Late yesterday evening, Sensei Chris and Sempai Stuart travelled to Newcastle to pick up Tyler Tanti from the airport and welcome him here in the U.K.
Tyler is a dedicated karate practitioner from Malta who’ll be spending the next three weeks training with us in the dojo, in addition to a number of private sessions at Chris' garden dojo. Tyler's background is heavily based in sport karate (a former international competitor), so at request to help widen his experience, this visit will aim to focus on both the traditional and practical aspects of our curriculum. Tyler is a skilled, thoughtful and open-minded martial artist, who has been planning this trip for over a year now. We are very much looking forward to sharing our approach to help support some of his goals and I hope that members will make him feel like one of the family. There's no time to waste - he’ll be in the dojo from tonight!
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Yesterday evening at our Great Clifton club we were visited PCSO Catherine Keevil from Cumbria Police to give some of our junior members a personal safety presentation.
Catherine taught the children about personal awareness, stranger danger and who to contact when they need help. All the things we aim to instil in all our younger members here at E.S.K.K Martial Arts & Fitness. A big thank you to Catherine for giving up her time to come and talk to us and also to our Great Clifton instructor Sensei Garet for organising the event. We look forward to arranging similar events at our other clubs in the near future that will all help supplement the content we deliver in our classes around West Cumbria. Here's a brief newspaper report on our recent trip to Okinawa...
A group of local martial artists have recently returned from the trip of a lifetime to Okinawa, The Birthplace of Karate. Organised by Whitehaven based group E.S.K.K Martial Arts & Fitness, participants included 13 members from their West Cumbria clubs and 6 members from their overseas branch in Malta. They spent 10 days learning directly from some of the most distinguished masters on the island and taking part in special demonstrations to commemorate World Karate Day. E.S.K.K member John Hopkins said, “This was both an unforgettable and emotional trip to the spiritual home of karate. Working with some of the top teachers was an incredible experience and I feel very lucky to have been part of it.” The group’s Chief Instructor, Chris Denwood, himself an internationally renowned practitioner and Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee, was also honoured to teach his approach to karate in Okinawa as well as to represent one of the most historic dojo on the island during the World Karate Day performances. Chris said, “I feel very privileged to have been given such an amazing opportunity and even more so to have been able to share it with my students. I’m also incredibly proud of the positive feedback our group received from esteemed teachers in Okinawa. My sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this trip possible and we now look forward to passing on some of the valued learning we’ve gained to the rest of our membership here in Cumbria.” As well as their intensive daily training schedule, the group also dedicated time to visit important historical karate sites, tombs and memorials in order to pay homage to the original creators of what has now become one of the most popular martial arts practised around the world. E.S.K.K Martial Arts & Fitness are dedicated to sharing the benefits of traditional karate to members of the whole family and offer free no obligation taster classes at all of their clubs. To find out more, please call 01946 694751 or visit www.eskk.co.uk. Yesterday evening we held a grading for our karate members at our Cleator dojo. This was for those who were unsuccessful at our main grading in November and have been working hard to re-sit, or for those who had prepared for the November grading, but weren't able to attend due to extenuating circumstances. We are pleased to report that everyone passed and this also included two first-class performances! Congratulations to everyone who graded yesterday - taking on this challenge regardless of result always earns our utmost respect. Results as below... Around 70 of our dojo members faced their grading challenge yesterday in Whitehaven, from beginner ranks through to brown belts. The place was packed with parents, partners, family members and friends, who all came to watch and offer support. This was great to witness :-) We make no apologies for holding high standards, which not only makes all our awards very well deserved, but inevitably means that some don't quite make the grade. However, whether successful or not, standing up to be counted always wins our sincere respect and regardless of outcome, what you do from this day forward (win, lose or draw) will go to define your ongoing journey in karate. The reward is the same for everyone (more training), so be sure to make your next step a positive one and we'll see you back in the dojo soon! Special thanks to panel members and assistants who all helped to make the day run as smooth as possible. None of this could be achieved without everyone's support. Successful results are listed below along with a small selection of photos from Facebook... Over the summer we held our very first E.S.K.K Fitness Fiesta. This was a sponsored 3-hour charity event which included everything we teach in our fitness classes and much more. As well as exercises from Kettlebells, Pilates and Enduro-Strike, we also had tyre flipping, battle ropes, log and keg lifts, just to name a few. In the final section of the event we all headed outside to conquer the Eliminator which was a circuit and obstacle course. Everyone’s spirits were high even though it was cold and pouring with rain, the energy was electric. There was laughter, teamwork, camaraderie and we even had a water balloon fight just to make sure that everyone definitely got drenched! The event was very well supported with 27 people taking part. We would like to thank all participants and supporters who not only made our very first Fitness Fiesta a complete success, but have helped us create fond memories which we can add to our growing collection. And what's more is that we managed