On Sunday 26th November we held a black belt grading for students attempting the ranks of Shodan-Ho, Shodan and Nidan. Black belt grading’s are always a special affair and our November grading was no different. We are very pleased to confirm that we had a 100% pass rate from the ten students who attempted grading on the day. After a few nervous training sessions leading up to the day, everyone really stepped up their game and did brilliantly.
The grading panel consisted of Brian Seabright 7th Dan – Chairman of the B.K.A., Sensei Simon Crowther 3rd Dan, Sensei Julie Dudley 2nd Dan, Sensei Gavin Oliphant 2nd Dan and Sensei Martin Thomas 2nd Dan. Many thanks to you all for assisting on the grading panel and being a huge help.
We also had a number of fantastic people who wanted to be involved and help on the day these were Sensei Martin Wilmot and Sensei Paul Webber, Junior Instructor Nathan Crowther, Sempai Karen Jackson, Junior Sempai Alfie Appleby and students Amy Kershaw and Chris Morley. Thanks to you all for once again doing a fab job, your help was invaluable!
The atmosphere at black belt gradings can sometimes be quite intense and the parents and supporters watching from the sides did a fantastic job cheering and encouraging all those grading and keeping everyone motivated all afternoon – a huge thanks to you all - not only for your support on the day but all year round bringing your children and family members to events and classes.
To gain grades of Shodan-Ho, Shodan and Nidan takes many, many years of dedication, commitment, sweat and even sometimes tears! The euphoria when you achieve these grades though is ecstatic and is what makes these grades so special. Congratulations to you for obtaining these grades. You all have weaknesses and strengths in different areas but your combined effort and sheer determination at the grading is what makes you all so special.
Four-hour grading’s are no easy feat - but as students we know you wouldn’t want it any other way! The most exciting thing about earning these grades is that your karate journey now only truly begins! We very much look forward to seeing you all progress and learn even more in the coming years.
We are sure everyone in the club will join us in congratulating you all on your massive achievements.
These fantastic and amazing people who graded are all named below along with their grade ranks.
Jacob Greaves – Shodan - Ho
Jacob is a quiet student who has consistently trained at the Fleetwood dojo’s since a white belt and he very rarely misses classes. He is a popular member within the club, and has made lots of good friends. Jacob takes his karate very seriously and he particularly enjoys helping others in the dojo with their karate, showing great leadership skills. Jacob did really well at his grading, his basics and kata’s were all strong and he gave it his all from the start. If Jacob was nervous he didn’t let it show, and he did everything that was asked of him. Jacob also coped brilliantly in the kumite section, and although tiring quickly towards the end of the grading he never stopped working until he was told to. Brilliant work Jacob and many congratulations on your Shodan-Ho, keep working hard now towards that Shodan grade.
Harvey Atkinson – Shodan – Ho
Harvey is a very thoughtful and polite student who has always tried his best at everything he does, and he is an absolute pleasure to teach in the dojo. He has trained consistently since a white belt at the Fleetwood dojo’s and has steadily made substantial progress through his grades. Harvey has a lovely gentle personality, is a popular member of the club and is well thought of. Harvey has good clean basics and kata’s and his understanding in kumite is starting to come together much better. Harvey was well prepared for his black belt grading as he has been regularly attending senior class which has helped him really concentrate on areas of his karate massively. Harvey knew what was expected of him on the day and coped brilliantly throughout – if there were any nerves they certainly didn’t show! He stayed focused throughout and gave real effort to everything he did. We are all so proud of how far Harvey has come and look forward to seeing him continue to progress as he works towards his Shodan grade. Congratulations Harvey – brilliant work!
