The Bath club took a large squad to the KUGB Southern Region Championships, held in Slough this weekend. The squad was a mixture of those who were competing for the first time and those who have continued to compete throughout their karate career. And of course Sensei Ron Hicks, our chief instructor, competed in the kata competition and refereed during the day.

Most of the club competed in the individual or team kata competition and did themselves and the club proud. It takes a lot of commitment just to walk onto the area and compete in any form of karate competition.

But, the icing on the cake, was the Bronze medal won by Dave Forde in the Men’s Kumite competition. In his youth Dave was a fearless fighter who always did well in kumite competitions. Dave has come out of ‘retirement’ this year and has shown us all that karate is for life – I am sure he is already looking forward to next year’s competition!

Many congratulations to Dave for his medal winning performance and well done to all of you
 who competed this year.

The 48th KUGB National Championships were held in Birmingham at the National Indoor Arena on May 3rd. This showcase event brings together KUGB kareteka of all grades and ages in high quality kata and kumite competitions.  This year the Bath club were represented in the kata competition by Kieran, Rob and Nigel. Furthermore, the Club’s chief instructor, Sensei Ron Hicks, carried out his duties as an official referee. It’s great to see the club instructors keeping their hand in at competition karate and participating at the highest level. Maybe next year, some of the ‘younger’ club members can have a go. The full report of the Nationals can be found on the KUGB website.

Tonight, Bath Shotokan karate club were privileged to have two very exciting guest instructors. Sensei John James Bruce and Sensei Holly Sterling had travelled from Sendai and Kushiro Karate club from the other end of the UK to take our club session, as part of their tour of Southern England clubs. Both JJ Bruce and Holly Sterling have extensive karate CVs with equally large trophy cabinets from their competition successes. The class was split into two – with both instructors working with black belts and kyu grades separately. The sessions focused on precise and fast movements, improving kicking through being relaxed and breathing properly, and kumite drills based around agile movements off line from the direction of attack. Kata instruction also focused on precision, speed and finally martial spirit! Everyone enjoyed the evening which seemed to fly by, and all left having found something new to work on to improve their karate. We’re hoping that JJ and Holly will return to instruct again soon.

A training course and grading were held today with Sensei Bob Poynton. Around 60 people attended the training course with 40 people grading. A number of Bath Shotokan karateka successfully graded, and our congratulations go to: 

Alvero Gonzalez

Dave Acheson

Ashley Cole

Steve Whittaker

Jozefa Glapiak

Ania Glapiak

Laura Wilson

James Langley

Well done to all of you from the Bath instructors!

Bath Karate club instructors would like to welcome back all members of the club. We hope you have had a good New Year and are raring to train hard. We have already booked three gradings for this year, see the Events Page for details and be prepared, the first one is in March! In February we are pleased to welcome Sensei JJ Bruce from Sunderland who will be a visiting instructor on a club night. This is a fantastic opportunity to train with one of the KUGB’s top competitors and instructors. As usual, a number of the club’s members will be training on the Central Region Kata Squad with Sensei Frank Brennan. We encourage any of you who are planning to take higher gradings (i.e. 1st Dan and above) this year to attend some of these sessions – all dates are now on the Events Page.

We would also like to invite any new or interested folk who are thinking about doing something new for their health and fitness this year. Please feel free to come and watch a session or even join in if you are up for it! Details of our club can be found on these pages.

Finally, we have been excited to get an email from two past members who trained with us over twenty years ago. Nick and Graham Wyatt sailed to New Zealand in 1994, but have continued to train and have recently been awarded their 3rd Dans.  All the instructors at Bath Karate club would like to wish them both good fortune and good training for the coming year.

Please note that our last training session will be on Thursday 19th December. We will start training again on Monday 6th January 2014 at 7.45. May we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!

Bath Karate Club Instructors

Yesterday, the Bath club celebrated the end of another successful year with its annual Christmas dinner at The Porter in Bath. Club regulars were joined by partners, friends and visitors – yes Sarah, that means you! The evening culminated with Sensei Ron Hick’s annual speech, and presentation of Student of the Year of 2013 to Dave.

Cher receiving her 2nd Dan from Senseis Sherry and Brennan

A Black and Brown belt course and grading was held today at the University of Bath Sports Centre. The instructors and grading examiners were Sensei Andy Sherry, 9th Dan and the KUGB Chief Instructor, and Sensei Frank Brennan, 7th Dan. The day started with a training session for the Brown belts, followed by a session for the Black belts. In both sessions Senseis Sherry and Brennan focused on correct and precise techniques and form that are required in the basics, kata and sparring. The training was followed by a grading for those taking 1st and 2nd Dan black belts. We are delighted to report that our club member, Cher Bradley-Smith was awarded her 2nd Dan black belt. Well done Cher from all your instructors!

Black belts after training with Senseis Sherry and Brennan

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Sensei Ed Starks, who passed away yesterday after a long illness. Sensei Starks was the Chief Instructor of Bristol Shotokan Karate Club, an inspirational teacher to all of his students and was widely respected by his fellow instructors in the South West and beyond. We send our deepest condolences to Ed’s family and to Bristol Shotokan Karate. (The picture of Ed above was taken in October 2012 at the Special Dan Grade Course in Bath.)

Congratulations are due to the following club members who successfully graded under Sensei Bob Poynton earlier today: James, Theo, Ashley, and Dave. Further congratulations are due to Theo who took second place in kumite, in the Bill Winfield Memorial Competition after the grading. As can be seen below, Theo is at home with either punching or kicking! Well done from all the club instructors. 

Competitors and judges for the Bill Winfield Competition