to raise an amazing £1230.00 for our Community Fund! Special thanks to Stuart Rigg who helped organise the event and sourced all the new and exciting equipment we trained with on the day. We would also like to give big thanks to Sylvia Ling and Kelly Scott who were both amazing, making sure we were all fed and watered and capturing the whole event by taking photos and videos in the pouring rain. You are both super stars and we couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks again everyone and we look forward to doing it again next year! This is Sam. Sam is 13-years old and a member at our Workington dojo. Recently, Sam recently walked with his family from Workington to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary for 'Jack's Journey', who was diagnosed with leukaemia at 18-month old. They traced the journey Jack took in the ambulance on foot. Plus he completed this task proudly wearing our E.S.K.K logo! Walking from Workington all the way to Newcastle is no easy challenge for anyone, let alone a 13-year old! Therefore, we wanted to write a little news article just to raise some awareness and congratulate Sam on a job well done. We think he's set a great example for children his age and we're proud to have him in our dojo. If you'd like to support the charity that Sam has worked so hard for by offering a small donation, then you can do so by hitting the link below. And for our members who recognise Sam from class, please take a moment to pat him on the back...he deserves it! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-cannan1 Tonight we held a catch up grading at our Cleator Dojo for the small number of members who could not challenge their rank at our July grading due to extenuating circumstances, or were unsuccessful and required a period of focused training and mentorship before attempting to resit. We're pleased to report that everyone passed and we would like to congratulate those members listed below who all prepared hard for their challenge. Special congratulations go to Zack Evans and Simon Marley, who have both faced failure at previous gradings and come back with great determination in order to succeed today, where under the same circumstances many others have given up around them. This in our eyes shows the true spirit of karate and earns our deepest respect. See you all back in class again soon! A few months ago, our chief instructor, Chris Denwood, was asked to be part of a unique book project alongside a selection of highly respected karate teachers from around the world. Each contributor having a chapter of their own, they were asked to write about the five most important points to consider when training 'practical karate'. The chapters themselves are anonymous with author credits at the back. The idea is for readers to enjoy and consider each chapter on their individual merits, without being 'swayed' the the name(s) attached. You can of course cheat - but that would spoil the whole point (and fun) of the book! As you can imagine, the result is a treasure trove of information and viewpoints that will surely become a valued part of many personal martial arts libraries across the globe. Andi Kidd, who has compiled this work (and contributed a chapter too) has done a fantastic job pulling it all together and the book is available now from Lulu - hit the link below for more details... The Problem of Practical Karate >> Chris' contribution is actually an adapted chapter from his own upcoming book - Naihanchi Vol.2. So those who can't wait can get a pretty good taster for what it's all about by grabbing a copy of Andi's book now! The exceptionally hot conditions here in Cumbria today didn't stop over 60 of our members take their grading test today. Despite the weather and lack of air flow in the dojo, the grading panel were happy to witness some strong performances and came away confident that our high standards are still continuing to grow. Our gradings are not easy and today members covered a whole host of aspects such as pre-requisite knowledge, basic techniques, combinations and kata, pre-arranged sparring, self-defence based applications, pad work, joint attacks, throws and take downs, grappling skills, limb control and a range of dedicated sparring drills to deal with/escape from both single and multiple opponents, plus managing a specific disability. Whatever the outcome, everyone who challenged their rank today tried their very best and as always, showed the true spirit of karate. For that they earn our deepest respect and we hope to see you all back in the dojo again soon ready to take the next step of the journey! Words cannot express just how proud we are to announce that eight of our members have recently been promoted to our coveted black belt rank, after a gruelling 5-hour grading on Sunday 27th May. Over the past months, they have all been training very hard for this event and performed with every ounce of energy they could harness. It was an honour to witness such skill, determination and tenacity all in one room! In our dojo, the grading requirements for Shodan (first degree black belt) are very demanding - physically, mentally and emotionally. It takes years of consistent development and devotion to karate to be even considered for black belt, so only very few of our members ever make it to this point. But that's not the only reason why we consider our black belt award so special. At least two weeks before the test, candidates are required to submit a written essay or conduct a class presentation on a karate-related subject of their choice. This in itself takes weeks of preparation, research and numerous drafts being questioned, corrected and revised. Topics from our 2018 candidates included the history of karate, kata application, power generation, movement efficiency, mental strength, the importance of sparring and old-school Okinawa karate principles. Before the physical testing begins, all candidates are required to sit a panel interview, to answer questions relating to their essay/presentation topic and additional pre-requisites that includes the history of the karate ranking system, explaining to the panel what holding a black belt would personally mean to them and what they think their reaction would be if they were unsuccessful. We ask these questions to check understanding of what