News
October Newsletter
Exam Congratulations
Well done to everyone who recently passed their grading exam. Sensei Kawasoe was again very happy with everyone’s standard. We can look forward to having him down again in January so please continue to attend regularly so that you are eligible for the next exam. As a reminder the minimum attendances for grading eligibility are:
· 9th Kyu (red belt) = 10 sessions
· 8th kyu (orange belt) & 7th kyu (yellow belt) = 15 sessions
· 6th kyu (green belt) & 5th kyu (purple belt) = 20 sessions
· 4th Kyu (purple/white belt) & 3rd kyu (brown belt) = 25 sessions
· 2nd kyu (brown) & 1st Kyu (brown/white) = 25
· 1st Dan (black) 50 sessions plus attendance at 6 training sessions with Sensei Kawasoe
There are approximately 50 training sessions until the next grading. To guarantee passing the exam at a high standard everyone should try and attend twice-weekly and even more frequently if graded green belt or above. Sadly 10 people missed out this time round due to insufficient attendance. Well done to Daniel Williams for picking up the attendance award. If you are wondering why he is getting so good, so quickly this is the reason.
Payment Thanks
Many thanks to everyone for the prompt payment of fees, licence renewals etc. I hope that everyone is happy with the new fee structure. It certainly works out cheaper and fairer for all. If you have any comments or concerns please bring them to my attention.
Half-Term Holiday
The club will be closed on Friday 31st October seeing as it is both half-term and the eve of Halloween and I don’t think that many people will be attending.
Student Of The Month Award
The student of the month award for September goes to Daniel Payne. Daniel has been trying hard to improve his standard and consequently performed very well in the grading. The key to improvement is to train often, keep listening to what Chris and myself are asking you to do and remembering to keep checking important points like stance, hips and shoulders. Whose turn will it be next month? Sensei Chris and myself are watching so I hope everyone tries hard to be ‘top dog’.
Club Badges
Could anyone who doesn’t have a club badge please buy one. The badge is a symbol of our unity and we should all be proud to wear it. Wearing the badge also promotes our club on courses and competitions allowing others to recognize which club our (excellent) students come from. Cost £4.
BSKC Training Guide
If you do not currently have access to the ‘Club Information & Training Guide’ could you please think about purchasing a copy. The guide is packed with useful information on everything you will ever need to know about Shotokan Karate. The 182 pages (written mostly by me) includes the history of Shotokan karate, full glossary of terms, WTKF grading syllabus, frequently asked questions, competition rules, hundreds of pictures and much, much more. Available as a CDR; cost £5.
Halloween Party
Calling all ghouls, ghosts and undead. Burleigh will be celebrating a night of fright on Sun. 2nd Nov. (4:00 – 8:00pm) with its annual Fancy Dress Halloween Party; including the “Burleigh Thriller Show” Come as your favourite monster or fiend. Tickets cost just £4. Please bring some party food for the buffet table.
Kool Karate Site
I frequently scour the internet looking for good karate sites. Here is one I found recently. http://www.downloadkarate.com/ It has hours of videos to stream; all that is required is that you enter a valid email address. I agree with most of what the instructor in these videos has to say. They train in Shito-ryu but don’t let that put you off as they stress the ‘Shotokan Way’ of doing things in most clips. Beginners and indeed senior students should watch the clips for beginners (ignore what he says about ‘height of hand on hip’ other than that it’s all good).
Sensei Wayne Otto (7th Dan) Course
Sensei Wayne Otto is one of the world’s most experienced fighters with seven European championships and nine world titles to his name. So who better to learn kumite from. Senior grades especially, should consider attending his courses as they aim at a level beyond what I can teach. Sensei Otto is holding a course in Barry on Sunday Oct 19th for those interested. (see poster on notice board for more details). I will be attending this course if anyone requires a lift there and back.
Training With Sensei Kawasoe
Chris and I will be traveling to London on Wednesday 29th Oct to attend Sensei’s Suiyo-Kai class. Anyone wishing to come along is more than welcome. Please note that we have to leave at 4pm to ensure arriving in time. Class is from 7:00 – 8:30pm. We head back straight after and should arrive back in Newport by 11pm. Cost £5 for petrol and £6 training fee. Please remember that ALL students require 6 training sessions with Sensei to be eligible for their black belt exam.
WKGB Competition
The next WKGB competition in Cardiff is set for Sunday 21st December. It would be great to see as many people from the club taking part as last time (if not more). I will place a sign up sheet on the notice board nearer the time but start thinking about entering as I need to know who is keen to train for this.
Student Recruitment
I would still like more people to join BSKC, especially adolescents and adults. Remember you earn yourself £10 for each person that joins on your recommendation…. So what are you waiting for? Get recruiting and make yourselves some money in the process.
Sensei Phil Dutton
I attended Sensei Phil Dutton’s funeral at Wrexham Crematorium last month and paid respects on behalf of myself and the club. His memory will live on through his teaching.
September Newsletter
New Fees Structure
Since proposing the new payment scheme last month the few comments I received were all in favour of changing to the new system. Consequently I will be introducing this from the start of this month. Here are the options and rules in case you missed them last month.
10 lessons @ £4.50 per lesson (0% discount) = £45
20 lessons @ £4:27 per lesson (5% discount) = £81
30 lessons @ £4.05 per lesson for (10% discount) = £115
40 lessons @ £3.83 per lesson (15% discount) = £153
To help spread the cost, payments for lessons can be made over 2 months.
Rules Of The Credit System
· Individual members are required to purchase a minimum of 10 lessons.
· A family of 2 are required to purchase a minimum of 20 lessons to be divided as you wish.
· Family groups of 3 or more are required to purchase 30 or 40 lessons, to be divided as you wish.
· Non-family members cannot club together and divide up credit.
· Students that leave the club before using up all their credit will receive NO refund however I will allow family members to pass on any remaining credit should a member of their family leave the club whilst the remainder continue to train.
· Credits cannot be used on special courses or training and grading with Sensei Kawasoe. Such events are charged separately.
· Individual students and family groups will be reminded to purchase more credit when a few lessons
· Credit must be used within a 6-month period from date of purchase.
· New members will be charged per lesson for the duration of their beginner’s course and then asked to join the club by opting into the credit system.
Licence Renewals
The following people have their UKTKF licence expire at the end of the month: Duncan, Alexander, Ben E., Dominic, Chris, Chayce, Oliver, Harry, Josh, Robert, Liam, Ryan, Jake. I would also like Steve, Markus, Kirsten & Oscar to apply for their first licence. Please see me for an application form which should be completed and returned with payment by the end of the month. First licence costs £18.50 and renewal is £15.
Grading Exam
I am still awaiting confirmation from Mr. Kawasoe for Monday 15th Sept. If this date is not available the exam will be held the following Monday. Training will start at 6pm and the grading exam will start at approximately 7:45pm and will conclude 9pm at latest. If you do not intend to grade or were not eligible this time around your next opportunity will be in February. I ask that all club members attend the training session with Sensei Kawasoe. Cost of training and grading is £20, training alone is £10. Please hand in your grading record books and payment ASAP.
