North East Karate Championships, Sunderland

Amy was flying the flag for the club at the North East Karate Championships, held at the Crowtree Leisure Centre in Sunderland.

Amy ended up taking 3rd place in Kata with some fantastic performances that had some of the officials commenting on how good her Kushanku was!

She also got 3rd place in Ladies Kumite (-65kg), though she was disappointed with this result...

Well done Amy, your now matching Carl on the number of medals you've won!

Sakagami Sensei, Training & Grading Course

Sunday 15th November,

Hartlepool Wadokai were invited to the Hartlepool Kihon-Do Karate Club at Manor College of Technology for a Training and Grading course with Sensei Sakagami. We pre-tested our Purple belt juniors on Wed 11th, to see who was ready to grade. All the students we selected passed with flying colours and were fantastic ambassadors to our club - well done! Sensei Michael & Carl along with an injured Sensei Lynne (who couldn't train) were there to support the students.

The juniors posing with Sakagami Sensei

The following students were successful with their belt tests:

• Vince Dawkins - 2nd Kyu
• Beth Gray - 2nd Kyu
• Jasmin Langley - 3rd Kyu
• Luke Dawkins - 3rd Kyu
• Joel Copeman - 3rd Kyu
• Daniel White - 3rd Kyu
• Connor Dougherty - 3rd Kyu
• Charlotte Welsh - 3rd Kyu

A special mention to the following students who also trained with Sensei, but didn't attempt a belt test:

• Connor Butterfield,
• Kate McCaffery
• Andrew Fleet
• Keith Windross
• Graham Field

Well done once again to all students who graded, you all really deserved your passes! Now the real hard work starts, now that you're brown belts!!!

Sponsored Walk

The days news channels were announcing 'the worst storms of the year' across most of the UK with gale force winds in Hartlepool too. This didn't stop our club from completing an 8 mile sponsored walk along Hartlepool's North Sea coastline!

Starting position - Hartlepool Divers Club

The annual sponsored event raises funds for the annual club-only competition which will be held on Sunday 6th December. The worst of the weather actually stayed away whilst we were walking and everyone had a great time, we even had some of our newbies turn up to do the walk too!

It was also great to see so many of our Seniors joining us for the walk too. Above shows Andrew (left) and Keith (right) with their bribes of coffee for Sensei Lynne!

We started the walk at Hartlepool Divers Club on Hartlepool Marina and walked over the loch gates and along the promenade and beach to the Seaton Carew clock tower. We paused for a few minutes whilst the juniors practised their kata (no really!) and the seniors grabbed a coffee from one of the local shops. Then we headed back the way we came for hot dogs, snacks and drinks at the Divers club.

Thanks to everyone who turned up in less than perfect weather for the walk, and also thanks to everyone who's sponsored the club too. Please remember to get the sponsors in asap!

All the pictures are now available on the website gallery...

Carl

Wadokai European Championships

Carl & Amy were part of the 37 strong Wadokai England Squad that flew over to Dublin Ireland for the Wadokai European Karate Championships. Sensei Lynne also flew over for the trip in a coaching (and much needed physio) capacity. The event was held at the ALSAA sports centre at Dublin Airport on Saturday 24th October.

The England squad ended up bringing home 36 medals, including 5 medals from Carl and Amy.

Carl:

Senior Team Kata - GOLD

Amy:

Senior Female Kata - BRONZE

Senior Female Kumite -55kg - SILVER

Senior Team Kata - SILVER

Senior Team Kumite - SILVER

A more comprehensive report of the competition can be read in the latest Aiwakai newsletter, visit www.aiwakaikarate.co.uk.

This is an update of the preparations for the 6th Hartlepool Wadokai Cup, I can guarantee it's going to be bigger and better than ever!

Progress:

• We've ordered the Medals and Trophies from JC Trophies, to the tune of £2178.93.
• We've invited the Hartlepool MP, Mr Iain Wright to the competition view the invite letter here
• Mr Iain Wright, the MP for Hartlepool has kindly accepted our invite to attend our competition and award the medals.
• We have invited Sensei Mick Ryde & Sensei Sue Ryde from Ripley Aiwakai Karate Club to help with the competition.
• Sensei Mick Ryde has agreed to be the Chief Referee for the competition.
• Sensei Nicole Wardell from Kobukan Darlington Karate Club has also agreed to help officiate at the competition.
• Entry forms are now available and can be downloaded HERE
• We've purchased another Electronic scoreboard so that we can run TWO Kumite areas.

Way to Excellence, Leeds

27th September, Leeds

Sensei' Lynne, Michael, Carl and Amy attended the the Way to Excellence course hosted by Leeds Wadokai. Our SatNav decided to announce 'you've reached your destination' whilst we were in heavy traffic under a bridge. We eventually found the venue with time to spare and it was great to catch up with so many old friends before the session started.

Once we got through Keith Walker Sensei' gruelling warm up, we moved onto basics and combination work before working on Pinan Kata. After this the kyu grades were split from the Dan grades, we were put through Seishan kata by Sakagami Sensei. Then we moved onto Kihon Kumite and Tanto Dori (Knife Defence) and I particularly enjoyed discussing the subtle differences between what I learned in Japan (Shiramizu) and Sakagami' Sensei approach, and the reason's for both.

We all thought we were finished but Keith Walker was given the reigns again, and he had us all shadow sparring for ages! This was tough at the end of a 4 hour training session but they weren't finished yet. We lined up for what we thought would be the final bow, but Sakagami Sensei asked Peter May Sensei to put us through some final basics.

All in all, it was a really tough session, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Carl

Sensei Peter May Training & Grading Course

Sunday 20th September, Belle Vue Sports Centre

Once again, we invited Sensei Peter May up to the club for another great training and grading session. As usual, Sensei asked us what we wanted him to work on, and this time around we asked him to be really tough on everyone. Especially since our students have forgotton how to stay in their stances. In fact, if you look at the pic above, you'll see one student in the front row that has a very dodgy stance (don't worry, we made sure Sam got press-ups!)... The juniors were also given Kata tips for the upcoming Aiwakai Invitational Wado Kata Championships. Once again Kobukan Darlington sent their cadets - thanks for your support guys!

Check out the pose...!

Despite Sensei being extra tough on them, they all still had a great time and the coaches have got tons of stuff to work on for the Aiwakai Kata competition.

Next up was a kyu grading, the nerves were clearly showing with some of the juniors but they managed to battle through to get their next belt.

The Seniors were up next, and we had a great turnout with support from Sensei Rob Jewitt's Satori Wado-Ryu Club, and Sensei Mick Stainsby's Kihon-Do Karate Club. Because the class had a mix of grades from red belt right through to Senior Dan Grades, Sensei Peter May worked his magic to make sure everyone got something out of the session.

Thanks again to Sensei for another great course! The next Sensei Peter May Course will be December 19th...