Look forward - Japan August 2011

Japan August 2011?

The IJKA are in the early stages of planning a trip to Japan in August 2011. I know it is eighteen months away, but it is worth considering sooner rather than later.

No details are known at the moment, but I would expect costs to be in the region of £2,500 per head, for the whole trip.

It is a life long ambition of many karateka to train at some stage along "the way" in Japan and these opportunities do not come along often. It is normal to fund a trip by a mix of sponsorship and personal contribution.

If any SSKC member is interested in training in Japan in August 2011 can you let me know soonest?

My feeling is that as a club we would need to consider our fundraising opportunities over the next 18 months. If we wait until the details are firmed up in 2011 it would leave little time to fund raise or save a significant personal contribution.

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Welcome to Shotokan Karate at Hambleton

Just a quick post to say a big welcome to Charlie, Michael, Liam, Jamie, Sabrina, Harry and Megan who all tried Shotokan Karate for the first time tonight.
If you didn't get a chance to make week 1 please just turn up next week and look forward to joining in.
I'll ask Sensei Rebecca not to get so carried away on the warm ups next week.

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The Journey towards Shodan

It's a "Long and winding road" to attain shodan, below are a few photos of Dom on his journey. Above : March 2005 - The early years

Above: Dom with Bex looking very young in October 2005

Above : Wiggington November 2006

Above : May 2007 Kata Heat with Daniel Kozelko

Above : May 2007 with Sensei Ian Culpan

Above : May 2007 with Sensei Andy Bailey

Above : Quite happy to take on a handful of dan grades in November 2007

Above : Training with Kato Shihan in Wiggington November 2007

Above : February 2008 Belt training at Wigington with Kato Shihan

Above : February 2009 Dom has started to step the pace up, training with Sensei Simon from Haxby when Kato Shihan visited our dojo at Selby.

I am sure that the rest of us will enjoy looking back at Dom's journey more than Dom, but never mind, eh.

Dom you have five years of strong foundations under the instruction of Sensei Ash & Andy, the hard work is in the bank.

A quote from Kato Shihan at a Shodan grading in Budapest a few years ago, after the 20+ karateka who were grading had just undertaken their first Kihon sequence...." Relax, it is easy if you are good enough"

Dom, you can relax, you are good enough. I am sure you won't though

It has been my pleasure to watch you grow from a boy to a man. You apply yourself well to anything you set your mind to be it Music/ Studies or Karate. Otagari ni rei.

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SSKC Gradings

Many thanks to Gullen Shihan for travelling to Selby tonight to grade five Selby students that were not able to attend Kato Shihan's course in October.

Congratulations go to all our students:

Georginia Mizen - 7th Kyu (temp)
David Leadbeater - 8th Kyu "A very strong 8th Kyu pass"
David Lawrence - 9th Kyu
Joseph Lawrence - 12th Kyu
Luke Teisseire - 12th Kyu

All your individual member pages have been updated / created so you can follow your progress. To view your pages just click on the member button in the sidebar and click on your name.

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Good Luck Selby Karateka

I have just written out the grading forms for the weekend and would like to wish all our karateka well, we will have approx 20 members grading.

Josh will be grading for 1st Kyu, a big step and Sensei will be expecting a very high standard. It seems an age since Josh joined us as an Ex Wado-ryu karateka, he found the change to shotokan difficult but has persevered where many would have given up, good Luck.

Michael is grading to 2nd Kyu, just back from Ireland where he did the club proud and with a little more experience and a luckier draw will soon find himself placed in competition. He has a couple of injuries from Ireland so I hope they will not effect you at the weekend. Unfortunately you will not be able to take it easy on Saturday and save yourself for Sunday, Sensei will be watching you.

Kelvin, Lucy and Alan our purple belts will not find their grading easy it is tough in these middle grades, you are still building your karate foundations. I can see where the additional Wednesday sessions have accelerated improvement though.

Josh and Lewis will be attempting green belt, a big step for these youngsters, you are both good enough but you must stay focused. Bring your karate heads at the weekend!
SSKC will potentially gain a lot of additional colour belts, Julie, Abby, Jamie, if successful will all progress to Yellow belts.