Changes To Training Times
In order to fit in with Burleigh Academy’s new timetable the Saturday class will now run from 12:30 – 2:00pm. In response to requests from several club members Friday night training will recommence at the start of this month. The class will be from 7:15 – 8:45pm. I require a regular attendance of at least 8 students to ensure this is ongoing. Ideally students over yellow belt should be attending twice-weekly and hopefully this will make it a little easier for those folk with hectic social lives to attend regularly.
Competition Winners
It was a shame that only 4 people entered the website quiz. After drawing the names from a hat Brachyn and Nigel were the winners and have the choice of either a DVD or T Shirt as their prize. Well done to you both.
In Memorial
I am sorry to announce that Sensei Phil Dutton (7th Dan) has passed away. Phil was my instructor for the 6 years I ran a club in Bahrain and from whom I received my Nidan grade. I owe a debt of gratitude for all the knowledge he passed to me. Karateka and family alike will sadly miss him.
Student Recruitment
In order for the club to continue gaining in strength I require new students. Please recommend the club to friends, family, colleagues, neighbours etc. As an incentive I am offering £10 for each person that joins on your recommendation. If you require a poster or leaflets to help advertise the club please ask and I’ll be happy to provide.
UKTKF Championships
The Senior UKTKF Championships are being held in Thornton Nr. Blackpool on Sat 27th Sept.
August Newsletter
Friday Training To Resume
Several people have expressed a desire to resume Friday night training. I am happy to add an extra session providing that attendance is sufficient. Therefore from September 5th you will be able to attend each Friday from 7:15 – 8:45pm. Hopefully this will alleviate the situation of people not having sufficient training sessions to be eligible for their grading exam. Those of you who are close to the minimum attendance for grading should take advantage of these extra sessions so that you have a better chance of obtaining a full pass rather than a temporary one.
New Payment Structure
From September I am proposing a new credit system for payment in which individuals or families will buy a block of lessons that are held as a credit record and each time a training session is attended one credit will be subtracted from their total. This new system will ensure that club members only pay for the lessons attended. Other advantages of this system are that family groups of 2 or more will now receive a discount, as will any members that want to train regularly by purchasing one of the larger credit packages. I have tried to organize payments so that families are not paying much more than the current system e.g. a family that has two children training once-weekly currently pays £40 each month. Under the new system they can pay £81 in one payment or spread the cost over 2 months. Members are required to purchase blocks of lessons from the following options:
10 lessons @ £4.50 per lesson (0% discount) = £45
20 lessons @ £4.27 per lesson (5% discount) = £81
30 lessons @ £4.05 per lesson for (10% discount) = £115
40 lessons @ £3.83 per lesson (15% discount) = £153
To help spread the cost, payments for lessons can be made over 2 months.
Rules Of The Credit System
· Individual members are required to purchase a minimum of 10 lessons.
· A family of 2 are required to purchase a minimum of 20 lessons, to be divided as you wish.
· Family groups of 3 or more are required to purchase 30 or 40 lessons, to be divided as you wish.
· Non-family members cannot club together and divide up credit.
· Students that leave the club before using up all their credit will receive NO refund however I will allow family members to pass on any remaining credit should a member of their family leave the club whilst the remainder continue to train.
· Credits cannot be used on special courses or training and grading with Sensei Kawasoe. Such events are charged separately.
· Individual students and family groups will be reminded to purchase more credit when a few lessons remain.
· Credit must be used within a 6-month period from date of purchase.
· New members will be charged per lesson for the duration of their beginner’s course and then asked to join the club by opting into the credit system.
As this is a proposal I welcome your views. You are invited to feedback by emailing or telling me in person whether you prefer to opt for the new scheme or keep payments as they are. I am happy to go with the majority decision but feel that the new system offers more flexibility and will in the long term, be cheaper for all concerned.
Bank Holiday Closure
Sorry no training on Mon August 25th as it is a Bank Holiday and Burleigh Academy is closed.
Student Of The Month Award
The award this month goes to Connor Morris. Connor has the third highest attendance in the club since the grading in March and was eager to represent the club at the WKGB Junior Open Championships in Cardiff on August 3rd. This is the sort of enthusiasm and commitment that earns the respect of Sensei Chris and myself. Well done Connor. Due to the fact that there are only 3 training sessions in August the next award will be at the end of September so you all have an excellent opportunity to impress the club instructors and make yourself the star performer.
Sparring Protection
Several people still have no sparring protection. It is important that all students have hand and foot protection not only to keep themselves safe but also the people they are sparring with. As we do more sparring I am mindful that people are picking up injuries that in many cases could be avoided or lessened. I have a very limited number of pads that I can lend out i.e. one or two pairs of each size. It may be the case that if students aren’t padded up (as has been happening of late) then those students will have to sit out that part of the lesson. The club sells quality protection competitively priced both WKF Competition approved and also a cheaper alternative. Please visit the Merchandise section of our web site for details. Those students that already have protection MUST bring pads to each lesson.
Site Address
It has come to my attention that members and parents forget that they can access club news and events on the BSKC website from the NEWS and CALENDAR sections. Chris and I try to ensure that all the web pages are updated regularly and new content added. If you haven’t yet book marked the site please type www.burleighskc.com into your web browser and add the page to your favourites so that you can always find us even if you cannot remember the address. As an incentive to visit I have compiled a short quiz using information from the web site. I will place all the correct entries sent by email into a hat and make the draw mid month. First prize is a club T-shirt & 2nd a copy of the Kawasoe Way DVD.
Q1 What is the current cost of the club badge? (Hint: We sell lots of merchandise at great prices)
Q2 How many links are there to YouTube clips of Sensei Kawasoe (Hint: Sensei Kawasoe will know)
Q3 What date in September can you train at Sensei Kawasoe’s club in Earls Court London (Hint: You need a calendar to help)
Q4 What is the name of Sensei Mark’s Blog. (Hint: You will need a link to get there)
Q5 How many pictures in total can you see on the Gallery Page? (Hint: Count them ALL carefully)
Finally did you add the club website to your favourites when you visited? YES or NO?
July Newsletter
Grading Date
I have asked Sensei to come over on Monday 15th Sept. I will let you know when this date is confirmed
Summer Training
I will be running the club just one day a week on Monday for the duration of the summer holidays. Because people are away on and off you can pay monthly as usual or for the lessons trained over this period.
New Payment Structure
In order to make payment fairer for all. I have been toying with the idea of changing the payment structure for lessons From September I will be introducing a credit system where each member commits to purchasing a block of lessons. Each time you attend class I will deduct 1 lesson from your total. I will keep a record of all attendance and inform students when they have 5 credits left. This system means that you can train as often as you wish and only pay for the days you attend. The only conditions are that members must stay in credit and no refund will be issued if people decide to leave before they have used up their credit. The minimum purchase is 20 lessons. As before I offer a discount scheme for those who attend regularly. A 20-lesson block will cost £90 (£4.50 per lesson). A 30-lesson block will cost £120 (£4.00 per lesson) and a 5- lesson block £175 (£3.50 per lesson) To help spread the cost, payment can be made over two months. If you have any comments regarding this proposal please inform me of your views ASAP.
