Congratulations to Lydik on achieving his 1st dan black belt at the JKA England national karate course in Guildford at the weekend. Well done!

Congratulations to Lydik on achieving his 1st dan black belt at the JKA England national karate course in Guildford at the weekend. Well done!
On his recent visit to Shiranamikai Ohta Sensei demonstrated correct hip alignment through the various stages of a kicking technique: the start, its culmination, return, and provided supporting exercises.
Kumite sequences incorporated the main Shotokan stances of front, side, and back, while moving a different leg to expected was an additional and enjoyable challenge.
Jion was the chosen kata for seniors where they were able to put the lesson’s themes into practice.
Congratulations to those who took their grading!
Shiranamikai members participated in the JKA England 2024 National Karate Championship at the weekend. Well done all, especially those for whom it was their first competition. Big thanks to Alex M, Alex K, and Subhash for coaching on the day, and to parents for their support.
Results as follows…
Iwona: 4th Place in Kata
Teo: Bronze in Kumite 🥉
Evelyn: Gold in Kata, Gold in Kumite 🥇🥇
Ella: Bronze in Kumite 🥉
Austin: Bronze in Kata 🥉
Alex: Gold in Kata 🥇
Congratulations!
JKA England’s Chief Instructor, Ohta Yoshinobu Sensei, visited Shiranamikai to teach a special karate class in March. Students were put through their paces with fundamentals and challenging ‘kaeshi’ partner exercises. Sensei taught the kata Heian Nidan in detail followed by a very technical Bassai Dai for seniors.
Congratulations to those who graded!
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.
Shiranamikai students enjoyed an energetic training session with Ohta Sensei during the last quarter of the year. Speed and power was a key requirement in some enjoyable kumite drills, while every kata is advanced with our association’s chief instructor!
Congratulations to all who graded.
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.
Shiranamikai members participated among 500 competitors and 10 countries at the JKA England Shotokan Open Karate Championship. Well done to everybody for their efforts in what were some exciting and inspiring performances. Results as follows…
Evelyn: Bronze in Kata
Vivienne: Silver in Kata
Ella: Bronze in Kumite
Taiga: Gold in Kata, Bronze in Kumite
Austin: Bronze in Kata
Congratulations!
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.
Ohta Sensei is renowned for his ability to deconstruct kata and build back up through kihon and kumite drills, and his recent visit to Shiranamikai was no different. The Japan Karate Association in England’s Chief Instructor taught a special session based around Heian Yondan for kyu grade attendees, followed by a masterclass in Chinte for senior grades.
Well done to everyone on passing their grading!