Daisy Oliphant – Shodan – Ho
Daisy is one of our talented young female students in the club and is a little star in the making! A popular student she has lots of female friends and has a lovely little character. She has consistently trained regularly since a white belt at the Fleetwood dojo’s and has great guidance from her dad Sensei Gavin and Semapi Karen. Daisy is only ten years of age but won student of the year in 2015 and has also had great success in external karate tournaments she has attended. Daisy was brilliant at her grading, despite being a little overcome with her emotions at the beginning of the day, she soon settled down and showed off some beautiful basics and kata’s. Her combinations were very strong, and she also had really good kumite. Daisy should be so proud of how far she has come she has achieved so much as such a youthful age, and I don’t think she realises how good she really is. The grading panel all very much look forward to seeing Daisy attempt her Shodan grade next year. Congratulations Daisy – fantastic work! Well done on achieving your Shodan-Ho grade.
Connor Mooney – Shodan-Ho
Connor is a brilliant student to teach and always tries his hardest in the dojo, he is really focusing on his karate again now and making great strides. Connor has a great personality and has made lots of good friendships with other students of a similar age. No one could be prouder of Connor than his instructors and what Connor has achieved these last twelve months, after an initial wobble about his karate there has been a huge turn around for Connor, and he is now much more switched on in classes and is really starting to understand his karate and how good he is fast becoming. To see this change in character is brilliant and the future is looking very bright for Connor. Having trained at the Fleetwood dojo’s since quite young he has made substantial progress through his grades and now has really strong basics and kata’s. In kumite Connor is now like a completely different student, no longer having the anger and tempers when sparring that used to be, instead is a calm controlled student who knows exactly how to handle situations with his opponent. Congratulations on your Shodan-Ho Connor. Be proud of everything you have achieved. Fantastic work, keep it up!
Kieron Gray – Shodan
Kieron Gray is a lovely young man and a great student to teach. He very rarely misses classes and supports all events we hold within the club. Kieron’s karate is improving all the time and he has had great success this year with our tournament squad at external events winning medals in pairs kata – a brilliant achievement for his first year competing in outside tournaments! Consistently training since a white belt at the Fleetwood dojo’s, Kieron is a very popular member within the club and has made lots of friends. He has good strong karate with clean basics and well-practiced kata’s which have lots of kime, his kumite is strong and controlled and nothing really seems to faze him when sparring with other opponents. Kieron was well prepared for his Shodan grade, having already graded to Shodan-Ho in June this year, he knew what was expected of him and handled everything on his grading day brilliantly. Well done Kieron on your Shodan rank, a fantastic achievement and one you should be extremely proud of. Keep working hard now towards that Nidan grade.
Martin Kershaw – Shodan
Martin joined up from another club just over a year ago, and since then he has made remarkable progress in all areas. His confidence, ability and understanding of karate have all grown hugely and he seems to now be really enjoying his karate. It can be difficult at first when joining from elsewhere and can take time to fully adjust, but Martin has now settled in completely and has formed some strong bonds with other adult students. He has a great personality and often makes us laugh with his antics in the dojo. Martin has worked extremely hard leading up to his Shodan grade – something I hope he will continue to do, he knew what was expected of him after his Shodan -Ho grading in June, so attended extra classes and did lots of personal practice when at home. Despite a few nervous sessions leading up to the grading – Martin really stepped it up a gear on his grading day and was absolutely determined to come away with his Shodan grade. Martin put in 100% effort all day and you could see that his basics and kata’s had been practiced well. In the kumite section Martin was pushed extremely hard – as we wanted to see if he really had the karate-ka and character to cope with it all, and although Martin was at times exhausted and purple in the face he just kept going and going and was brilliant! Martin was quite emotional when he was told he has passed his Shodan and deservedly so! Congratulations on your Shodan Martin – a fantastic achievement and one you should be extremely proud of! Keep up the great attitude and progress you have made!