Friday Night Training
I have been approached by several members of the club who would like to resume training on Friday. Providing that a sufficient number of people (10 minimum) are willing to attend I am happy to offer an extra class each week. I will start this class in September and see how it goes.
Student Of The Month Award
The award this month goes to Duncan Abraham. Duncan trains regularly and tries hard to improve despite minor injuries. BSKC recognizes his dedication and enthusiasm for the art and I take this opportunity to thank him for his help with new students.
Sensei Kawasoe Book
Sensei now has his first book “Recollections Of A Shotokan Karate Master (The Early Years 1945-75) available for purchase. The price is £16.95 (inclusive of postage) Details are available from the Mona Books web site which can be found in the LINKS section of the club web site. www.burleighskc.com
Summer Courses
As per the calendar Sensei is holding a 3-day course at Herriot Watt University (Edinburgh) on 29th 30th and 31st August. I can supply details for anyone interested in attending.
Welsh Open Championships
Once again I invite all interested parties to attend this competition at the Welsh Institute For Sport, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. The event is planned for Sunday August 3rd. Please sign up on the club notice board for the categories you wish to enter. Transport can be arranged for anyone who requires it on the day.
Licence Purchase and Renewal
All members of BSKC must hold a current UKTKF licence in order to be eligible for grading with Sensei Kawasoe. I require payment by July 28th so that I can ensure that your application is processed prior to the grading in Sept. The cost of a first time licence is £18.50. The following people should complete a licence application form and return this with payment ASAP
Daniel Williams Tom Brown, Nigel James, Brachyn Jenkins, Hywel Jenkins, Daniel Morgan, Caitlin Morrison, Jack Price, Steve Brett, Callum Doughty
June Newsletter
Summer Training
I am asking all members to let me know if they wish to continue training over the summer holiday period. I am more than happy to carry on with classes if demand is sufficient. But it might be that I run the club just one day a week. Please let me know if you will be around and which days you prefer either Monday, Saturday or both. You can let me know by email or signing the sheet on the club notice board. Thanks.
Friday Night Training
I have been asked by a few people about the possibility of returning to 3 classes a week. Friday night is available from 7:15 – 8:45pm. If demand is sufficient I am happy to add this to the schedule. Please let me know if this interests you.
May Student Of the Month
I am constantly looking to see who is trying hard to make most improvement in class and once again I have been very impressed with the attitude of Daniel Williams who trains regularly twice a week and gives maximum effort at all times. Consequently he is making rapid progress. Well done Daniel. So who will be SOTM in June? Keep trying hard and remember I’m always watching.
North Wales Open Championships
Sorry we didn’t’ attend this event. In the end it was just a little too far away and inconvenient and understandably few people wanted to make the effort. The next event is in Cardiff Sunday August 3rd and we shall definitely be entering a squad.
Grading Exam Date
As you are aware the grading exam should have taken place in July, however with the club’s recent commitment to coaching competition karate I have not focussed as much time as I require to prepare people for the next grade. Emphasis will now continue on preparing all students for the grading exam scheduled for mid September.
Sports Village Open Day
The Sports Council for Wales is hosting an Open Day at the Sport’s Village (Spytty) on Sunday 13th July. Sport’s Clubs from all over Newport have been invited to put on demonstrations and hold trial classes. If you would like to help out and get some extra training (for free) your support would be much appreciated. I have divided the day’s events into time slots so that you can volunteer as little or much time as you feel you want to commit. This could be a good opportunity to grow the club and bring in new members. Please do all you can to help out, it should be a lot of fun. Thanks.
Sparring Protection
Many thanks to all who bought mitts etc. Everyone should now have received their order, Sorry for the delay in arrival. I have a few spares left if anyone is still in need.
Until next month, stay focussed and train hard
May Newsletter
May Bank Holidays
Burleigh Aademy will be closed for Bank Holidays on Monday May 3rd and 26th Training fees for those that train on Monday only will be £9 this month. If you train on Saturday only the fee is unchanged at £20. If you train twice-weekly the monthly training fee will be £23.
WKGB Closed Championships
I have been informed that this event has been postponed from May 3rd due to the fact that this date clashed with the European Championships. I will inform club members of the new date as soon as it’s rescheduled. On a positive note it gives us a few more weeks to prepare. Please try to attend training on both Monday and Saturday if you are thinking of competing as each class is being used for preparation.
Sparring Protection
As we do more sparring it is inevitable that there will be some injuries due to accidental contact. In order to minimize the risk of any injury I must insist that ALL students who do not currently have sparring equipment purchase hand and foot protection and bring these to each lesson. To help with the cost I am offering discounted prices on all protective merchandise for THIS MONTH ONLY.
I am offering two different qualities of protection to suit your budget. The cheaper option is to purchase the white elasticated mitts and shin/instep protectors. These are adequate for use in the club, however they are not sufficiently padded for competitions. The second option is to buy the blue/red polyurethane hand mitts and foot protectors with optional shin guards. These are more expensive but they do provide excellent protection. To view the full range look under ‘merchandise’ on the club web site or ask to view samples before or after class. I will have attached an order form so that I know how many of each type to order in. Orders placed before May 6th will be discounted by 10%.
Student Of The Month Award
Seeing as there was no award last month I have selected two students this month. If I might reiterate that the award is in recognition of attitude and determination to improve rather than who has the greatest skill level. This month Sensei Chris and myself have been impressed by the regular twice-weekly attendance and fighting spirit of Chayce Jeffries and Daniel Williams. In addition to their certificates they will also get their pick of prizes from the selection provided. Chris and I both hope that everyone will try hard to win this award next month. We are always impressed by students who support the club and events such as courses and competitions.
Club Badges
I have had another lot of badges produced whilst I was in the U.S. These are better quality than the originals but also cost me more to get manufactured. Therefore I am obliged to sell these at a little more but I hope you will agree that they are still good value at just £4 each. It is hoped that ALL members of the club will wear their badge with pride.
Suit For Sale
I bought a new suit whilst in the States and now have one surplus to my requirements. If anyone would like a part-worn, quality suit, about size 3 complete with badge let me know. It still has several years wear left in it. It cost £50 new and is up for grabs for just £10.
Monday Nights
After some consideration I have decided to offer the additional training on Monday’s to students graded 4th kyu as well as brown belts. Please do your best to attend. So far brown belt attendance has only been 50%, I expected better!
Spring Course With Sensei Kawasoe
Attendance at the Spring Course was disappointing with only Chris, Alex and myself attending. I remind brown belts that they must have attended a minimum of 6 courses with Sensei so that he knows who you are and what you are capable of. This is also a mandatory requirement for Dan grading. The next opportunity to train with Sensei is at his club on Wednesday 14th May, let Chris or myself know if you require a lift.
Rick Clark Seminar
Many thanks to Chris, Duncan, Jake and Ben for supporting this event. As always it was a great seminar with plenty of laughs to go along with the pain. In total we had 16 people attend. Many form other clubs were very complimentary about our club and the facilities. hopefully we can host this event again on Mr Clark’s next visit to the UK. Chris and I have talked with Ken Tucker about doing some training at his dojo in Caerphilly as an interim arrangement.
