The BBC is airing a documentary “Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting: The Rise of Martial Arts in Britain” in their Timeshift series . The programme takes a look at karate in general and features our senior instructors Ron Hicks and Kieran Shore demonstrating various aspects of our style. The programme will be broadcast on Sunday 24th February, on BBC Four at 10 pm. Don’t miss it!

Yesterday, senior members of the Bath club took part in this year’s first Central Region training session and kata squad selection with Sensei Frank Brennan. For the uninitiated, these courses are organised by the KUGB Central Region and feature two training sessions. In the first session, open to all grades, Sensei Brennan focused on some basic combinations featuring stepping punches, and a variety of blocks and punches. The focus was on correct form and technique coupled with fast leg movement and kime. Partner work featured blocking and countering jodan punches using kicks (mawashi geri) and elbow strikes (empi uchi). This session’s kata was Heian Shodan. After a short lunch break the Kata Squad selection began. The kata squad is open to brown belts and above (up to 6th Dan) and the selection was based on Sensei’s choice of Heian katas. I am pleased to report that following selection, the members of the club in the photo above (Julian, Rob, Kieran, Dave, Ron and Mark) were successfully chosen to train on the squad for 2013. The squad training yesterday featured three kata – Heian Godan, Jion and Nijushiho. Each kata was minutely dissected by Sensei Brennan with a focus on form, movement, tempo and spirit, in order to improve everyone’s development. A photo of the whole squad can be found here.

The new club over gi top for club members is here! This is a warm-up top that is ideal to wear to and from the Dojo, gradings and competitions. This high quality garment is available in Bath colours with the club logo embroidered on the front and club lettering stenciled on the back.

This top has an outer construction of a soft touch polyester material with breathable and lightweight qualities, and a 65% polyester, 35% cotton lining for extra warmth and comfort. At no extra cost there is a full length zip with chin guard, two zipped pockets, elasticated waistband and adjustable velcro cuffs to ensure an excellent fit.

For a limited time, the club is subsidising the cost of these jackets – Youth sizes are £20.00 (reduced from £27.75), Adult sizes are £25.00 (from £31.00).

The jackets are available in the following sizes:

Youth – XSY = 24/26”  SY = 26/28”  MY = 28/30”  LY = 30/32”

Adult – S = 34/36”  M = 38/40” L = 42/44”  XL = 46/48” XXL = 50/52”

We will be ordering a batch of these jackets in the next couple of weeks. Please see Sensei Kieran Shore if you wish to order one.

The dates for the KUGB’s Central Region Kata squad courses have now been posted on our Events page. For the uninitiated, these sessions are designed to help you progress with your karate under the expert instruction of Sensei Frank Brennan, 7th Dan. The first of the two training sessions is open to all grades and covers all aspects of karate, the second session for Kata Squad members only, focuses on developing kata. The squad is open to 3rd Kyu and above and those over the age of 16 years old. Selection takes place on Feb 9th and being accepted onto the squad carries the commitment of being able to attend every squad session for the year. There is no such commitment for the all grades session. If anyone is thinking of taking a Dan grading this year, there is no better preparation than attending the all grades sessions, and even putting yourself forward for the squad. For further details talk to one of the instructors.

We have slightly adjusted our training times on Thursdays. We will now start at 7.45 pm and finish at 9.15 (the same as our Monday session.) The main reason for this is to allow members to take advantage of the car parking charges at the sports centre and only having to pay for 30 mins.

As we update the website we will create a events page that contains all the dates relevant for club members. As an appetite whetter, here are the dates that have been confirmed for the Kyu gradings for 2013 – 24 March, 30 June and 10 November. The grading examiner will be Sensei Bob Poynton, 7th Dan. Further details will be posted on the Events page in due course.

For the dates of Dan gradings and other national courses keep an eye on the KUGB Events page. 

We hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to training hard in 2013. On behalf of all of the club’s instructors we wish you a Happy New Year. Training starts again on Thursday, 3rd January 2013 at 7.30 pm. 

As you may have noticed we are developing a new website for the club. Please bear with us while we make the transition from old to new!

Mark Walker was awarded the Student of the Year trophy for 2012 by Sensei Bob Poynton at the club’s Christmas dinner. Mark’s award follows his successful achievement of his 3rd Dan in October 2012.

Bath Shotokan karate club recently celebrated another successful year with its annual Christmas meal at the Boathouse in Bath. The guest of honour was Sensei Bob Poynton, 7th Dan, of the KUGB. Club Chief instructor, Ron Hicks, celebrated the club and its members’ achievements during the last year and looked forward to another successful year in 2013.

This will be the new home for the Bath Shotokan karate website – more coming in 2013