. He teaches along with Sensei Martin Wilmot on Tuesday evenings at the Blackpool dojo and between them they have a great class that is growing in numbers all the time. Martin has always made people laugh with his funny stories and antidotes and real characters like Martin help to make the club what it is today. Martin has good all-round karate and has worked extremely hard over the years to constantly improve his technique. His kata’s are practiced well and he has brilliant kumite skills. After a nervous start on his grading day Martin soon settled and put into practice all those previous years of training, he worked tremendously hard all day and was thoroughly deserving of his Nidan grade. Congratulations Martin on both your Nidan grade and becoming a Senior Instructor, keep up the brilliant work you are doing and of course keep making us all laugh!
Gavin Oliphant – Nidan
Sensei Gavin is another great person to have in the club, his larger than life personality is well known but Musuko Karate Academy has always been very dear to him and he is fiercely loyal. He supports everything we do and really enjoys his karate. Gavin is always willing to help anyone who asks for his help, and he enjoys having great banter with the other men in the club. Gavin started training as a white belt with both his children, and since then has rarely missed a class, and has progressed well through his grades. Gavin has always listened carefully and then put into practice what he has been taught, he has made great strides as an Instructor teaching on Friday evenings at the Carleton dojo and his students are progressing well through their grades. Gavin worked tirelessly from the start on his grading day, he was 100% focused and determined to give everything in each section. All his years of training came into their own and he coped very well all day. Gavin did all his basics and combinations to a very good standard, and he had great focus and kimae in the kata section. In kumite Gavin likes to give it his all, and he handles sparring opponents brilliantly, sometimes tiring but never giving in. Gavin you are so very worthy of your grade – Congratulations on both your Nidan and becoming a Senior Instructor. Keep up the splendid work you are doing!
Juliie Dudley – Nidan
Sensei Julie is our highest ranking female adult in the club and a fantastic role model to all the other female adults. She is a very caring person and is happy to help anyone if they ask for help, she cares deeply for the club, is very loyal and we are very lucky that she and other Instructors support us like they do. Julie is extremely passionate about her karate, and this reflects in her own training and that of the class she teaches on Thursdays. From speaking to other females, we know that Julie is a great inspiration to them all and has a lot of respect within the club, in fact you only need to see Julie with her students to see this. Julie started training as a white belt along with son Alfie, and again has rarely missed a class since, she supports everything we do and even got boyfriend Sensei Paul Webber hooked on karate too - such is her love for the sport! Julie was brilliant on her grading day, fully focused and absolutely determined to give everything to every section. Julie’s combinations, basics and kata’s were all lovely and clean and had been practiced immensely well. In kumite Julie is brilliant and is one of our top kumite females, she is known in the club to be fearless, and can certainly hold her own – enjoying many a good humored kumite bout with most of the male adults too! All the years of dedicated training and commitment have all paid off for Julie with fantastic results. Congratulations Julie on your Nidan grade and new position as Senior Instructor. Amazing work all round and thoroughly deserved, well done!