Sensei Stephen Marriott
Many thanks to Sensei Marriott for his insightful lessons over the last few weeks. We hope that he will revisit the club if he is in the area again any time soon.
April Newsletter
Welcome Back & Congratulations
Congratulations to all who passed the grading. Sensei Kawasoe was once again very happy with the standard of all the students of BSKC. Have a nice break over Easter then come back ready to knuckle down to hard training again. I was very pleased to see that so many of you opted for twice-weekly training in the months leading up to the exam. To be honest this is the only way that you can make the required improvement from one grading to the next. I sincerely hope that as many of you as possible continue to train regularly twice a week. For your information I am detailing the minimum number of training sessions required for eligibility for your next grading. You might want to keep your own record so that you know if you are on schedule. The next exam is scheduled for mid July.
Grade being aimed at:
* 9th Kyu (red belt) 10 sessions * 8th kyu (orange belt) & 7th kyu (yellow belt) 15 sessions * 6th kyu (green belt) & 5th kyu (purple belt) 20 sessions * 4th Kyu (purple/white belt) & 3rd kyu (brown belt) 25 sessions * 2nd kyu (brown) & 1st Kyu (brown/white) 25 sessions and attendance at Sensei Kawasoe's club or Brown/Black belt course on at least one occasion.
Extended Training On Monday Night
I am aware that the senior grades require more advanced training and for various reasons it is not always possible for me to organize the class and teach all I would like. I therefore propose to extend the Monday class to 8:30pm. The last half hour will be exclusively for brown and black belts. I will use the extra 30 minutes to teach new kata, kata bunkai, kumite and advanced techniques in preparation for black belt. There is no charge for the extra tuition but I’ll expect those concerned to attend regularly. As an extra treat, I have been contacted by Stephen Marriott, who is a 3rd Dan Instructor with the SKI. He will be acting as guest instructor throughout April on Mondays, getting people ready for the upcoming competition in May, amongst others things.
Prof Rick Clark Seminar
I am pleased to announce that we will be hosting the Wales component of Prof. Rick Clark's UK visit. This will be on Saturday 12th April from 1:30 - 6:30pm. I have invited senior students from all over Wales so hopefully this event will be well attended. For those of you that don't know Mr. Clark is very adept at kyusho-jutsu (pressure point fighting) and uses his many years of experience to demonstrate the defensive aspects of kata as applicable to street fighting and attack. I sincerely hope that brown belts and adults will be able to attend. The cost is £20.
UKTKF Spring Course
Each year the UKTKF organizes two extended training camps in April and August. The Spring Camp is scheduled for April 25th 26th and 27th April in Windsor just 2 hours drive from Newport. I remind brown belts that they MUST have attended 6 courses with Sensei as a pre-requisite for attempting their black belt. So that paying for attendance is not an issue I will use what I have left of the Community Chest Fund money I received from the Sports Council to pay for 1 day’s training costs for any brown belt. To further reduce expense I am prepared to drive down on each of the 3 days. All I ask is a contribution to petrol and your commitment to attend. The course instructors include Sensei Kawasoe, Sensei Naito and Sensei Tsuyama (Sensei Kawasoe’s instructor) This will be 3 days of sheer brilliance and I encourage anyone serious about their karate to try and attend one or more of the days.
Weekend Course With Sensei Dave Hazard 7th Dan
Open weekend course Sat 5th & Sun 6th April in Pencoed, Bridgend, cost £5 per day. If I'm not too jet lagged I will be attending. Let me know if you need a lift over.
Training With Sensei Kawasoe
I will be heading down to London again on Wednesday 16th April for the once monthly Suiyo-kai. I invite anyone who would like to attend to travel down with me as I'd like some company on the trip. I leave at 4:30pm and we should be back by 11:45pm. Training costs £6 plus £5 towards petrol.
WKGB Competition
The next WKGB competition is being held in Cardiff on Saturday 3rd May. I hope to take as many competitors as I can down on the day. I will be concentrating most of the class time training for this event between now and then. Further details and sign up are on the club notice board. The last day for entry and payment is April 28th.
Sensei Says
As I mentioned last month I have my own blog called 'Sensei Says'. If you would like to follow my visit to the USA over Easter I will be posting pictures every couple of days. The web address is http://burleighskc.blogspot.com/
Kata Resource Site
You might wish to bookmark this site http://thecyberdojo.brinkster.net/katavideos.html It has all 26 Shotokan kata performed by senior instructors of the JKA so you know the speed and timing etc are spot on. This will allow you to watch, learn or practice at home.
My Karate Origins
As some of you know I started karate in Denton near Manchester, aged 12, after a leaflet was posted through the door. My instructor then was Dennis Tilley. I’m happy to say he and the club are still going strong today. You can view pictures of him and the dojo where I learned my basics at his web site http://www.dentonshotokan.co.uk/ Later on in life I spent several years as a black belt training in Birmingham under Dave Sharkey who now heads up his own association the English Karate Organization. A picture and interview are available at this site http://www.englishkarateorganisation.co.uk/ When I moved to Bahrain I opened my own club and I teamed up with Phil Dutton of the British Martial Arts Association who came out several times a year to instruct and grade. He now lives in Bahrain and you can view pictures and info here http://www.bahrainkarate.net/gpage.html The picture at the top of the page is of Phil and myself. The picture of Sasi, now a 3rd Dan instructor, joined me as a white belt. Finally Yousif Claycomb was the first of my students to achieve his black belt. He now runs his own dojo in Duerte, California and is graded 4th Dan. You can check out some pics of us from way back in the 90’s here http://picasaweb.google.com/josephclaycomb/BahrainKaratePics02
Sensei Kawasoe Book
Sensei has a biographical book coming out soon. As you know he is a private individual about whom not a lot is known. This book gives a privileged insight into his early years in karate from when he started up to graduating from the JKA instructors class and beyond. It is due out in April/May and you can pre-order a copy from Mona Book cost £19.95 inclusive of postage. Here is the link http://www.monabooks.co.uk/. Sensei has kindly agreed to sign copies next time he is here.
Referees Course
Chris and I will be attending a referee's course at The Welsh Institute Of Sport In Cardiff on April 19th.
March Newsletter
Extra Training Sessions In Preparation For Grading
I will be holding one extra session on Thurs 6th March from 6:30 – 8:00pm for those who wish to attend. This is your penultimate chance to polish your performance. Cost is £4 payable on the night. Reminder that the class on Monday 10th with Sensei Kawasoe starts at 6pm prompt so please turn up no later than 5:45pm.
February’s Student Of The Month
Congratulations go to Oliver Josty for being the first person to obtain the SOTM Award. The qualities Chris and I most admired were perseverance with getting his kata correct, improvement in kicking and a determination to keep his stance low. We are looking closely to see who is going to be this April’s winner so please keep making the effort. Remember that it is more about attitude and trying hard than simply being the best although we are always impressed by personal performance.
