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JKA Courses

Kata Course & Karate Association AGM

The Japan Karate Association in England held its first event of 2024 with a 3-hour kata course in Northampton. Training was split into three segments with junior grade students allocated an instructor for designated katas for each, while senior grade were able to choose a different kata each hour. Choices included Chinte, Unsu and Jitte. 

It can be tough to get the body going in cold temperatures but hopefully this course helped some along the way.

The AGM that followed was an opportunity for the committee to make submissions on the recent developments in the association and for area representatives to bring club instructors up to date with regional news.

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Gasshuku JKA Courses

JKA England Winter 2023 Gasshuku

December saw a great, long-weekend’s, training in West Sussex at JKA England’s international karate course. Instructors Shimizu Ryosuke 6th Dan and Kurihara Kazuaki 6th Dan from the Tokyo Sohonbu joined England’s chief instructor Ohta Sensei 7th Dan.

These gasshukus are a fantastic opportunity to learn advanced katas and their applications while practising alongside similarly-graded students from across the UK and further afield. A pre-requisite for 1st Kyu looking to attempt a dan grading within the next 12-month period.

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Special Club Sessions & Kyu Gradings

Special Training & Grading with Ohta Sensei, September 2023

Great training session with Ohta Sensei this month. Challenging partner combinations kept everybody on their toes and, in some cases, on those of others… all building up to the kata, Gankaku.

Congratulations to all who graded! 

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Articles Outside The Dojo

Ohta Sensei cover feature on Shotokan Karate Magazine

JKA England’s Chief Instructor is the cover feature on June’s Shotokan Karate Magazine along with an interview in which he opens up about his initial selection, assisting the late Enoeda Sensei and the formation of JKA England in what is now more than 40 years of his teaching karate in the UK.

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JKA Competitions Outside The Dojo

JKA England National Karate Championship June 2023

Shiranamikai members participated in the JKA England National Karate Championship at the weekend. Well done to everyone who took part, especially those who competed in a karate competition for the first time, and thank you to parents for their support during the day (and photos!). Results as follows…

Ella: Bronze in Kumite 🥉
Ariana: Bronze in Kumite 🥉
Blanche: Gold in Kata, Gold in Kumite 🥇🥇
Lara: Bronze in Kumite 🥉
Jacqueline: Silver in Kumite 🥈
Alex: Silver in Kata 🥈
Austin: Gold in Kata 🥇

Congratulations!

This was a great result so it was nice to relax and catch up over dinner after our regular training session a few days afterwards!

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Gasshuku JKA Courses

JKA England Winter Gasshuku, December 2022

Instructors, Hirayama Yuko 7th Dan and Igarashi Tatsuro 3rd Dan from the JKA Tokyo Sohonbu, joined Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan for this year’s JKAEngland Winter Gasshuku.

Hirayama Sensei created a buzz with her encouraging lesson delivery and positive, yet demanding, teaching style. She is now well known to students in the UK after several visits. Igarashi Sensei challenged participants with calisthenic exercises combined with karate technique, designed to increase speed and power in delivery.

A black belt dan grading was held the final day of the course. Congratulations to Chantelle on passing her 1st Dan. Well done!

Receiving her JKA 1st Dan certificate signed by Ueki Masaaki, Shuseki Shihan.
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Events JKA Competitions News

JKA England National Karate Championship June 2022

After a 3-year hiatus, Shiranamikai members were once again able to participate in the JKA England National Championship alongside more than 300 other competitors.

Well done to everyone who put themselves forward – there were strong performances throughout the day in some highly competitive events. No doubt everyone has emerged as a stronger character and better karateka.

Shiranamikai results
Alistair: Silver Kumite 🥈
Louis: Bronze Kumite 🥉
Lennon: Gold Kata 🥇 Gold Kumite 🥇
Ariana: Silver Kata 🥈 Silver Kumite 🥈
Lara: 4th Kata, Bronze Kumite 🥉
Chantelle: Silver Kata 🥈
Austin: Silver Kata 🥈
Alex: 4th Kata
Shiranami M (Shohei, Dennis, Jacqueline): 4th Team Kata

Thanks to family members for taking the time to come and offer your support, and those who assisted on the day. Also to all the JKA officials for organising such a large scale event, and managing the matches so well on the day. We appreciate all your hard work.