a black belt is and most importantly, what it isn't. The physical grading covers a variety of aspects from our curriculum and challenges candidates thoroughly across many pathways. Included are fundamental techniques and kata (forms), combination techniques including the ability to transition smoothly and adapt freely, kata applications for civilian self-defence, a range of intense pad work drills against focus mitts and impact shields, pre-arranged sparring and limb control drills, grappling methods, numerous rounds of free-sparring to a variety of scenarios, both long-range and self-defence based. The final challenge after being totally exhausted from the above is to harness enough energy, concentration and focus to cleanly break a one inch wooden board with both a hand and foot technique. Candidates are assessed on their overall performance including technique, ability, understanding, consistency and tenacity. They are also assessed on how they respond to challenge, pressure, doubt and any mistakes they may make along the way. The character traits for black belt are equally as important as the physical attributes. It is my pleasure to announce the following promotions to black belt and share a little about their individual progress: Phoebe Forster - Junior ShodanPhoebe was one of our very first junior members some eight years ago. She's clocked nearly 3000 days since her very first grading and has grown into a fine young lady. Hundreds of members have joined and quit since she began her journey with us, but she's living proof that our blueprint works for those few who are willing to see the process through. Her level of maturity at her young age is impressive. She dominated her interview better than many adults would and managed her physical performance exceptionally well. She displayed a fine balance of all the attributes we require for Black Belt. Due to the pressure, there were a few emotional tears during breaks, but when the next phase was called, Phoebe took control, flipped the switch and showed everyone what she's made of! Sarah Hobbs - ShodanThe way Sarah has overcome her fears represents the spirit of our dojo and displays what attaining a Toku Sei Kan Black Belt is all about. Many people consider breaking an inch of wood easy...Sarah didn't. And her mental battle towards this challenge has been going on for months. After hours of intense effort, she bravely walked on to face the boards literally crying, composed herself and harnessed what energy she had left. She walked off having defeated the greatest enemy she'll ever face, herself. We all find challenges in life that may seem superficial to others, but are very real to us. But facing those challenges head on and bravely battling those demons that threaten your realisation of personal success is what puts you in the minority of those who walk on this spinning planet. Sarah has now earned a life-long membership of 'The Minority Gang'. Dominic Mills - ShodanKarate is obviously not the only thing going on in people's lives and Dominic was one of those who had extra stresses outside of the dojo, as he is right in the middle of his GCSE exams! A few weeks ago he came to me rather upset and ready to throw in the towel completely, as he was finding it impossible to juggle grading prep with the demands of his school revision. After we talked, he decided to keep on struggling. Parents who have supported their kids through GCSE's recently will know just how hard it is. Many from this age group drop out of karate altogether due to such pressures and never resume to realise the talent they may have. This makes that fact that Dominic even turned up to the grading worthy of respect. It's easy to make excuses when other difficult stuff is going on in your life. It's something to blame. But taking personal responsibility for your path is what leads to real success. Elaine Ashford - ShodanElaine is like a pit bull terrier as she packs a mighty punch for her size. And after being under the weather for days leading up to the grading, she still stood up and toe'd the line! Elaine's success will have a huge impact on her kids, Millie and Charlie, who are also dojo member and were both there to witness their mum unleashing the warrior within. What an inspirational lesson to give your children! At one point during the grading she glanced over with a look of sheer exhaustion and desperation in her eyes that indicated a little doubt that she may not be able to continue. I said, "you OK?" and her eyes immediately changed as she reached deep to find some more energy. She nodded, threw her doubts away and then got stuck right back in. I'm not even sure is she remembers it, but for me, that was a pivotal point in her grading. Terence Ross - ShodanAlready ranked 5th Dan in Wado-based karate, Terry attended a seminar with me back in 2008, which happened to spark some interest about my approach. A few seminars later, he approached me to seek full student membership of the dojo under the condition that he start again from white belt. That alone told me a great deal about Terry's character. Living in Lancaster, Terry drives over a 4-hour round journey to practice at our dojo. This certainly motivates our local members to 'go the extra mile' and attend class when theymay have had a tough day at work or school. Because of his location, his attendance is sporadic, but his prior experience and work ethic more than makes up for his irregularity. Up until very recently, Terry was an active instructor with another association, which meant that he had to learn to adapt to our style, whilst still maintaining high standards in another. Anyone who's had to do this will know how difficult that can be. After a previous grading with us, it was evident that Terry would need to work on his general fitness and since then he's lost weight, gained strength and mobility. His performance at the grading showed a culmination of all his sterling efforts. Thomas Duggan - ShodanOver the years Tom has been a member of our dojo, he has had to make some significant changes to his karate. He's one of our members who has spent time training with teachers in Okinawa (the birthplace of karate) and the hunger he possesses to dig deep and understand what's below the surface of karate practice is commendable. As Tom is quite tall and has long