A Busy February
Last month was fairly hectic. It started Feb 3rd when Alex, Jake and myself attended a brown and black belt course with Sensei Kawasoe in Bisham Abbey. On the 9th & 10th Chris and I attended a 12-hour Sports Medic course during which we both renewed our first aid qualifications. On the 13th Chris and I visited Sensei’s club in London. Finally on the 28th Chris and I attended a Child Protection and Safety course. Hopefully you will see from this that we take the running of the club seriously and are constantly striving to improve standards and live up to our club motto of “Being The Best”.
March Fees & Easter Holidays
After such a busy February I think I deserve a break and so I’m off to California to spend time with my friend and former student Yousif Claycomb. Yousif trained under me for 6 years during my time in Bahrain and is now a 4th Dan instructor and has his own club in Pasadena. We shall be doing some training together and also going to Las Vegas to watch the U.S. Open Karate Championships. The club will therefore be closed for Easter. The last session this month will be Mon. 17th March and we will re-open on Sat. 5th April. Training fees for March are half the usual price.
Karate Blog Site
I’ve started up my own karate blog called “Sensei Says”; the point of which is to create a diary in which I can post articles about technique and personal improvement along with pictures and video clips. So far I’ve posted articles about Ushiro Geri (back kick) as well as a compilation of training tips. Over the Easter Holidays I will also be posting pictures from the USA so that you can see what I’m getting up karate wise whilst over there. You can visit at this address http://burleighskc.blogspot.com/
Video Critique And Action Plans
I have been spending time with some of you reviewing your performance in class and drawing up “Action Plans” to help you improve. Please do your very best to work on the suggestions I have made as this is the quickest way to success and it will stop bad habits developing.
Training With Sensei Kawasoe
If I can remind senior students that in order to be eligible for your black belt exam you must have attended 6 courses with Sensei Kawasoe. Your next opportunity is at his club on Wed 16th April, as I will again be traveling down. If you can’t make this date you might wish to attend some or all of the Windsor Spring Camp on April 25th, 26th & 27th. This year it looks as if Senseis’ Tsuyama, Naito & Kawasoe Sensei will be present. I will post more details as I get them.
WKGB Championships
I would encourage ALL members of the club to take part in the upcoming WKGB Championships in Cardiff on Sat 3rd May. We have a good standard in both kata and kumite and participants have a better than average chance of doing well. I will post the respective categories as soon as I have details. However you should let me know as soon as possible if you intend to compete so that I know who to give supportive coaching to prior to the event.
February Newsletter
Grading Exam
The next grading exam has been set for Monday 10th March. There will be a 90 min training session with Sensei Kawasoe starting 6:00pm. The grading will start at approximately 7:45pm and we should be finished by 9:00pm. If you do not intend to grade this time around the next opportunity will be in July but I ask that you still attend the training session as the knowledge and teaching ability of Sensei is too good to miss out on. Cost of training and grading is £20, training alone is £10.Please hand in your grading record books ASAP.Payment is due by the end of February.
Training with Sensei Kawasoe
I have been looking into training more frequently with Sensei Kawasoe. To this end I have found details of his club in London and will try to attend bi-monthly. If any brown or black belt wishes to travel over with me you are most welcome. He holds a special Surakai class on at least one Wednesday each month. We will have to leave Newport at 4:30pm and should be back by midnight. The next Surakai is scheduled for February 13th.
The next brown and black belt course with Sensei Kawasoe is being held on Sunday 3rd February in Bisham Abbey approximately 115 miles east of Newport and easy to get to if you have a car. I can provide a lift for those who are keen to go. See Mark for more details.
Student Of The Month Award
I have decided to give an award each month to the student who in the opinion of the instructors has made a special effort or who has excelled in some area of karate, not necessarily then person in the club who is the best but the person we think has a good attitude to training and is putting in the effort to improve. Some examples of what we are looking for are: students who train extra hard in class or are constantly checking their technique and striving for improvement. It might be that you have been working hard at home to get a kick or combination working well and you can demonstrate this in training or you have mastered your grading kata to a high standard. The award will take the form of a certificate and a prize of your choice such as a DVD, club T-shirt, sparring gloves etc.
Joint Training with Sensei Griffiths Club
Every Monday from now on we will be joined by members of Sensei Dave Griffith’s club. Hopefully this will raise the energy of the training sessions and inspire lower grades to emulate their standard. Please take the opportunity to make them feel welcome and ask them for help and advice as between them they have plenty of experience.
Instructor Courses
As part of the clubs ongoing commitment to the safety and protection of its members Chris and myself will be attending two courses in February. The first is a 2-day Sports Medic First Aid Course. The second is a Child Protection and Safety course. These are mandatory requirements for instructors of clubs affiliated to the Welsh Karate Governing Body as we are.
Web Site Updates
Chris and I are constantly striving to improve the club web site. We have added extra pictures and video clips to the Master Funakoshi page. I have taken down some YouTube links from the Kawasoe page as they no longer worked.
YouTube Martial Arts Videos
As most of you are aware YouTube has thousands of videos that cover all aspects of karate. This is a great resource if you want to view kata, kata bunkai, competition karate or Shotokan Masters in action. Try typing in names of kata or instructors. I can recommend the kata videos by Luca Valdesi. We have our own clip that you can see at this address http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSSMfcglX2E
Training Tip
This months tip focuses on repetition versus correctness of technique. You have all heard the expression “practice makes perfect” On one level this is true. Perhaps this phrase should be modified to “practicing perfection leads to perfection” Simply repeating exercises without any thought or attention to detail doesn’t always produce the results you want. Indeed it can be counterproductive as incorrect practice leads to bad habits that become ingrained and are then difficult to correct. It’s much better to practice a technique as well as you possibly can 10 times rather than repeating it 1000 times incorrectly. My job as an instructor is to try and make you understand the mechanics of techniques i.e. the subtle ways that you can move your body so that you can get more speed and power etc. Your job is to concentrate on what your body is doing in class so that you progress as quickly as possible. The problem is that often there is simply too much to concentrate on. So try to pick one or two points for each class and just work on that. For example you might say to yourself…”Today….this week…this month, I am going to try and keep my stance low to the ground or ensure that my back foot faces as much forwards as I can get it in front stance.” If you do this regularly and keep checking during the class this action will eventually become automatic so that you don’t have to check so frequently. This then leaves you free to focus on some other aspect of your training and in this way you make progress. It goes without saying that I cannot do this part for you. If you want to achieve more rapid progress you have to be responsible for your own development.
January Newsletter
Happy New Year
Many thanks to those of you who sent cards and gifts. Rest assured I had a Merry Xmas (and lots of empty bottles) I have pleasure in welcoming you back after the festivities I hope you all had a happy and relaxing break and that the New Year is filled with prosperity for all. Hopefully the start of the New Year will add an incentive to start training hard again as the grading exam is only about 8 weeks away!
Birthday Celebrations
The club is 3 years old on 21st January I shall be bringing in cake on this date. Don’t miss out.
End Of Year Awards
Congratulations to all who did well in the kata competition before Xmas. Many thanks to Chris Ben and Jake for all their help and support in helping me run the club throughout 2007. Special congratulations go to Alex Allman who was this years recipient of the Student Of The Year award for his regular attendance, perseverance and willingness to attend courses and competitions.