If you missed it this time, keep 29th October free for the Shotokan Open Championship!

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Events Gasshuku JKA Courses

JKA England Spring Gasshuku, May 2022

Spring 2022, and England is hosting the first JKA international training course in three years. Instructors, Sawada Kazuhiro 8th Dan from JKA Belgium, Imamura Tomio 8th Dan and Shimizu Ryosuke 6th Dan from the Tokyo Sohonbu, join Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan for this long overdue gasshuku weekend. 

A respectable contingent of our karateka neighbours are present, including from Scotland, Norway, Portugal, and Germany, all keen to participate and absorb the experience that these instructors have to offer… Sawada Sensei gives detailed explanations underlined with profound historic references, and uses physical proxies to great effect throughout his partner drills. Imamura Sensei expands upon uchi uke in basic partner work with makiotoshi making for interesting, if challenging, techniques. Shimizu Sensei demonstrates speed, power, and flexibility, leaving no doubt as to why he made such a formidable kumite competitor in the past. But what may have surprised is his exeptional form throughout katas Gankaku and Gojushiho Sho, with dynamic movement and slick direction changes. But that’s what the JKA does best: apportion equal time to kihon, kata and kumite, and where one finds a deficit, they strive to make improvements.

There was a lot to get through. The first 90 minutes of each day would be given over to kihon and kumite, followed by another 90 minutes being reserved for kata, bunkai, and instructor training. A friendly kumite match took place on Saturday, alongside a kyu grading, instructor theory, and referee practical. Sunday saw a dan grading followed by instructor practical exams.

So, a busy weekend with little time for much else. But this was a fantastic course taught by some of the most respected instructors in the world. And it was so good to finally catch up with karate friends after so long.

Congratulations to Alex on passing his 4th Dan! It’s an incredible achievement, and the culmination of 20 years of dedicated training.

Update: It was announced late-May 2022 that Sawada Sensei has been awarded 8th Dan by the JKA Shihankai. A just recognition for a great instructor who has dedicated his life to karate. Read more about Sawada Sensei on his academy’s site…

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Events JKA Competitions News

JKA Tekki Shodan Online Challenge

One of the many benefits of studying karate is that it can be practised anywhere, regardless of space, and without the need for equipment, making it an ideal activity in which to participate online.

Back at the beginning of October 2020, The Japan Karate Association invited member countries to submit a modified version of the kata Tekki Shodan, performed in a space of just one metre wide instead of the usual two metres.

This was a good challenge for students across the world while ensuring practise of one of Shotokan’s fundamental stances: kiba dachi.

Shiranamikai members’ entries were submitted alongside other JKA England clubs, and the final results announced today by Tokyo Headquarters. Well done to all those featured!

Summary, results, and message from Ueki, Shuseki Shihan
Fancy trying it yourself? Here’s the performance guidelines
Categories
JKA Competitions News

2019 Shotokan Open Championship

Shiranamikai participated in the Shotokan Open Championship this weekend. This annual event, hosted by The Japan Karate Association in England, regularly comprises iro 350 entrants from across the UK and Europe. Well done to everybody who made the effort!
Our club’s results as follows…

🥈🥉Kyo: Silver in Kata, Bronze in Kumite
🥉Alex Meltsov: Bronze in Kata
🥇🥈Lydik: Gold in Kata, Silver in Kumite
🥉🥈Steph: Bronze in Kata, Silver in Kumite
🥈Tovael: Silver in Kumite
🥈🥉Chantelle: Silver in Kata, Bronze in Kumite
🥇🥇Shion: Gold in Kata, Gold in Kumite
🥉Alex Maclean: Bronze in Kata
🥈Itsuko: Silver in Kata
🥇Eri: Gold in Kumite

Congratulations on the impressive performances, everyone, it’s a 15-medal haul for the club! But what really counts is trying your best, and being back in the dojo for the next training session 🤗

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