JKA England 10th Anniversary Cup
Saturday 2nd November 2013
Crawley, Sussex
Competitors, officials and supporters from JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) travelled to the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley, Sussex to compete in the JKA England 10th Anniversary Cup. With competitors from England, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Scotland taking part there was very much an international feel to the competition.
There were individual events in Kata and Kumite for all grades in various age group categories with 6 areas being used almost continuously throughout the day and into early evening.
Thanks to JKA England for hosting such a well organised event which ran smoothly throughout the day.
It was a successfully day for our association with a number of medals being won over the various categories.
The following competitors represented JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) at the event in senior and junior categories:
Dylan Buckley
Aria Pascual
Daisy Haining
Calvin Bruce
Kyle Bruce
Inga Antonio
Andrew Hamilton
Simon Carmichael
Sandy Carmichael
Andrew McDonald
Murdo Lunn
Ross Lunn
James Sinclair
Marco Aboim
Also attending as referees and officials were Alan Simpson, Bert Stewart, John Deans and John Lunn.
Thanks to all who made the journey down to compete and represent the association. Thanks also to the family members, friends and supporters who gave plenty of vocal support on the day.
For full list of results see JKA England website.
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
Autumn National Gasshuku 2013
Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October
Course Instructors from left to right: Kawawada Sensei, Chubachi Sensei and Ohta Sensei
Over the weekend of Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October students from all over Scotland came together for the JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) autumn Gasshuku 2013.
The October national course offered quality instruction from world class JKA instructors. The instructors for the 2013 course were the following:
Kawawada Sensei 7th Dan JKA HQ Instructor
Ohta Sensei 7th Dan JKA England
Chubachi Sensei 3rd Dan JKA HQ Instructor and Japan Team member
Over the three days training classes were broken into three groups Black Belts, Brown Belts and Colour Belts. Each day’s three hours training was split into two sessions of 1-1/2 hours. Each instructor rotated around the groups after each session with three separate training halls for classes being used over the weekend.
The course was another fantastic opportunity to train over three days with top JKA instructors. As could be expected the instruction was of a very high technical content with various aspects of Kihon covered throughout the weekend to improve technique along with Kata training and Kumite drills. The emphasis from the instructors was on taking as much of the knowledge gained by the students over the weekend away and to continue to practice and implement it into their training back at their home dojos.
The following is a selection of photographs from the weekend’s course:
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) would like to thank all three instructors for their efforts over the three days and making it a very enjoyable and successful weekend.
JKA Dan Grading:
Following the training on Sunday a JKA Dan grading was held.
The following students from JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
passed Dan Grade and will receive their JKA certificate from JKA Honbu
dojo Tokyo Japan.
| JKA Dan Grading: | |
| Simon Carmichael | Orkney |
| Mark Reeves | Orkney |
| Colin Miller | Orkney |
| Katy Buttifant | Orkney |
| Colin Smart | JKA Karate Youth Initiative, Dunfermline |
| Iain Robertson | |
| Eve Monney | Dalgety Bay |
| Kira Dowie | Dalgety Bay |
| Daisy Haining | Shibumi Saltcoats |
| Alysia Rennie | Baldridgeburn |
| Olivia Warnock | JKA Karate Youth Initiative, Dunfermline |
| Pass 2nd Dan JKA (Nidan): | |
| Rebecca Tait | Orkney |
| Alan Doran | Aberdeen |
| Meredith Cottingham | Baldridgeburn |
| Pass 3rd Dan JKA (Sandan): | |
| Kevin McCormick | Shibumi Saltcoats |
| Magnus Garson | Musselburgh |
| Kim Stephen | Dalgety Bay |
| Richard Flynn | Dalgety Bay |
| Susan Campbell | Tullibody Dojo |
Congratulations to all the above students.
Note: All photographs property of Bob Grant not to be used without permission.
JKA England
10th Anniversary International Course
September 2013 – Burgess Hill, Sussex, London
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
September Kata Course and Coaching Seminar
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) held a special Kata course with Sensei Ohta 7th Dan JKA on Saturday 14th September at Dunfermline High School, Dunfermline. These courses are always very popular with a large turnout travelling from all around Scotland.
The class started with kihon training to get everyone warmed up and to practise moving smoothly from one stance to the next. The main Kata for this course were Nijushiho and Gankaku and they were covered in detail along with a number of application exercises. After each Kata Sensei Ohta then gave a demonstration of the Kata to the class then held a question and answer session to clarify any outstanding points.