Video Coaching
Santa kindly slipped a video camera under my tree. I will be using this to film individuals in class. My hope is to transfer clips to DVD so that you can critique your own performance at home to help you make further improvement. I also hope to sit down and view footage with individuals as extra help prior to grading.
New Students Needed
Please do all you can to encourage new students to the club. Remember you can also earn yourself a few quid by doing so. I have leaflets and posters for anyone who wants them.
Kawasoe Clips on YouTube
I noticed that there are some new short clips of Sensei Kawasoe on YouTube if you care to check them out….every bit of knowledge helps.
Karate Kid
As some of you are aware I started karate aged 12. At the time video cameras were not around and so I have little visual record of that time. My father recorded a tiny bit of me doing karate on cine film. I am in the process of transferring this to DVD so that anyone who wants can have a good laugh at how pathetic I was back then.
December Newsletter
WKGB Open Competition
Hats off to Alex and Daniel who fought in this tournament. Unfortunately they did not make the winners rostrum but I am proud of them for having the courage to take part. Better luck next time.
Club Kata Competition
The in-house kata competition is being held on Sat 1st Dec. 12:00- 1:30pm. This is a good opportunity to practice using the same format and rules as those used in tournament karate so that you’ll know the score should you wish to take part in one at a later date. Entry is divided into green belts and below and purple belts and above. I’m using a round robin system so everyone will get a fair crack at impressing the judges. There are medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category. Entry is free so please try to support this event with your presence.
Xmas Party and Awards Ceremony
The Xmas Party will be held on Sun 16th Dec from 5:00 – 8:00pm. The evening will consist of party games, music, food and drink. Karate Santa will make a special appearance and will be handing out gifts to all who attend. The evening will culminate in an awards ceremony where we celebrate the achievements of those in attendance. I will be handing out certificates and presenting the Student Of The Year Award. Tickets cost £4 per child which includes admission fee, gift and entry into the raffle (parents entry is free) If I could ask each of you to help out by bringing some party food, I’ll supply the rest. Hopefully I can count on the support of parents to help with setting up, games and clearing away.
Windsor Course With Sensei Kawasoe
I recently attended this Brown and Black Belt Course. As always, with Sensei teaching it was interesting and insightful. I would like to thank Alex, Ben, Dominic and Jake for their support in attending with me. From what I saw of the Black belt gradings for kids their age they don’t have far to go.
December Fees & Holiday Closure
The last training session this year will be on Sat 21st of December. Seeing as this is a short month I will only be charging £15 for once-weekly or £24 for twice-weekly training. Please take this opportunity to train as it’s a few weeks before we start up again next year. Many thanks to Chris who has promised to make it a fun event. I will be at home in Manchester keeping my mum company for Xmas. The club starts back with karate on Saturday 5th Jan. and Tiny Tigers on Fri 11th Jan
Fees for 2008
There will be no change to the fees for the first half of 2008. I hope this will encourage you all to train as frequently as you can. For green belt or higher that should be twice-weekly so that I can impart all the knowledge and skills needed to achieve a good standard.
January Recruitment
I am having an advertising drive in January in an attempt to recruit much-needed members to the club. If I could ask all concerned with the club to mention it to friends, school and work mates etc that would be greatly appreciated. As an added incentive I am happy to pay £5 for each recommendation that results in a new member joining the club. Come on folks make yourselves some easy money!
Finally I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support during 2007. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
November Newsletter
Grading Congratulations
Well done to everyone who passed the grading exam. Sensei Kawasoe and I were very pleased with the standard displayed by all. Please take note of the comments on your grading report as they reflect directly the notes that Sensei made during your examination. The next grading examination should be at the end of February or early March. Here is a reminder of the minimum attendance need to be eligible for the next grading. There are approximately 35 training sessions between now and the exam. People aiming for 6th kyu and above will not be eligible with just once-weekly training. Purple belts and above should be committed to twice-weekly training for most of this period.
Grade being aimed at :-
9th Kyu (red belt) 10 sessions
8th kyu (orange belt) & 7th kyu (yellow belt) 15 sessions 6th kyu (green belt) & 5th kyu (purple belt) 20 sessions 4th Kyu (purple/white belt) & 3rd kyu (brown belt) 25 sessions 2nd kyu (brown) & 1st Kyu (brown/white) 25 sessions plus a commitment to teaching lower grade students on a minimum of 5 occasions.Dates for November
There are a number of events taking place this month and I hope that there is something that will appeal to everyone:
Sat 10th Nov BSKC Kata Competition.
Here is your chance to compete against other members of the club and see how you rate. The competition is in 2 categories green belts and below and purple belts and above. Both events are based on a round robin so that you get a chance to compete against all other members of your division. There will be medals and certificates for 1st 2nd and 3rd places in each division. Entry is free but please sign up if you want to take part.
Sun 18th Nov WKGB Open Championships Cardiff
Competitors are invited to participate in the kata and kumite events. See the sign up sheet on the club notice board.
Sun 25th Nov Kawasoe Brown & Black Belt Course Windsor.
Details on request.
Sun 25th Nov Terry O’Neil.
Course for all grades, Whitland, Carmarthenshire. Sensei O’Neil (7th Dan) is a senior instructor in the KUGB. This should be an excellent course.
Web Site Update
Chris and myself are constantly trying to add and improve the club web site. To this end we have added a tribute page to Master Funakoshi. Here you will find a detailed biography and his contribution to Shotokan karate along with links to video clips. We also aim to have a club blog site that showcases the talents and achievements of those involved in the club along with pictures, articles and more. If you would like to contribute you can email articles, pictures etc for inclusion to mark_kupsz@hotmail.com
STOP PRESS
Sensei Kawasoe will be visiting Burleigh on the 29th Octber for the purpose training and grading. Training will commence at 5:30pm and those attending are asked to arrive at the club by 5:00pm.
October Newsletter
Grading Exam
I have finally managed to arrange a date for the next grading exam. Sensei Kawasoe has agreed to come down on either Mon 29th or Tues 30th October. There will be a 90 min pre-grading training session starting at either 5:30pm or 6:00pm followed by the grading exam. It is hoped that ALL club members will support the club and train with Sensei even if they are not grading on this occasion. Tiny Tiger ‘red belts’ are invited to train also, all others are welcome to watch. The cost of training is £10. The grading exam will be an additional £10. Everyone who intends to grade must be in possession of a current WTKF licence. Please make payment and hand in your UKTKF record book by 20th October. I will confirm the exact time and date as soon as I have this but please try to keep both dates free. Those grading might want to consider twice weekly training for this month, if you don’t already allowing you to polish your technique and improve your chances of a full pass.
Kawasoe DVD
I still have a few copies of Sensei’s superb instructional DVD in which he demonstrates techniques from basic through to advanced. A must for any serious student. The DVD includes all the kata needed up to black belt along with many tips on how to get the most out of your training. Running time 135 mins for just £5. Why not treat yourself to a copy?
BSKC Training Guide
I think that most of you already have this disc. If not could I please ask you to consider purchasing a copy. The CDR has over 180 pages of information, covering everything you need to know about Shotokan Karate; including hundreds of tips and many illustrations. All the grading syllabi are on this disc but if you would like a printed version for the grade you are attempting I will make these available also.
