On Sunday 20th November we held a large grading at Fleetwood and it was another exceptional day. The standard of karate on display was very high and this is due to the great team of Instructors here at Musuko Karate Academy.
We must mention those who gave up their Sunday to help out and support on the day, without their commitment events like grading days would be impossible tasks.
Thanks to Sensei Gary McDonald, Sensei Gavin Oliphant, Sensei Julie Dudley, Sensei Martin Thomas, Sensei Del Knowles, Sensei Martin Wilmot and Sensei Kirsty Churchouse. Junior Instructors Nathan Crowther, and Jack Churchouse, Junior Sempai’s Brandon Crowther, Taigen Swinburn, Amy Greenhalgh, Rebecca Worthington, Alfie Appleby, Elliott and Charlotte Bertram, and students Chris Greenhalgh and Chris Morley. We are very lucky to have such fantastic people who really enjoy assisting in events like grading’s and your help is always appreciated.
We also have to mention the parents and family members who gave up their time to cheer and encourage everyone from the sides, as well as the many hours given each week travelling around to all the different classes. Your very kind and continuous comments about the club are really appreciated. Thank you all for your brilliant support!
We had students who were attending their very first grading to attain their 9th Kyu yellow belts all the way through to one student attempting his 1st Kyu rank (the last Kyu grade before black belt).
Everyone did brilliantly and put in 100% effort from start to finish and again it was another full pass rate with every student succeeding to their next Kyu grade.
There are some really great students with various grades in the club who have exceptional karate, and some of these are only 4 or 5 years of age. They among others are definitely ones to watch for the future!
Congratulations to Amy Wilson who double graded from 10th Kyu white belt to 8th Kyu orange belt. Double grading’s do not come along very often and are a big achievement. Huge well done Amy and keep up the great work!
Congratulations to our new 4th Kyu purple belts – Keith Bertram, Clare and Jerome Anthony, Christian Schofield and Gary Churchouse. Brilliant work from you all on the day and now only one grade away from a senior level.
We always mention by name students who attain the level of 3rd Kyu and above. To get to these levels takes many years of hard work, commitment and sheer determination.
We therefore congratulate the following students:
Spencer Bugler – 3rd Kyu
Spencer is only eight years old and is already showing great talent and is fast becoming a little pocket rocket. Since increasing his training to twice a week his karate has really taken a boost. Spencer has lovely clean kata’s and he knows all his basics very well. He is very often seen practicing before class along with his sister, and for someone so young this is very admirable to see. His kumite is now coming along nicely and as Spencer is now getting that little bit older he is now showing more control and precision. Spencer worked tirelessly at his grading and showed huge improvement from when he graded to 4th Kyu purple belt. The future definitely looks bright for Spencer and we look forward to seeing him progress through his grades ever closer to that black belt. Well done Spencer and Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu.
Rebecca Catlow – 3rd Kyu
Rebecca is one of our many talented female students in the club. She is a popular member in the dojo who always tries hard at everything she does. Rebecca has really good all round karate and has improved significantly since her purple belt. Rebecca is often seen practicing her kata’s and basics before class, and this has helped her immensely. She is always keen to learn new things, and is usually one step ahead when it comes to learning her next kata. Rebecca did brilliantly at her grading and gave 100% all day, she displayed precise clean kata’s and good controlled kumite. Rebecca just needs to continue what she has been doing so far, and she will continue to improve even more as she moves nearer to her black belt. Well done Rebecca and Congratulations on your 3rd Kyu.
Paul Webber – 3rd Kyu
Paul is a very dedicated student who really enjoys his karate and trains three times a week, rarely missing classes. He is a great student to teach who listens and tries his hardest at everything. Paul always works hard in class so his grading was never going to be an exception – putting in 100% effort from start to finish. Paul has very good all round karate, his kata’s are very polished and precise and his kumite is really strong. Paul is also a brilliant Sempai and is really enjoying assisting in class with Sensei Julie. We have no doubt that Paul will go all the way to black belt and beyond, continuing with the steely determination that he has. Well done Paul on your 3rd Kyu – keep up the great work!
Daisy Oliphant – 2nd Kyu
Daisy is another little pocket rocket in the club and an absolute delight to have in class and in the club. Daisy is only nine years of age and has already achieved so much, winning medals in kata at large national tournaments and now achieving her 2nd Kyu belt. Daisy starting training with her dad - Sensei Gavin and her brother Alex when she was four years of age and has consistently trained ever since. Daisy did brilliantly at her grading her basics and kata’s had all been practiced well and were completed cleanly. In the kumite Daisy tired a little, and struggled through a couple of rounds but then found a second wind and finished her kumite with great focus and effort. We have no doubt that Daisy will continue to get even better as she gets older and she is definitely one to watch for the future. Well done Daisy. Congratulations on your 2nd Kyu.
Max Gray – 2nd Kyu
Max is a brilliant student to have in the club and an absolute pleasure to teach. We have to commend Max as along with his brother Kieron he hardly ever misses training. Max attends every event we hold and really enjoys his karate. All the training that Max has done is really paying dividend’s as Max’s karate continues to just get better and better. His kata’s are very clean and he has a good knowledge of all his basics. His kumite is done with confidence and he is not afraid to step up to a challenge. Max just needs to keep training hard and continue doing what he’s done so far and we have no doubt that black belt will not be far away. Congratulations on your 2nd Kyu Max – brilliant work!
Jack Southern – 2nd Kyu
Jack is another brilliant student who is an absolute joy to have in class. He has really good karate and continues to improve all the time. He is another little pocket rocket and is really coming through the senior grades with a number of other talented students. Jack has lovely clean kata’s which have been practiced well and his kumite is very good and controlled. Jack did really well at his grading and worked hard throughout, he has improved again since he last graded and this is great to see. Jack is very determined and we commend him for this and his commitment to his training, he really wants to go all the way to black belt and beyond - which we have no doubt will happen if he continues like he has been. Well done Jack – congratulations on your 2nd Kyu grade.
Kieron Gray – 1st Kyu
Kieron is a very talented student who continues to improve all the time. Along with his brother Max he is very dedicated to his training and this is all really paying off for him. He is a fantastic student to have in the club and really enjoys his karate. Kieron has excellent karate in all areas, on the grading day he worked hard all day – displaying some lovely kata’s and brilliant basics. In the kumite Kieron showed maturity and control and as he was the only one grading to 1st Kyu on the day, he had to spar for the longest period of time. In the final round Kieron really held his own in a two on one spar with two other juniors, and although he was very tired by this stage he never gave up. Congratulations and well done Kieron on your 1st Kyu. Brilliant work from you as always. Next step black belt!