limbs, his personal challenge has always been around attaining smooth and efficient movement, along with the focus to end techniques precisely. Over the years he has steadily chipped away at these issues, developed his self-confidence and through all his hard work has gradually gained more power, accuracy and consistency. Even up until the day before the grading, he was in the dojo making sure that he'd taken full ownership of what would be required on the day. With such a humble and genuine character, I have no doubt that Tom's quest to improve will continue just the same as it always has, exhibiting one the most inspiring attributes we look for in our black belts. Garet Mair - ShodanGaret has already clocked up a long and impressive experience in martial arts including Taekwondo (former British champion) and mixed martial arts. He's certainly been 'round the block' so to speak and because of this, I take pride in the fact that he finds something special at our dojo and over the years has grown to love all that we're about. A doctor of engineering, Garet has a particular interest in the physics associated with karate power generation and submitted a very in-depth study for his grading essay. This passion extends to understanding how the more traditional aspects of karate may fit within a more contemporary understanding of science. But as well as 'talking the talk', Garet can also 'walk the walk'. Despite a niggling hamstring injury and bloody forehead towards the end, his grading performance was beautifully balanced and consistently managed -a testament to both his prior experience and in-depth preparation leading up to the event. Kelvin McDonald - ShodanKelvin's work rate throughout the grading day was in a word, exceptional. He simply didn't let up...not even for one second! In the months leading up to the grading I've witnessed Kelvin push a little harder each week. One more burpee. One more kata. One more try. His karate is almost incomparable to what it was 12-months ago and he's a positive example of the fact that what you consistently think and how you consistently act, so shall you become. Since travelling to Okinawa with us back in 2014, Kelvin's view and passion for karate has increased exponentially. His determined, but respectful attitude in the dojo is one that we'd love all our members to have and I'm sure that his daughter Natasha, who is also a member, will find a great deal of inspiration from her father's achievement. The Japanese term Shodan, does not mean 'expert', but 'beginners level'. It suggests that newly ranked black belts are merely on the first step of a long ladder in their lifelong journey in karate. However, being on the first rung does not mean that they have only learned the 'basics', far from it. In order to prepare karate practitioners for a lifelong study, they are carefully forged over the years leading up to black belt, just like a sword would be forged and tempered in order for a sharp edge to be polished. Students are progressively exposed to increasing levels of heat and consistently moulded by the demands of karate's traditional teachings - physically, mentally and spiritually. Although not popular as it causes discomfort and probably the main reason why there are so many 'get your black belt quick' schemes around the World, the tempering process associated with traditional martial arts is an absolute necessity so that a sharp edge may always be regained. It is not an easy process and it takes lots of time and effort, which is why in our dojo, only a very small percentage of our membership will develop the attributes required for Shodan. On behalf of everyone at E.S.K.K Martial Arts & Fitness, I'd like to congratulate all our newly ranked black belts on a job well done! The roots are now set firmly in place and now you have the opportunity to use this fundamental platform for continued development within the dojo, to grow some branches of your own and begin the lifelong process of polishing your individual expression of karate.
On Saturday at our Whitehaven dojo, we presented our 2018 Student of the Year awards to a packed hall of fellow members, parents, friends and supporters. It is with great pleasure to announce that the junior award was given to Euan Renkin-Chare (3rd Kyu) and the senior award to Elaine Ashford (1st Kyu). Our Student of the Year Award has been running since our group began back in 2004 and is considered both a special honour and great achievement. It is presented to karate students who have shown outstanding qualities and whose commitment, dedication and selflessness act as an inspiration to all other members. What makes our student of the year award so special is that the final decision is influenced by every member of the group. Each year, a poll is conducted, along with suitability assessments and a dedicated meeting with instructors at our various clubs. Using this information as a guide, our Chief Instructor makes the final decision. The award is presented "In recognition of displaying exceptional qualities in the dedicated practice of traditional karate, outstanding contributions in support of our dojo and unwavering commitment towards ongoing personal development, standing as fine inspiration for others to follow." CHARITY DONATION As part of our awards poll, we also asked members to select a local and national charity close to their hearts. The selections are compiled and placed into a box for one of each to be chosen at random by our new winners. The two charities will receive a sizeable donation from our Community Fund. The charities chosen this year were:
More information about these charity donations will be released in a future news piece. On behalf of everyone in the group, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both Elaine and Euan on achieving our 2018 Student of the Year Award and their lifelong induction into our our dojo Hall of Fame. We'd also like to thank everyone who took time out of their day to take part in our awards presentation - your support is always very much appreciated. Next year for our 15th Anniversary we'll be making some changes to our annual awards presentation and due to our membership growth in recent years, offering individual club accolades alongside Student of the Year. Keep your eyes peeled for these exciting developments!