Halloween Party
As has become traditional BSKC holds its annual Halloween Party in conjunction with other Burleigh Academy attendees on Sun 28th Oct from 5:00 – 9:00pm, cost just £4 payable on the door. It’s a great evening of ghoulish games, monster music, nightmarish nibbles and scary surprises (please bring a little something for the buffet). All Karate, Tiny Tiger members and parents are welcome; please try to attend in fancy dress.
Training Tip
The key to effective technique is speed and power. The faster you can move arms and legs the more power you will be able to get into your kicks, punches and blocks. Speed is obtained by concentrating on two basic elements, one being effort. It might help if you try to imagine hitting an imaginary opponent standing in front of you as hard as you can. Next imagine that they can move away really quickly so that you have to move very fast to catch them before they are out of range. The second important element is relaxation. As you try harder there is a tendency to tense up, especially in the shoulders. For punches and blocks, imagine that you are trying to catch a fly with your hand as it flies around the room. Your best chance of achieving this is you keep your arm muscles as relaxed as possible before clamping your hand shut. Try to keep your arms down and close to your body when kicking as you have to tense unnecessary muscles to keep your arms held up. As you tense one lot of muscles others tend to follow so the more you can relax the unnecessary ones the more fluid you will become in the ones you are using. Try to use arms and legs with the same feeling that you have when you are throwing a stone and only think about tensing up at the very last instant.
September Newsletter
Welcome Back
I hope that everyone had a great summer vacation. I am looking forward to getting the club back to full strength. Training will continue to be held twice weekly on Monday and Saturday until numbers warrant a return to Friday night training. Over the summer we have been holding joint training sessions with students from Sensei Griffith’s club. I’d like to thank Sensei Griffiths for his involvement and I welcome his students to attend any future training sessions at Burleigh.
Isaka Course
Sensei Isaka (8th Dan) is on a visit from Japan. Sensei Isaka is one of the most senior instructors from the JKA. The karate message boards have been buzzing in anticipation of this course, which is being held on Sat & Sun 8th/9th Sept in North Wales. I am thinking of attending on the Sunday. If anyone is interested in travelling up with me early on Sunday I have places available in the car. Cost for 4 hours training is £20 (under 16) £25 (over 16)
New Mats
The club has recently acquired 35 new interlocking tatami style mats. This will allow us to cover most of the floor area of the dojo, providing us with opportunity to practice take-downs and grappling moves in greater safety.
Licence Renewal
I remind members of the club that they must hold a current licence for the WTKF and WKGB. I have already sent off payment for replacement and need reimbursement of £15 ASAP off the following people. Alexander Allman, Raihaan Ashraf, Georgia Dale, Sam Dale, Carl Edwards, Ben Evans, Dominic Evans, Chris Isaac, Chayce Jeffries, Oliver Josty, Harry Lynbeck, Joshua Lynbeck, Robert Lynbeck, Liam Phelps, Ryan Phelps, Jake Rogers, Hannah Tyrell.
Training At Spytty
I have arranged for some senior students to attend training with Dave Griffiths on a Thursday evening every other week. I try to train with Dave whenever I get the opportunity. If any other club member would like to attend these sessions please let me know. I can also provide transport from Burleigh as long as I know in advance who needs a lift. Pickup will be 7:00pm and return by 9:30pm at the latest.
Training Tip
As I visit clubs and attend courses around the UK I am aware of how many people seem to coast through the lessons not really pushing themselves to higher standards. One very simple way to train harder is to try and stay in a low, deep stance at all times. Try to ignore the discomfort and continue to check foot alignment and front knee position. The accumulative effect of doing this will be to strengthen the muscles of the legs specifically for the performance of karate technique. The result will be that your endurance will increase meaning that you can perform more repetitions before fatigue sets in. You should also notice your karate becoming more dynamic and powerful. If you make this part of your class attitude you will be one step ahead of the majority of students.
August Newsletter
Training Continues Over Summer
Contrary to the notice I made at the club I have decided to offer limited training during the summer holidays rather than close completely. The reasons for this decision are that I have had several requests from members who wish to have this facility, having already taken their summer holidays. In previous years attendance did not warrant keeping the club open. I had also planned to go away myself but have decided against this. The club will be open on Monday from 6:30 – 8:00pm as per usual. However I will not be holding a Saturday class. These changes will apply until 1st of September when we shall resume with the regular schedule. I apologise for changing things about and hope I have not inconvenienced anyone. I also hope that as many students as possible will take the opportunity to train throughout the summer.
Grading Arrangements
I am aware that many students are anxious to be graded as a mark of their progression and I want to assure everyone that I am doing all in my power to resolve this issue. I have contacted Mr. Gwyn Mowll (Head of WTKF) and Mr. Kenny Taylor (Head of UKTKF) in an attempt to arrange a date with Sensei Kawasoe for late September or October. I have also written to Mr. Kawasoe directly asking for a date at his earliest convenience. Mr. Kawasoe has been out of the country for the last few months and it has not been possible to contact him. Mr. Kawasoe is one of the world’s top instructors and as such is constantly in demand. Together with the WTKF we are trying hard to book him a full year in advance so that this situation does not reoccur. I thank you for your patience and I will announce the date as soon as I have it.
Training Fees
As I think most of you are aware I run the club as a full-time professional and the training fees I collect are my only source of income. From the little that comes in I have considerable expenses, the main one being the cost of hall hire, payment of which is due on the first week of the month. It therefore creates some financial difficulty for me if payments arrive late or people decide to pay less than the required monthly fee. I apologise if this does not apply to you personally.
If I might once again clarify the situation regarding payments. The costs are currently £20 per month for once-weekly training and £32 for twice-weekly payable at the first training session attended in the month.
Regarding monthly payments a few people are now asking to pay only for the days they attend. I have always made it clear that I will not charge for absence such as holidays or illness providing I am informed at the time of payment. I am also quite flexible about allowing students to train on an alternate day or even additionally in the week to make up for missed lessons. However I cannot afford to operate the club on a basis where people only train once or twice in a month and then feel that they can pay just for the days they attended. The onus must be that students commit to paying in full and then make their own decision about whether to train on a particular night or not. To do otherwise would mean operating my club at a loss and the possible risk of closure. I hope you understand the situation I am in and I express my appreciation for your cooperation in this matter.
Club Events
It has always been my goal to offer students the opportunity to develop their karate to the highest standard that their ability allows. To this end I regularly post information regarding courses and competitive events that I deem suitable for club members to attend. Although I do not expect every student to attend every event I would like to think that there is something that everyone could get involved in and I would encourage people to try and attend courses with highly qualified instructors like Dave Hazzard as such people provide levels of instruction that offer a deeper insight and different perspective into the art. I have asked Sensei Dave Griffiths (5th Dan) to hold a few sessions on Monday over the summer at no extra cost. I would also encourage students who are of a competitive nature to take part in the competitions that are held regularly in Cardiff. These events are professionally run and adhere to strict age and grade categories ensuring that no one is outclassed, humiliated or seriously hurt. Each time I attend I can’t help but feel that many of our students could achieve success as we have many that equal or indeed exceed the standard that I see on the day. The next such event is the Welsh Junior Championships on 5th August at the Welsh Institute Of Sport, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. Contact me ASAP if you wish to take part and I will email you the details.
