Well done to Steve, Imogen and Josh Carway,  and Paul Wainwright (from Vicars Cross) who successfully graded last night at a mini grading at Vicars Cross.

Friday the 13th as well!!

Hi all

Starting this Saturday (22/2/2020) we will be moving to two classes on Saturday mornings. This will make it easier to ensure that students get the training they need for up and coming gradings. Especially for those nearing black belt.

The new times will be:

9:00am – 10:00am beginners/intermediates

10:00am – 11:00am intermediates/advanced.

Intermediate and advanced students are welcome to train in both classes. Cost will be just an extra £1. Training in both classes will count as two sessions for grading purposes.

We will also look at the possibility of inviting senior instructors on Saturdays for special training and gradings.

Check out here for address and map.

Just found this article in the Telegraph:

Well worth a read!!

Parents should not stop children playing sport in the run up to exams because it has no impact on results, a new study suggests.

Taking part in competitive team games in the run up to GCSE and A-level exams will have no negative effects on a teenager’s grades, according to research commissioned by The Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC).

See the full article here

The 35th Annual Kyu Grades Championship is on Sunday the 15th of March at Prestatyn Sports centre.

This is a great chance to experience the competition side of KUGB karate without the presence of black belts.

There are categories for all ages and coloured belts.

If anyone wishes to enter, or would like more information please let me know. If you don;t want to compete, you can still come along and watch the action. There will be a small charge for spectators.

KUGB Link

Categories

16 + yrs Snr Mens

1 – Ind. Kumite 1st Kyu – 3rd Kyu

2 – Ind. Kumite 4th Kyu – 7th Kyu

3 – Ippon Kumite 4th Kyu – 9tth Kyu

4 – Team Kumite 1st Kyu – 7th Kyu

5 – Snr Mens Ind. Kata All Kyu grades

16 + yrs Snr Ladies

6 – Ind. Kumite 1st Kyu – 7th Kyu

7 – Ippon Kumite 4th Kyu – 9tth Kyu

8 – Ind. Kata All Kyu grades

All Ages

9 – Team Kata All Kyu grades

12-15 yrs Girls

10 – Ind. Kumite 5’3” & above 1st – 7th Kyu

11 – Ind. Kumite Below 5’3” 1st – 7th Kyu

12-15 yrs Boys

12 – Ind. Kumite 5’ 3” & above 1st – 7th Kyu

13 – Ind. Kumite Below 5’ 3” 1st – 7th Kyu

12-15 yrs Boys & Girls

14 – Ind.Kata All Kyu grades

11 yrs & below Peewee

15 – Ippon Kumite All Kyu grades

16 – Ind. Kata All Kyu grades

7 yrs & below Sprite

17 – Ippon Kumite All kyu grades

18 – Ind. Kata All kyu grades

Additional Information

• All Kumite competitors (excluding Ippon Kumite) MUST wear a mouthguard and KUGB approved hand mitts.
• All competitors must be in possession of a current KUGB licence.
• Normal KUGB rules will apply.
• Team Kumite = 3 men plus 1 reserve.
• Team Kata = 3 persons.
• Ippon Kumite competitors will be required to attack and defend only to the level of their grade. (minimum oi zuki jodan & chudan) – mouthguard not essential.
• Team Kata competitors may choose the same Kata for eliminations and final.
• All individual Kata eliminations will use the flag system and include all Heian Katas (including Khion Kata) up to the grade of the participants.

Congratulations to William Swanton for gaining his bronze junior leaders award.

The junior leaders qualification is part of the KUGB Instructor qualification programme that allows students aged 12-17 to work towards three levels of the qualification: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Westminster Park

Christmas Training Sessions

Wednesday 16th December ✔

Saturday 21st December ✔

Wednesday 25th December

Saturday 28th December ✔

Wednesday 1st January

Saturday 4th January ✔

Note – using the voucher is optional, just come along for your free class.

Download PDF

This is an extract from an article in the Independant:

We are all aware that exercise generally has many benefits, such as improving physical fitness and strength. But what do we know about the effects of specific types of exercise? Researchers have already shown that jogging can increase life expectancy, for example, while yoga makes us happy.

However, there is one activity that goes beyond enhancing physical and mental health – martial arts can boost your brain’s cognition too.

Researchers say that there are two ways to improve attention, through attention training (AT), and attention state training (AST). AT is based on practising a specific skill and getting better at that skill, but not others – using a brain training video game, for example.

​AST on the other hand is about getting into a specific state of mind that allows a stronger focus. This can be done by using exercise, meditation or yoga, among other things.

It has been suggested that martial arts is a form of AST, and supporting this, recent research has shown a link between practice and improved alertness. Backing this idea up further, another study showed that martial arts practice – specifically karate – is linked with better performance on a divided attention task.

Click here for the full article

Last week a group of us from the Handbridge and Westminster Park clubs went on our annual trip to the Lancaster summer camp.

These were : David Craggs, George Craggs, Thomas Land and his wife Monika, Kouke and Mia Hirakawa with their father Mitsu and Louise Coleman with her family, Lisa, Jonathon and Harvey.

I decided this year to do a write of the week. You can see them below.

Lancaster 2019 – Arrival Day

Lancaster 2019 – Day 1

Lancaster 2019 – Day 2

Lancaster 2019 – Day 3

Lancaster 2019 – Day 4

Lancaster 2019 – Day 5

A great time was had by all with a fantastic grading result on the last day with Louise Coleman getting her Shodan and and Thomas Lang getting Nidan.

Lets see if we can get a bigger group next year!