We were very proud to award eight grade promotions yesterday evening following assessment at our Cleator dojo. As usual, everyone worked exceptionally hard to prepare for the event and it was a pleasure to see that work paying off. A special mention goes to 6-year old Reggie McGrady who was unsuccessful at his last grading, but has been single-minded every week since to improve. And what an improvement it was - he should be very proud of himself, as I'm sure his parents are! Also, special congratulations goes out to Christine Coleman, who I'm sure won't mind us mentioning that even at 69-years young, she is still pushing boundaries and taking on new challenges - what an inspiration! Both Reggie and Christine clearly show that the benefits of traditional karate training can be enjoyed by pretty much everyone and exemplify perfectly the strong ethos we share at our dojo. Congratulations to you all and see you back in class again soon :-) PROMOTION TO 9TH KYU (RED BELT):
PROMOTION TO 8TH KYU (YELLOW BELT):
PROMOTION TO 6TH KYU (GREEN BELT):
We are blessed in our dojo to have so many hard working members who give it their all during every training session. They help inspire and encourage others so that everyone grows together. Our grading today showed not only high levels of spirit and determination, but also examples of the close family bond that makes what we do so very special. There were some sterling performances, some inner demons battled, some results celebrated and as is inevitable at these events, a small number of disappointments too. However, these were accepted with heads held high and a sense of determination to fight again another day. The grading panel members couldn't be prouder! Congratulations to everyone who challenged their rank today - you have our utmost respect. Big thanks also to panel members and assistants who gave up their day to support the grading and helped to make sure that the schedule could run as smooth as possible. Your efforts were much appreciated. Official results below :-) As our curriculum is based on a progressive rotating framework, we normally hold a 'catch up' grading around one month after our three main annual gradings. These catch up gradings are for members who either (1) were working hard towards the main grading, but unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances or (2) were unsuccessful at the main grading and invited to re-sit after a period of focused training and mentor-ship. This week, we held two 'catch up' gradings. The first was on Sunday 10th December at our Cleator dojo and we also held a special 'double grading' on 13th December at our relatively new Great Clifton dojo, specifically for members who had transferred to us from the previous Shotokan dojo that used to practice there. The prospect of transferring styles is not easy and proved a little too daunting for many. But for those who took on the challenge to continue their martial arts journey with us at Great Clifton made us very proud yesterday and we welcome you all into our intermediate ranks. Big congratulations to everyone who graded this week and we hope that the experience will inspire further development along your karate path in 2018! Congratulations to almost 60 of our karate members who stepped up to challenge their next rank at our grade examination yesterday. Gradings in our dojo are never easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is and so it was fantastic to see plenty of determination, along with some spectacular performances! We make no apologies for our standards being high and whether successful or unsuccessful, the reward is always the same...more training! So regardless of personal outcome, so long as you honestly gave it your all then you will always earn our utmost respect. Official results are as below - see you back in the dojo again soon to continue your karate journey, Chris.
Last weekend, 25 senior members, assistants and instructors from our 7 dojo locations came together at the wonderful Crown Hotel in Wetheral for three days of intensive martial arts and fitness training.
This was our 13th Annual Training Camp and as in all previous years, there was no shortage of effort, enthusiasm and camaraderie. Sessions were numerous, frequent and demanding, and by Sunday afternoon, despite being completely exhausted, everyone travelled home with both a sense of real achievement and a beaming smile on their face.
Topics over the weekend included advanced kata, bunkai, ground fighting techniques, pad work and attribute development, Naihanchi combatives, kettlebell training, two-person flow drills and tactile based 'sticky hands' training. fitness and conditioning, self-protection principles and counter weapons training.
Rather than post up a bunch of pictures, here's a quick video montage showing just some of the stuff we covered throughout the event...