Grading for 8th Kyu and well on the way to their yellow belt in the new year will be Nathan, Jake, Leila, Liam and David, it takes a long time in our association to gain your first coloured belt but keep up the good work you are nearly there!

Last but definitely not least are our beginners and Pee Wee grades David, Amy, Ellie (shortcake) Shauna and Joseph. It is easily said, but just try and relax and enjoy yourself. OSU!

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Thank You Howdens

Many thanks to Neil Dallison from Howdens Joinery in Selby for their contribution to our club funds.

This is the second year that Howdens have supported our club and although in these times of the "credit crunch" money is tight for us all we are very grateful to Howdens for their continued support.

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Night out in York

Many thanks to Haxby dojo for hosting the night out in York last night. A couple of beers followed by a curry and another couple of beers.

Thanks for the invite and see you for training next week.

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Congratulations to all our students who graded!

While I was away Kato Shihan visited York and graded 15 of our Karateka.

Congratulations to you all - Michael, Lucy, Josh, Michelle, Julie, Abby, Jamie, Georgina, Jake, Leila, Liam, Amy, Ellie, David and Shauna.

I will try and get your member pages updated ASAP.

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SSKC May Comp Post updated

I have posted videos of the seven finals under the original post.

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Comp Post

Active York Open Day

Active York held an open day in York town centre on Saturday and karateka were there from Haxby, Selby and York clubs to promote the IJKA.

Above : Senpai Simon manning the stall

Between the three clubs we produced a well rounded display. Many thanks to all of you who participated and helped out handing out leaflets. Our Display consisted of the following:

1. Kata - Bassai Dai - Dom & Bex - SSKC, 2. Kumite - Gohon - Conor, Alex - YSKC, 3. Kata - Team Heian Yondan - Elanor, Conor & Alex - YSKC, 4. Kumite - Don & Max - YSKC, 5. Kumite - Jiyu Ippon - Dom & Bex - SSKC, 6. Kumite - Jiyu Ippon - Sensei Mike and Simon - HSKC, 7. Kata - Team Heian Nidan - Holly, Tom & Nick - HSKC, 8. Kata- Family Heian Shodan - The Bamfords - HSKC, 9. Self defense - Emma & Mike - YSKC, 10. Triangle Training - Mike, Don & Max - YSKC, 11. Kata & Bunkai - Sensei Mike, Paul & Simon - H&SSKC's.

Above : Elanor, Conor and Alex - YSKC - Heian Yondan

All of the individual elements were very well received, we pulled the biggest crowd of the day and after each section there was a big round of applause. Our students did us proud and there were some very positive feedback from members of the public.

Above : Mike & Emma - YSKC - Self defense

Emma put together a strong display for a green belt, we will be sorry to see her go when she returns to University in the Autumn. Emma has promised to maintain her links with the IJKA and turn up at Sensei Kato's Christmas course. Emma, not a lady to be messed with apparently.

Above : Sensei Mike and Simon - HSKC - Jiyu Ippon Kumite

As Sensei Mike stamps on Simon's head, Shihan Gullen heard a lady from the crowd say, "Well there was no need for that, was there?". The initial Jiyu Ippon defence was delivered slowly and controlled so the full technique could be demonstrated and then the next attack and defense, speed and power. Look out for Simon's excellent Mawashi Geri at the end. Sensei Mike was glad he pulled his head back just a little.

Above : Sensei Mike, Paul and Simon - Kanku Sho Bunkai

At the end of the demo we performed Kanku Sho, after returning to yoi we went straight into the bunkai. It went about 95% to plan, we were reasonably happy with the result considering the amount of time we had to put it together.

Leaflets were handed out for free karate sessions at any of the IJKA Yorkshire clubs of Haxby, Selby or York. If you didn't pick up a leaflet, but are interested in participating in a couple of free sessions just drop me a E Mail and I will be happy to make the necessary introductions.

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SSKC Inter Club Competition

What a great evening!
Thank You to everyone that took part and made the evening a great success.
Karateka from Haxby and York clubs were invited to take part in the SSKC competition.
It is one thing to invite other clubs, but surely it was bad manners of Haxby to walk off with all our silverware.
Congratulations Nick for winning both the TSB Kata and Kumite Cups, hopefully this will inspire you to train even harder towards your black belt.