The final part of the course was dedicated to any Kata being practiced for upcoming Dan grading with a chance for questions and help where required.
As well as the Black Belt class held in the main games hall there was a separate Brown Belt class taken in the adjoining gymnasium by JKA KDS Technical Committee instructors Sensei Stewart and Sensei Deans following the initial training with Black and Brown belts together. In this class Bassai Dai, Jion and Heian Kata were covered.
Sunday 15th September saw a special instructor coaching seminar being held. This was specifically aimed more from an instructor and senior grade perspective covering a wide variety of topics over the morning and afternoon classes which started at 10-00am and finished at 5-30pm. This included detailed discussions on development of students and senior Dan grades as well as covering a wide variety of technical aspects including Tekki Kata. Refereeing and Judging requirements and skills were also covered.
This was a great opportunity for those attending to discuss and clarify any questions they have with regard to technical aspects or development of students. JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) have been running these seminars for the past 7 years and they always prove very popular with those in attendance with this one having the largest turnout of Instructors and senior grades so far.
Thanks to all who attend the weekend’s events and thanks to Sensei Ohta for a fantastic weekend of instruction.
Dalgety Bay Dojo Open Day
Saturday 24th August 2013
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) Dalgety Bay Dojo recently moved to a new customised location which has been converted by instructor Sensei Bert Stewart 5th Dan JKA into the clubs own Dojo and premises. Special guests of honour were the former UK Prime Minister The Right Honourable Mr Gordon Brown MP and his wife Sarah along with Sensei Ohta 7th Dan JKA Chief Instructor of JKA England and Colin McPhail Dalgety Bay Community Council Chairman.
The day started with two special training sessions of instruction by Sensei Ohta which was attended by Dalgety Bay students along with senior students and instructors from our other dojos who had come along to attend the days events.
Following the training sessions there were various Karate demonstrations given by both junior and senior students including a self defence demonstration by Sensei Stewart and JKA Scotland squad member Magnus Garson and a Kata demonstration by Sensei Ohta performing Gankaku.
The opening ceremony followed which included an opening speech by Mr Gordon Brown MP where he declared the Dalgety Bay Dojo officially open. The evening events were a Reception Party for those in attendance.
Sensei Bert Stewart would like to thank The Right Honourable Mr Gordon Brown MP and his wife Sarah along with Sensei Ohta, Colin McPhail Dalgety Bay Community Council Chairman, The Bay Catering and all who attended and helped make the day a success.
Photographs are courtesy Christi MacPherson
JKA Karate Dalgety Bay – New Dojo – Official Opening
Saturday 24th August 2013 will be the official opening of the new purpose built JKA Dojo in Dalgety Bay, Fife.
Sensei Bert Stewart is pleased to announce the guest instructor for the day will be Sensei Y. Ohta 7th Dan JKA.
Training will be from around 2pm (times to be confirmed) followed by attendance of invited guests and a short Karate Demonstration, and thereafter the official opening speeches and a reception / party to close the night.
Places are allocated on a first come basis , so please apply ASAP to secure your place, applications are available from your Dojo Instructor, or call Sensei Bert Stewart on 07863 135 269(Mobile) or Dojo 01383 822 385
David Grant Deaf Olympics
Team GB Selection
Sofia, Bulgaria 2013
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) member David Grant 2nd Dan has been selected to represent Team GB in the Karate event in both Kata and Kumite at this summer’s Deaf Olympics which will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria from 26th July to 5th August. David who is a member of our Baldridgeburn club and also attends the JKA Scotland Squad training will be competing in Sofia from 30th July to 1st August.
Congratulations to David on selection and good luck in Sofia.
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
Special June Course and JKA Dan Grading
Saturday 22nd June 2013
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) held a special course and Dan grading with Sensei Ohta 7th Dan on Saturday 22nd June 2013 at the Queen Anne High School, Dunfermline. As always, due to Sensei Ohta’s fantastic teaching ability and technique there was a great turn out for this course which filled the main games hall.
The object of this course was to give instructors and students an overview of various parts of the JKA Dan grade syllabus and to better understand how they should be taught and performed. Sensei Ohta started the class with various Dan grading Kihon combinations breaking them down and explaining important points for each one. Then with a partner various Kumite exercises were practiced using the Dan grade combinations as a basis for each exercise which further helped to understand and develop each combination.