As always, it was a pleasure to have shared the weekend with such an enthusiastic group of members and I'm looking forward to putting plans in place for next year's event already!
​As well as participants, a big thank you also goes out to instructors and assistants for their excellent contributions to the weekend schedule, plus the Crown Hotel staff for making us feel so welcome. As always, the venue, facilities and food were amazing. ​Chris Yesterday evening we were once again honoured to have spent the evening with Aikido teacher Ishizaki Yoshiyuki from Fukushima, Japan. He was on business here in West Cumbria and had personally requested that we meet up again to mutually share our martial arts. We were only to pleased to host him and his colleagues on behalf of Sellafield Ltd. Ishizaki Sensei took to the tatami first and gave everyone a skillful demonstration and accompanying lecture on the fundamentals of Aikido. He talked about basic techniques, manipulation of the receivers energy through subtle body movements and focused heavily on breathing and relaxation to help develop the seika tanden (body core). He emphasised that Aikido was an art of peace and aimed to cause only the minimum of discomfort to the opponent necessary to make good your escape in self-defence. Our Chief Instructor, Chris Denwood, followed Ishizaki Sensei and along with fellow Toku Sei Kan members, presented a similar demonstration and lecture on the underlying principles of Koryu Karate. In particular, he aimed to emphasise a relationship and what he felt were key similarities between Aikido and karate - two arts that are often considered very different. He and his team performed basic techniques, kata and bunkai, power generation, hojo undo and finished with a demonstration of karate's joint attacks, throws and take-downs from a tactile-based muchimi-di (sticky hands) framework. The key message conveyed through both demonstrations was that although on the surface these look like diverse arts, Aikido and Karate still share a number of common principles and methodologies central to the way in which they are expressed and utilised. Like our first experience with Ishizaki Sensei last year, we were once again able to see his wonderful and graceful art of Aikido and also showcase some key aspects of Toku Sei Kan (the derivative of Okinawan traditional karate we practice at our dojo). Ishizaki Sensei seemed very pleased with how it went and needless to say, so were we! The exchange of gifts and photo session afterwards brought out huge smiles on all sides and Ishizaki Sensei’s parting words eloquently reflected how we all felt. He said: “We may be geographically separated by thousands of miles, but we are nevertheless joined in spirit through our mutual passion and devotion to martial arts” We all agreed with his further sentiment that "Martial arts reflect and impact every aspect of our lives, not just what we do in the dojo, and that our martial arts journeys are a life-long endeavour." We have, without any doubt, strengthened the bond of friendship we forged when we first hosted Ishizaki Sensei last year. And whilst it remained very formal and within the expected etiquette, there was still a very palpable warmth to the visit this year and Ishizaki Sensei's sense of humour also shone through. Smiles do not need a translator for us to understand! Special thanks go to David Forsythe, Peter Hinde, Claire James, Bernie Coombe and David Glaister for helping to organise the event, ensure a suitable venue and making sure that tatami mats were collected and delivered in good time. Thanks also to E.S.K.K members for taking time out to support the event, being part of our demo team and representing our dojo with the high standards we've come to expect. We hope that Ishizaki will once again leave the country with a positive impression of our approach to traditional karate here in West Cumbria, we wish him and his colleagues a safe flight back to Japan and we are all looking forward to seeing them again in the near future! In the four years that the 100-Kata Challenge has taken place, we've always completed it with pride and have even made it part of our official list of annual events. This year was no different, where 25 keen dojo members came together to work hard in homage to Karate Day and in respect to the pioneering karate masters of our past, who paved the way for us to benefit from the art today. The 100 Kata Challenge also connects karate practitioners from all over the globe through a mutual goal and to remind us all that we are but one family. As always, we were honoured to take part. The challenge is normally performed on Karate Day, which remembers the Meeting of the Masters, which took place on October 25th 1936. Our event began at 6:30pm on Tuesday 24th October at the Reformed Chruch Hall in Whitehaven. This year, we decided to up the intensity a little by performing 10 full burpees after each set of 10 Naihanchi Kata. This gave us a grand total of 100-Kata and 100-Burpees. This added physical challenge forced us to dig deep and with the associated muscular fatigue, rely more on efficient body mechanics during the kata performance. An added bonus to the challenge and a valuable lesson to take away. Performing so many kata within the same session also allows you to become very mindful of specific nuances and offers you the chance to experiment with various adjustments and evaluate different elements within the choreography. For us, mindlessly repeating kata simply for the sake of reaching 100 is not the way to approach this challenge. For us, it proves to be a very valuable learning opportunity and certainly for me, each time I complete it I learn something new. This year's group was a healthy mix of 100-Kata veterans and a few first-timers who weren't exactly sure what to expect. This feeling was compounded after mentioning to the group that we'll be adding a few burpees to the mix too! As I expected, everyone gave it their all and although a few were unable to complete our 'burpee challenge' due to fatigue or injury, everyone still managed to tally their 100-Kata! Before we finished, we added an extra kata at the end for our dojo, which was performed with strength, enthusiasm and pride. As chief instructor, this was a wonderful sight to see! As part of this event, participants have been gaining sponsorship for our community fund raising activities. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause then please catch up with one of the participants in class, or drop us a line. All donations are gratefully received. Congratulations to all our members who completed the challenge this year and special thanks to Paul and Linda MIlls, who tallied up the numbers whilst we were all otherwise engaged. Well done also to all our karate family from around the world who joined us and worked hard in celebration of Karate Day 2017!
