 Samuel with his instructor, John on being presented with his Orange Stripe award. Samuel Bailey is 11 years old and has been practising karate with us since last summer. He regularly attends at our Gosforth club and has reached the rank of Orange Stripe. Respectful, hard working and committed, it is a pleasure to have Samuel in the dojo and share some of his thoughts here in his members spotlight! Why did you start karate? I first started karate because I wanted to try out something new and was encouraged by my best friend who already attended class. What do you enjoy most about our club? I enjoy everything about my training, from the new friendships I've made to the discipline expected in the dojo. What benefits have you gained from regular training? I've found that regular training helps me to learn new techniques quicker and being part of special events like the junior summer school means that I can try out lots of new things like board breaking, weapons and demo preparation. What goals do you have for the future? My goals are to keep on learning and gaining in strength and techniques. What message would you give to others who may be looking to start martial arts training? I have a hoodie which states "A black belt is a white belt who never gave up". All you have to do is keep trying, so I'd recommend anyone to come and give it a go - it's great fun! Samuel's mum Vicki is also a keen supporter of the work we do with children... "Since Samuel has started karate he has gained in confidence throughout everyday life. He seems to thrive on the discipline aspects of the dojo and always tries to show respect to other members of the group, from beginner to teacher alike. He recently attended summer school where he was taught personal safety skills and anti-abduction tactics, which I felt were very important for children to learn and a great addition to the schedule. Samuel absolutely loves his time in the dojo and as a parent, it's great to see his skills constantly developing." Fancy trying out one of our karate classes?
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On Sunday evening we held a catch up grading for those who either missed the main grading due to extenuating circumstances or were unsuccessful and required some extra training or mentor-ship. As our catch up gradings are held alongside normal classes, it requires extra focus and effort. But of course, distraction and wavering attention is a normal part of life, so it is worthwhile for our members to experience such challenges. Congratulations to everyone who stepped up to be tested and of course to the ten members listed below, who were successful in achieving their next rank. If you were unsuccessful then remember that this outcome only becomes a 'failure' if you choose to make it so. Instead, get back on the dojo floor, learn from the feedback given by the grading panel and work extra hard towards your next attempt... ...See you back in class again soon!  |
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