For the second part of the course Sensei Ohta covered Kata with the black belts and JKA KDS Technical Committee instructors Alan Simpson, Bert Stewart and John Deans covered Jiyu Ippon Kumite and Dan Grading Kata with the brown belts.
As always this was a most enjoyable but most importantly an educational course with students and instructors coming away with a better understanding of the requirements of many aspects of the JKA Dan grading syllabus.
JKA Dan Grading:
Following the conclusion of training a
JKA Dan grading was held. The following students passed Dan grade:
Pass 1st Dan JKA (Shodan):
| Bartosz Andrzejewski | Musselburgh |
| Greig McVean | Musselburgh |
| Bethinn Wright | Dalgety Bay Dojo |
| Angus Brown | Dunfermline |
| Abigail McCulloch | Dalgety Bay Dojo |
| Mairi Roper | Aberdeen |
Pass 2nd Dan JKA (Nidan):
| Richard Conway | Aberdeen |
| Aria Pascual | Shibumi |
| Calvin Bruce | Shibumi |
| Jamie McDonald | Shibumi |
| Cormac Convery | Shibumi |
Congratulations to all the above students on passing Dan grading.
JKA Junior European Championships
Krusevac, Serbia
Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th May 2013
With all the preparation and hard training completed the JKA Scotland Junior Squad competitors and officials travelled to Krusevac, Serbia for the JKA Junior European Championships which were to be held over the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May.
With squad members and supporters travelling on the Thursday from all parts of Scotland the Squad met up in Paris before boarding the flight to Belgrade, Serbia. After arriving in Belgrade it was a 200km coach journey to the town of Krusevac which was the former Serbian capital and was the venue for this year’s championship.
There was no time to rest on the Friday with the JKA Scotland Squad up early and off for a final Squad training session in the morning. In the afternoon there was a reception with the Krusevac Mayor in the townhouse which was covered by the Serbian television and press.
Saturday the first day of competition was also an early start with the JKA Scotland squad arriving at the competition venue just after 8-00am to find many competitors and spectators already in the venue.
Saturday was Individual competition day for the various age group categories and started on time at 9-00am with 5 competition areas going almost cautiously throughout the day with the individual medal ceremony finishing around 8-00pm in the evening. It was then back to the squad hotel to get ready for the following day.
Sunday was Team competition day for the various age groups and was run on pretty much the same format as the Saturday. There was a tremendous atmosphere in the venue over the 2 days generated by the spectators of the various countries, especially during some of the kumite finals where the cheers of encouragement were exceptionally load.
As to be expected the standard was very high but the JKA Scotland competitors competed well with many progressing through to later rounds.
JKA Scotland Medals:
There was JKA Scotland medal success with Aria
Pascual winning first place Gold Medal in Kata and 3rd place Bronze
Medal in Kumite in her category.
Aria Pascual JKA Scotland double medal winner
The JKA Scotland Junior Squad competitors in Serbia were as follows:
Jake Beveridge
Blair Currie
Murdo Lunn
Ross Lunn
Jodie Ferguson
Lucy Ferguson
Calvin Bruce
Aria Pascual
Simon Carmichael
Thomas McFadyen
Well done to all the JKA Scotland competitors and Squad Coaches who attended for your efforts over the weekend. There is a special mention and thanks also to all the family members and friends who made the trip to Krusevac, Serbia to support the squad it was much appreciated.
JKA England 10th Anniversary Course May 2013 – Crawley London
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) members pictured with course instructors.
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) members travelled to Crawley London to attend the special JKA England 10th anniversary course which was held in the K2 Sports Centre Crawley. The 4 day course was held over the weekend of Friday 3rd to the Monday 6th May.
As usual there is always a fantastic line up of
instructors for this event and this year was no exception with the
following instructors present:
Sensei Osaka 8th Dan – Honbu Vice Chief Instructor
Sensei Aoki 7th Dan – Chief Instructor JKA Spain
Sensei Hanzaki 7th Dan – JKA Honbu Instructor
Sensei Ohta 7th Dan – Chief Instructor JKA England
Sensei Takahashi 6th Dan – JKA Honbu Instructor
As well as the 4 days training there was a friendly international event on the Saturday which was won by JKA England and a special 10 year anniversary party on the Sunday with an international Sumo match in inflatable suits which was great fun and entertainment to watch.