Last month we held our very first junior summer school, where we took a range of children of all ages and experiences from our various karate clubs to spend a week covering a whole variety of topics including technique-based lessons, fitness sessions, pad-work & sparring, weapons, fight scene choreography, karate history and much more!
We also incorporated elements on self-defence, anti-bullying, leadership and teamwork, inspiring both confidence and self-esteem for holistic life-skill development. The week concluded on Friday evening with a special demonstration for parents and family, where children showcased some of the key skills and lessons they learned throughout the week. We were incredibly amazed at how hard the children worked, the challenges they all undertook and some of the personal barriers broken down in only a matter of hours. To say that we're proud of them is bit of an understatement!
As well as all the excellent comments we received from the kids, we also had parents send us some nice messages too...
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You can't put a price on your child's safety. At the summer school, Chris & Jenny combined discipline and respect along with anti-bullying, anti-abduction, weapons training and self-defence. During the week, my daughter grew in both confidence and character. At E.S.K.K Martial Arts & Fitness, Children are being taught valuable skills whilst having fun at the same time. That in itself is priceless!
â- Gillian Harvey (Frizington) /
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My son enrolled for karate summer school this year nervously. He soon realised that he shouldn't have worried as he found the week interesting, exciting and empowering. Every day was different, and he learnt a range of skills including specific karate routines and movements, and also self awareness and self defence techniques. The week ended with an opportunity for families to watch the children demonstrating their skills. It was lovely to see how much they had all enjoyed themselves and how much they had learnt together.
- Sarah Stevenson (Workington) /
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I asked my son what he thought about the summer school and he said if it was stars it would be ten hundred thousand million billion trillion! He loved the weapons training, fight choreography and anti abduction tactics. He learned lots of new skills, which have strengthened his confidence and self-belief. He couldn't wait to come to class each day and even though he didn't know anyone he was made to feel very welcome and part of the team. We feel it was a fantastic opportunity for him, we're proud of what he learned and looking forward to next year already!
- Carolyn Wareing (Workington) /
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Zack really enjoyed the summer school. It has helped him improve his karate. He was shattered every night from training hard but the sessions were just the right length. We were very proud to see what he had learnt in the excellent demonstration at the end of the week.
- Jonny & Rhea Evans (Whitehaven) /
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We were very impressed with the summer school program that our daughter Maddison attend with you. I have already told a few friends and encouraged them to join the club with their families. I know Maddison loved making up a kata which brought a sense of imagination and independence to Karate. She also enjoyed learning the weapons. As a parent the anti-bully and abduction training was brilliant and this is so important for both kids and parents alike. Thank you for all the time and effort that you put in to making this event a success. It really showed!
- Steve & Danette Bostock (Cockermouth) /
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The boys thoroughly enjoyed karate camp and they were keen to share with us what they had been learning after day one. They particularly enjoyed weapons training, spin kicks and putting together their demo piece for all spectators to see. As parents we were pleased with the topics covered such as anti bullying and self defence/child abduction techniques. A great action packed week, thanks E.S.K.K - The boys will be back next summer for more.
- Robert & Nisha Merrett (Egremont) /
Check out the short video below that shows some clips from the final day demonstration that was presented to parents and family members...
A massive thank you to all participants for their hard work and enthusiasm, parents and family for supporting the event, Moresby School for kindly allowing us to use their venue and not forgetting E.S.K.K member David Woodburn for his invaluable assistance during the week.
âWatch this space in 2018 :-) 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?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! A huge well done to everyone who challenged their karate rank at our grading today - please see results below.