Ben Churchouse – Nidan
Ben started his karate journey at a very young age and the club has seen him grow into a gentle giant of a student. Ben has always trained consistently at the Fleetwood dojo’s and is fiercely loyal to the club along with his older brother Ben, mum Sensei Kirsty and his dad Gary – so for the Churchouse family karate is a real family affair! A popular member within the club he has formed some great friendships with other students of a similar age and he has a great personality. Ben has good strong karate, and his basics and kata’s have all been practiced well, he also understands kumite and what is expected of him, and he knows how to move around and get through sessions when sparring with opponents without tiring too much. Maintaining a good training routine and attending senior class regularly has seen Ben significantly improve from his Shodan to Nidan grade, and this was brilliant to see. On the grading day Ben was a completely different student than when he went for his Shodan grade – everything he did throughout the day was executed much better, cleaner and with much more kime and confidence. Not once during the day was he fazed even when he was pushed in the kumite section, Ben just coolly went about his business completing whatever was asked of him. Well done Ben – you did brilliantly at your grading and should be extremely proud of yourself – keep up this new found you! Fantastic work and congratulations on your Nidan rank.
Jack Churchouse - Nidan
Jack is another fantastic student to have in the club and always supports every event we hold. He started training as a young boy in the Fleetwood dojo and this year celebrated his 18th birthday! Jack enjoys his karate as much as the day he started, and he understands that you never stop learning or being challenged. Jack is so committed he is even considering his particular choice of university, so he can continue his training, such his is love of karate! Jack has made some good friendships within the club and is a great role model for our young male students to look up to, he enjoys helping and teaching others - something which he is really good at and which is an essential qualification towards a Sandan grade. He can be often seen assisting at gradings, and takes his role in the club very seriously. Jack like his brother Ben, has consistently trained since his Shodan grade and along with senior class this prepared Jack very well for his Nidan. He has significantly improved since his Shodan grade and handled all situations brilliantly on the grading day, his basics and kata’s were lovely and clean and done with confidence, and to see how much he has developed was brilliant to see. Jack was pushed hard in the kumite section as he was potentially ranking under a senior Nidan grade but he handled all the situations brilliantly and never stopped once even though he got extremely tired towards the end. Congratulations on you Nidan rank Jack, a huge and admirable achievement – keep up the fantastic work you do!
Amy Greenhalgh – Nidan
Amy is a lovely polite young lady who has trained from being very young along with her dad Sensei Chris. Amy joined us from another club around two and a half years ago, somewhat disheartened and fast losing her enjoyment in karate. What a difference to now! After initialling settling in Amy went on to attain her Shodan grade very confidently and since then has continued to improve all the time. A popular member within the club she has formed some great friendships with other girls of a similar age, and is now really happy in the dojo. Amy has a lovely bubbly personality and often makes us laugh with her giggle fits and quirky sayings, and as her dad often says she really is one on her own! Amy had prepared well for her Nidan grade, training hard in both regular and senior classes and paying attention to everything she was being taught. She did brilliantly on her grading day and should be extremely proud of how far she has come. Amy had good strong basics and her kata’s were very clean and showed off some lovely hip work. She is also very good in kumite and is quite a powerful opponent to spar. Amy is very talented and is slowly starting to believe how good she is fast becoming. Keep up the fantastic work Amy and many congratulations on your Nidan grade. An awesome achievement. Well done!
Taigen Swinburn – Nidan
Taigen is another lovely young lady who has trained consistently from a young age. She is a popular member within the club and has formed lots of friendships with students of a similar age. Taigen has always loved her karate – and absolutely hates it if she ever has to miss a lesson ..which is very rare! She is very committed to her training – attending every event we hold, and can always be seen helping out and supporting at gradings, which is a brilliant help. She is a fantastic role model to the younger girls within the club and a student that a lot of them aspire to be like. Taigen has exceptional karate and is extremely strong in all areas, she has beautiful kata’s and her kicks in kumite are formidable. A member of our elite tournament team, Taigen has done fantastically well this year in external competitions – having numerous placement successes including Malta in March and Edinburgh in September. Taigen worked extremely hard leading up to her Nidan, after breezing through her Shodan grade two years ago, she didn’t drop her training and continued to push and challenge herself whenever possible. On the grading day Taigen knew what was expected and gave every section 100% effort all day, showing very strong basics, well-practiced kata’s with lovely hip work and excellent controlled kumite. Fantastic work Taigen. Congratulations on your massive achievement of Nidan grade – keep up the awesome work!