With 14 different countries attending there was a fantastic friendly atmosphere over the weekend with many friends getting together once more to train and socialise.
Congratulations also to JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) student Matt Smith who passed 1st Dan on the JKA Dan grading held on the Sunday.
The JKA England Autumn International Course is being held between 27th and 29th September 2013 and many of those that attended this course already booked for September.
JKA European Championships 2013 Konstanz, Germany
On Thursday 18th April the JKA Scotland Squad travelled to Konstanz, Germany to participate in this year’s JKA Senior European Championships which were held on the Saturday 20th April. As usual this year’s event was well attended with teams and competitors participating from many of the countries throughout Europe.
With the top competitors from each country taking part the standard of competition was very high. There were some good performances from the JKA Scotland squad members with a few good results against strong European competitors.
JKA Scotland Squad
Following the championships the squad departed on the Sunday and made the journey back home. Thanks to all JKA Scotland Squad members for your efforts over the weekend.
The JKA Scotland Squad competitors in Germany were as follows:
Andrew Hamilton
Magnus Garson
Kevin McCormick
David Grant
Marie Bower
Kim Stephen
Liam Garrett
James Sinclair
James Campbell
Bartek Andrzejewski
JKA Scotland Squad Coach John Deans
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) Championships March 2013
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) association annual championships were held on Saturday 23rd March at the Queen Anne High School Dunfermline. Despite the very cold weather and snow there was still a large turnout of Senior and junior competitors from all around Scotland who braved the weather and travelled to the event to take part in the various Kumite and Kata events that were being held over the day.
The JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) 2013 Championships commenced at 10-00 am with a short opening ceremony. There were various Kata and Kumite event categories according to grade and age with events being run concurrently throughout the day. The events started with junior kyu grade kata leading up to senior Dan grade Kata which was then followed by the Kumite events.
A number of the competitors taking part are members of the JKA Scotland Squad and were using the event as preparation prior to the 2013 JKA European championships which are to be held in Germany.
Thanks to all competitors who took part and to the spectators for your support. Thanks also to the referees and officials who gave up their time to make sure the long day ran smoothly.
Below is a selection of photographs from the day and a link to the full results table.
For a full table of results please click this link.
JKA Scotland Squad for JKA Junior European Championships 2013 – Krusevac, Serbia
This years JKA Junior European Championships will be held in Krusevac, Serbia on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May. Following JKA Scotland Squad training sessions the JKA Scotland Junior Squad has now been selected.
The JKA Scotland Junior Squad competitors are as follows:
Jake Beveridge
Blair Currie
Murdo Lunn
Ross Lunn
Jodie Ferguson
Lucy Ferguson
Calvin Bruce
Aria Pascual
Simon Carmichael
Thomas McFadyen
JKA Scotland Squad Coach John Deans
Congratulations to all squad members who were selected to travel to this event and represent Scotland.
JKA Scotland Squad for JKA European Championships 2013 – Konstanz, Germany
This years JKA Senior European Championships will be held in Konstanz, Germany on Saturday 20th April. Following the JKA Scotland Squad training sessions where students wishing to put themselves forward for this years event trained hard the JKA Scotland Squad has now been selected.
The JKA Scotland Squad competitors are as follows:
Andrew Hamilton
Magnus Garson
Kevin McCormick
David Grant
Marie Bower
Kim Stephen
Liam Garrett
James Sinclair
James Campbell
Bartek Andrzejewski
Colin Flynn
Stephen Vernon
JKA Scotland Squad Coach John Deans
Congratulations to all squad members who were selected to travel to this event and represent Scotland. The JKA Scotland squad are also preparing for the JKA Junior European Championships to be held May in Serbia.
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
Orkney Club Celebrate 30 years
Sensei Ohta 7th Dan JKA instructing in Orkney
Following on from our Association’s February Region Courses with Sensei Ohta 7th Dan JKA an additional trip Friday 1st March was also made by Sensei Ohta to our Orkney club in Kirkwall which is now in its 30th year. The course was split into two sessions and very much enjoyed by all. Orkney Instructor Drew Kennedy 3rd Dan JKA would like to thank Sensei Ohta for travelling to Orkney during his very busy schedule.
Orkney club instructors and students with Sensei Ohta