The results of tonight's competition were:

U9 Kata
1st - Josh Hardy - Selby
2nd - Jake Taylor - Selby
3rd - Liam Benyezzar - Selby

Above: Josh & Jake - U9 Kata Final

U12 Kata
1st - Holly Bamford - Haxby
2nd - Lucas Mortimer - York
3rd - Alex Woodruff - York

Above:Conor & Holly - U12 Kata Final

U17 Kata
1st - Nicholas Mina - Haxby - TSB Cup
2nd - Josh Hartley - Selby
3rd - Sam Dennis - Selby

Above : Josh & Nick - TSB Cup Final

Family Kata
1st - Bamford Family - Haxby
2nd - Mizen Family - Selby
3rd - Dallison Family - Selby

Above: Bamfords and Mizens - Family Kata Final

U9 Kumite
1st - Jake Taylor - Selby
2nd - Josh Hardy -Selby
3rd - Liam Benyezzar - Selby

Above: Josh & Jake - U9 Kumite Final (Knee Boxing)

U12 Kumite
1st - Eleanor Dook - York
2nd - Conor Jackson - York
3rd - Alex Woodruff - York

Above: Elanor & Connor - U12 Gohon Kumite Final

U17 Kumite
1st - Nicholas Mina - Haxby - Kumite Cup
2nd - Josh Hartley - Selby
3rd - Thomas Smith - Haxby

Above: Josh & Nick - Kumite Cup Final

Many thanks to Shihan Gullen, Sensei Denby, Gude, Shaw, Cook, Culpan, Milner and Flint for referee and Judging duties, not forgetting Bernard, Claire, Rebecca and Georgia for your admin support.

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Karate at Barlby Primary Schools

Sensei Andy's sessions are still going strong. It is was week 5 at Hilltop and week 4 at Barlby bridge. A total of 37 young karateka took part this week. Keep up the good work.

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Milner Sensei visits Alsager

We are still tracking the movements of CSI Selby, or is it CSI Watford now? Our intelligence sources have reported sightings of her in the North West of England and she has been very remiss to let photographic evidence leak out. We understand that she has been attending secret additional sessions, learning treasured Asai Ryu kata,the story will continue...

Click on the link below to the Whitchurch blog to see what she has been up to?

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Whitchurch Blog

Club AGM and Competition - May 2009

Many thanks to Sensei Mike Gude for popping down to Selby yesterday and taking the youngsters while we held our AGM.

We had a great turn out with seventeen of us around the table, the following Club posts were elected:
Chairman : Andy Denby
Secretary : Paul Brant
Treasurer : Paul Brant
Welfare Officers : Helen Milner and Claire Hardy
Social events organiser : Julie Dallison


The SSKC competition is in two weeks we have had a good turn out of entrants from Haxby and York clubs so we will have a lot to get through there are 7 events with over sixty entrants!
That means 80 matches not including any draws!
Please turn up at the dojo for 17.15hrs so we can commence promptly at 17.30hrs.

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Open Day in York 23rd May

Haxby, York and Selby clubs are taking part in an "Active York" sports club day in Parliament street in the centre of York. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to promote our clubs in the community. we will have a stall to man from 10am to 4pm and we have a 25 min display slot to fill at around Noon.

We would like to encourage a many members as possible to support the day ideally from 11am to 1 pm as a core time for those with other commitments.

Each of the clubs will take up some of the slot and we will produce some flyers with details of the three clubs on.

If you make it please let your club instructors know ASAP, any assistance will be greatly received.

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Kato Sensei's Kata Course

What a weekend for Josh to attend his first Black and Brown belt course at Whitchurch at the home of Kato Sensei! As a teenage 2nd kyu it is daunting enough turning up at Sensei's on a Friday night, it is so different from anybody elses home that you would walk into. As Rebecca put it there is always so much to look at, items from all other the world.

Training started at 10.30 on Saturday when Sensei announced " No Kihon, No Kumit, just Kata this weekend, we must all work hard to remember Asai Sensei kata....this weekend Junro kata, Shodan... Nidan... Sandan... Yondan... Godan, also Joko Kata, Issei... Nisei... Sansei... Yonsei... and Gosei" My maths skills have always been ok but I wasn't sure but I thought Sensei had just told us that we would be practicing ten Asai Ryu kata over the coming two days?