Communication Issues
I am finding that since sending out information via the website people seem less aware of what is happening regarding matters at the club. I had hoped to increase communication by offering this facility but it requires that both parents and members make a point of visiting the site at the start of each month. Could I please ask everyone involved with the club to bookmark the site (if you haven’t already) www.burleighskc.com and try to get in the habit of reading the newsletter both as a parent or a club member. Thanks.
Many thanks to all involved in the club for your continued support.
July Newsletter
I have done this month’s newsletter well in advance so that I can bring to your attention news of several upcoming events in which you might wish to participate.
Note that there will be no class on Saturday 7th July.
Kickathon Success
Many thanks to everyone who helped out with last months charity event. On the day the dozen of us that took part managed to complete more than 15,000 kicks in the allocated 60 minutes. I was delighted by the amount individuals managed to collect, with several people managing to get more than £50 in sponsorship. In total we raised over £400 to give to Nicky Isaac as part of the Race For Life Appeal. We had a small feature in the Argus Newspaper and Nicky sent a thank you card, which I’ve put on the club notice board.
Vale Karate Club Kata Competition
I have been contacted by Vale Karate Club who are holding a one-day kata competition on Sunday 1st July. This is an excellent opportunity to take part in a small scale competition giving you some experience prior to taking part in the larger tournaments like the WKGB Championships.
The competition is for children under 14, in the following categories:
1) Ungraded 5-9 years 2) Ungraded 10-13 years 3) 9th Kyu's 5-9 years 4) 9th Kyu's 10-13 years 5) 8th Kyu's 5-9 years 6) 8th Kyu's 10-13 years 7) 7th & 6th Kyu's 5-9 years 8) 7th & 6th Kyu's 10-13 years 9) 5th & 4th Kyu's 5-9 years 10) 5th & 4th Kyu's 10-13 years 11) Brown Belts Boys 5-9 years 12) Brown Belt Boys 10-13 years
Ideally I would like as many as possible to take part on the day. This event is taking place at Barry Comprehensive School, on the other side of Cardiff. We can arrange transport from Burleigh if you don’t have any of your own. The entry fee is £5 and there are medals for 1st 2nd and 3rd in each category. Please sign-up on the notice board if you want to take part.
Maindee Festival Demonstration
I have been asked to do a demonstration as part of Maindee Festival on Saturday July 7th. Those that want to take part need to be at Maindee Rugby Club by 11:45am to take part in the opening parade at 12 O’clock. After that you will be allowed free entry into the festival. We shall do a 30-minute demonstration at 1:30pm. Please sign-up on the notice board if you want to take part.
Sports Council Open Day Demonstration
Due to the fact that I shall be attending a course with Sensei Dave Hazard on the 14th/15th July I have decided not to attend this event.
2-Day Course With Sensei Dave Hazard (7th Dan)
I had the pleasure of training with Dave Hazard about 6 months ago. He is a very experienced instructor who delivers courses of the highest standard. I would hope that as many of you as possible will be able to attend on one or both of the days being offered at the Welsh Institute Of Sport, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. Cost is £5 per day. Please sign-up on the notice board if you want to attend.
Saturday 14th July Beginner to 4th Kyu 10:00 - 11:30, Black & Brown Belts Kata 12:00 - 1:30pm, Black & Brown Belts Kumite 1:30 - 3:00pm
Sunday 15th July Beginner to 4th Kyu 10:00 - 11:30, Black & Brown Belts Kumite 12:00 - 1:30pm, Black & Brown Belts Kata 1:30 - 3:00pm
Karate Summer School
If you wish to attend Summer School from 30th July to Aug 3rd please note that I need your name and deposit of £30 by the end of this month. This event will only take place if I have a minimum of 10 students.
Welsh Open Junior Championships
I have placed separate details of this tournament on the club notice board. It takes place on Sunday 5th August at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff and is open for all to attend. I need to know immediately if you intend to take part as I will delay going on holiday to act as team manager.
Licence Application
If you do not have a current WKGB/WTKF licence you will need to apply for one before the summer so that I can send off your application prior to the grading exam in October. It takes 4 – 6 weeks to process your application and there will not be time when we return in Sept. See me for an application form ASAP.
Community Chest Fund Award
The Sports Council for Wales has awarded BSKC with a grant for £1000 for the purpose of developing facilities and instructor qualification. I have decided that these funds will be spent on purchasing matting allowing us to do more ground work, grappling etc. The remainder will be spent so that Mark and Chris can renew their first aid qualifications and Mark can take the WKGB Level II Coaching Award.
Summer Closure
In the past I have kept the club open for the summer despite the small number of people who usually attend. As I am taking a holiday this year the club will be closed from 1st August and reopen on Monday 3rd September.
Many thanks for your attendance and support of the club over the last year. I hope you have a great holiday season and look forward to your return to BSKC in the Autumn.
June Newsletter
Kickathon
I would like to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research. Please support this event by getting as much sponsorship as you can and by participating on Saturday June 2nd. I would like to achieve a total of 10,000 kicks from the club as a whole. The more people that take part the more achievable this goal becomes. The South Wales Argus have agreed to report the event on the day.
Karate Summer School
I need to know ASAP if you want to attend Karate Summer school from 30 July to 3rd August. To reserve your place please submit a deposit of £30 by the end of this month. I need a minimum of 10 people to make this viable. If I do not get sufficient numbers I will refund your deposit in full. Summer school will involve morning martial arts training 10am – 12pm combined with fun afternoon activities 1:00 – 3:00pm, such as swimming, movie matinee, baseball etc. Lunch and refreshments are also provided, total cost £65.
July Grading Postponed
It is with regret that I inform you that the grading examination originally intended for July has been postponed until October. The reasons are that it has not been possible to arrange a date with Sensei Kawasoe despite numerous efforts on my behalf. In addition quite a few members of the club require extra time to raise their standards. This decision, whilst regrettable takes some of the pressure off students and me also and ensures that everyone will be better prepared on the day of the exam.
Friday Night Training Suspended
I am sorry to inform members that until further notice there will be no class on Friday. This is due to the fact that I have been struggling to get more than a handful of people to attend this training session for several months.
Payment Reminder
All members and parents are reminded that payment for training sessions must be made on the first training session attended each month. Payment should be for the full amount unless I am told in advance that lessons will be missed due to holidays or some other legitimate excuse. It is not an option to pay for just the sessions attended as I have a heavy financial commitment regarding hall fees etc. The onus must be on members to pay in full and then fulfill their obligation to attend. If you need to swap dates within the month to get your full allocation I am happy to oblige but taking days off for personal reasons must be at ones own expense as financially I cannot afford to operate the club any other way. If the club is closed for any period such as at Xmas and Easter I will reduce the monthly fee proportionally to take account of this Unless specifically mentioned in the Monthly Newsletter we remain open for all Half-Term and Bank Holidays.