No matter what the individual outcome, challenging yourself in this way and giving 100% on the dojo floor is always a very positive and courageous act - and we can't ask for more than that! We're extremely proud of all our members and looking forward to continuing to support their continuing martial arts journey. And whilst the photo above may show many individual paths, you can be sure that we're all heading up the same mountain together. Kyle is a member at our Workington Karate Club and has been with us for over 3 years now. Since that time, we've watched Kyle grow into a fine young man, always working hard and displaying respect for others around him. He holds a real passion for karate, eager to learn from seniors and always willing to help out juniors with a warm smile! His technique is both strong and sharp, with a determined attitude that shows great potential for the future! We asked Kyle a few questions about his experiences at our dojo - his answers are short but sweet... Why did you start Karate? I decided to start Karate because I wanted to learn how to look after myself and get fit. I'm glad I made the decision to join! What do you enjoy most about our club? I enjoy learning new things, especially when it is something we've not done before. Plus I like the way all ages work together to help each other improve. What benefits have you gained from regular training? I feel much stronger and my techniques are improving little by little each time I attend class. What goals do you have for the future? To improve as much as I can and hopefully get my black belt in the future! What message would you give to others who may be looking to start martial arts? Just come and have a go - You'll love it and want to keep going, getting better and better like I have! Fancy giving one of our classes a go?The awards for our 2017 Student of the Year were made on Saturday morning at our Whitehaven dojo. The class was swelled in numbers as some from our other clubs also came along to help support this important occasion. Every member had an opportunity to vote for their choice of both senior and junior winners. What was the reason for each vote? What sort of things did each consider? Well that’s the beauty of these awards. There is no defined formula or score to reach. The choice is entirely personal. As is tradition, last year’s winners, Owen Hughes and Sophie Cullen, made fitting handover speeches that involved some thank-you’s and an insight on what being Student of the Year has meant to them. Young Owen reminded his yet to be announced successor of the responsibility in holding the honour. He told everyone how the award had encouraged him to try his best, push even harder than before and aspire to be a great example for fellow members. Without a doubt, Owen and Sophie have both worn their crowns well this year! Once the applause for the outgoing speeches died, Sensei Chris Denwood read aloud some of the comments voters had written in support of their junior choice. I listened to words like “dedicated”, “focussed”, “helpful” and realised quickly that they could apply to so many members. The winner’s attributes were further described until young Harvey Hurst’s easy going, always smiling, conscientious approach to karate finally led the audience to his shocked and surprised face – he was our 2017 recipient! Harvey is an outstanding young man, who struggled to muster much more than a “thanks” through his shocked and beaming face. And that’s the beauty of this award right there in that moment. He won the award for how he trains and how he affects others, not just his karate. And yet, he was totally unaware of how much his approach to training is noticed and appreciated by members, assistants and instructors alike. A modest and unassuming, yet very talented young man. Congratulations Harvey on an award well deserved! The senior award this year went to one of our longest standing members, Tom Duggan, who joined the dojo following some self-defence courses led by Chris a decade ago. He stood out to me when I began training, not because of his significant height but because of how much he helped me. Very much a true gentleman with nothing but praise and encouragement for everyone around him. Tom represents the real nature of our group. A formidable karateka, plus a patient and supportive role model. He is part of our closed dojo and active support group committee member, playing a key part in defining the very karate we practice. The voter’s comments reflected the fact that Tom is indeed the epitome of what every karateka should aspire to. Congratulations Tom on a fitting accolade long overdue! As you’d expect, Tom’s speech was as unprepared and as short as young Harvey’s! However, there was little time anyway following what was probably the longest applause I’ve ever heard. True recognition that these awards were so well deserved. It also allowed time for a beautiful celebration cake to be presented for us all to enjoy. Big thanks to former SOTYA winner Peter Hinde for such a kind gesture, and to Danielle Leeson for sharing with us all her amazing baking talents! Trust me; I tried a small piece. It has covered lunch, tea and tomorrow’s breakfast :-) The first duty for our newly crowned Students of the Year was to select from the “hat” the names of two charities (local and national) that will benefit from our Community Fund donations this year. Thanks to monies raised throughout last year, we were able to support the St Bees RNLI and Great North Air Ambulance. This year, we're able to donate to two more deserving charities. For our local charity, Harvey pulled out Alice’s Escapes, a South Lakes organisation that provides holiday respite for sick children. For our national charity, Tom pulled out MacMillan Cancer Support. Watch this space for news about these donations and when we’ll be presenting. So, big thanks to our members for taking time to vote for SOTY, for attending the dojo to support the award presentations and for giving so generously to our Community Fund. Plus of course, a final congratulations goes to our two very deserving winners.
Dave F |
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April 2024
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