What a baptism of fire for young Josh. I have always been a bit slow to pick up kata so I was glad that although I don't regularly train in any of the ten that Sensei had just mentioned I had a least seen / tried at least six or seven of them. At Shodan I am still trying to concentrate mainly on the core Shotokan kata, although I do enjoy dabbling in Asai ryu kata.

Saturday was a long day starting at the Whitchurch school and after lunch continuing in Sensei's garden until a little after 17.00hrs. The session had concluded with Sensei Peter Custance teaching Joko Gosei. After training Thomas, Josh, Dom and myself ran few the kata that we had been taught during the day while some karateka retired to the sauna and some to the bar for a well deserved pint.

I also used the time in the early evening to practice some of the Asai kata that we were not practising that weekend. I was very grateful to Sensei Brian Toomey from Ireland of his corrections to my performances of Kashu and Meikyo Nidan. I aslo went through Rantai with Simon from Haxby and again Sensei Brian was kind enough to gave us a few pointers.

Sunday started with about ninety minutes of Joko Gosei bunkai. I am never failed to be amazed at Sensei's bunkai of kata. For each sequence he would demonstrate multiple applications depending on technique used for attack. We would then practice that sequence of moves and then partner up and practice the bunkai.

Over the weekend Sensei also announced a number of Dan grading results. Quite a few IJKA Dan grades had been undertaking examinations for period of up to eighteen months and only got their results at the weekend. Our congratulations go to Sensei Dr Jonathan Lyons - 5th Dan, Lisa Woods - 4th Dan, Frances Kenny - 3rd Dan, Steve Cameron - 3rd Dan, Sunil Agalgatti - 2nd Dan and Steve Crowe - 2nd Dan. Claire was also taking Sensei Stacey's 2nd Dan certificate back to Ireland for her. Also recently promoted in 2009 Sensei Mike Kotowski - 5th Dan and Dave Sanderson 4th Dan. Late on Sunday Sensei also completed the final stages of Sensei Milena Galabova grading and promoted her to 3rd Dan. Sensei-ni-rei, Osu!

Well back to Josh, what a weekend, I was very proud to be your Sempai, Thomas, Dom and Josh all were perfect ambassadors for our club.

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Barlby Hilltop Primary School

Today was session 1 for 24 pupils of Barlby Hilltop primary School, headmaster Rob Taylor was enthusiastic about bringing karate to the school. The sessions are being lead by Sensei Andy assisted by Rebecca in a non contact environment.

Today the young karateka from 7 to 10 years learnt how to make a fist, how to punch choku Zuki and Oi Zuki and how to make front stance.

By the end of the session the headmaster saw a long line of beaming red faces leaving the hall.

We hope to see you all after half term, well done to Ben, Holly, Victoria, Warwick, Chloe, Michael, Declan, Holly, Lauren, Jasmine, Samuel, Tom, Lana, Liam, Olivia, George, Gemma, Thomas, Lorcan, Aithn, Joel, Luke, Bradley and Arran.

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SSKC teaching at local schools

Selby Shotokan Karate Club are working in partnership with the "Active" programme of Selby District and North Yorkshire Sport to bring karate to Barlby Community (Hilltop) and Barlby Bridge Primary schools starting in April.

We will be running hour long sessions, over a 10 week programme at both schools to increase the availability of access to sport for children. There will also be an exit strategy of assisted places at our club to any students that wish to continue with Karate.

Sensei Andy and Rebecca will be undertaking the coaching, we wish them all the best in this exciting opportunity of bringing our martial art into schools.

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Congratulations Claire!

Claire our Welfare Officer will be taking a few months off to take care of her own welfare. When she graded last week she was not aware that she was five months pregnant!

We wish you all the best from the whole club, I will order an extra small Gi for four months time.

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Selby - Haxby Cse with Kato Shihan Feb 2009

Above : Too many photos to post so please enjoy this montage.

Thank you to all our students who attended Sensei Kato's course last weekend. Our visitors from Ireland were impressed by the attendance by all grades, the standard of karate and welcoming atmoshere of our club. See you all Sunday for the start of our Spring beginners course.

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