General News

It has been a busy 5 weeks since the last newsletter. We have had a children’s and an adults grading and two competitions – one in Liverpool and one in Bournemouth.

On top of this we have also become grandparents for the second time on 27^th April. Our first grandson, Jimmy, who is 10 mths old now and lives in Adelaide, Australia and the second grandson lives 5 minutes away – hooray! Korban James Aaron Birkitt came into the world weighing 8lbs 14 ozs and not without some drama attached. Mum fell top to bottom down the stairs 2 days before her due date and because she protected the baby with her arms, her face and arms took most of the blow. She lost a front tooth and fractured her left wrist and right elbow amongst other bumps and bruises. It was a very worrying time for everyone but thankfully it has all come well in the end. Mum is on the mend and Korban is absolutely gorgeous.

Student of the Month for: April 2011

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Yeshaa Mirani

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Yeshaa has made excellent progress over the last 6 months and her basic techniques are going from strength to strength. She is a bright, intelligent, student who tries hard to emulate her seniors. She has an enquiring mind and puts a lot of thought into her karate practice. Well done Yeshaa and keep up the good standard that you are constantly aspiring to.

Club Gradings

Adult gradings were held on Monday 28^th March and the results were as follows:

Devan Reilly – 3^rd Kyu, Jon McClleland – 6^th Kyu, Chris Godfrey – 6^th Kyu (double grade attained)

Jonathan Caruso – 8^th Kyu, Vinod Chumber – 8^th Kyu, Elliot Massey – 9^th Kyu

Charlie Leake – 9^th Kyu, Jamie Boulter – 9th Kyu

Children’s gradings for 8^th Kyu and above were held on Monday 28^th March and the results were as follows:

Emma Wiltshire – 4^th Kyu, Jack Warner – 4^th Kyu, Jonah Rose – 7^th Kyu, Connor McClleland – 7^th Kyu

Giles McCarthy – 7^th Kyu, Victoria Anstee – 7^th Kyu, Ben Weyman – 7^th Kyu

James Barzey – 7^th Kyu, James Little – 7^th Kyu

Children’s gradings for 9^th and 10^th Kyu’s (yellow and white belts) were held on Wednesday 30^th March and the results were as follows:

Ross Maxwell – 8^th Kyu, Ben Pickering – 8^th Kyu, Yeshaa Mirani – 8^th Kyu, Rachel Anstee – 8^th Kyu

Nayeem Rashid – 8^th Kyu, Fayeem Rashid – 8^th Kyu, Kie Brooks – 9^th Kyu 2 mon, Hamza Majid – 9^th Kyu 2 mon

Swapnell Mirani – 9^th Kyu, Khizar Majid – 9^th Kyu, Farakh Daud – 10 Kyu 3 mon, Miles Ripley – 10 Kyu 3 mon

Luke Hay- 10^th Kyu 2 mon, Ethan Best – 10^th Kyu 2 mon

Eric Harcup – 10^th Kyu 2 mon, Joseph Barzey – 10^th Kyu 2 mon

Well done everyone. It takes a lot of courage to be tested in front of an audience and what we ask you to do is nowhere near as easy as it looks. The children in particular have to combine their motor skills with a large amount of information to remember. These grades were certainly earned!

Competitions

Both Jonathan and Daniel Anstee competed at the Liverpool regional championships in April and we were proud to have them representing out club. Although they did not come home with medals they did come home with valuable experience for gradings and future competitions, as you will see below. Well done boys.

The Bournemouth regional championships on 1^st May were attended by seven students and the outcome was as follows:

Jonathan Anstee – Bronze for kumite

Elliot McCarthy – Gold for kumite

Sian Elson – Silver for kumite

Daniel Anstee – Bronze for kumite

Daniel Anstee – Bronze for kata

Victoria Anstee – Gold for kata

Victoria Anstee – Silver for team kata

Giles McCarthy – Silver for team kata

Rachel Anstee – Silver for team kata

It was wonderful that all 7 students gained medal positions as they were all equally delighted – as were we. Of course, this does not always happen and it truly is having the courage and dedication to take part that really counts.

Dates for your Diary

Please note the following dates on your calendars:

ITKA-EGKA Open Tournament, Liverpool in aid of Japan Tsunami Appeal – 8^th May 2011

London Regional Tournament – Sunday 22^nd May

Venue likely to be at Chessington

EGKA Summer Gradings

11^th – 12^th June Bournemouth

Please see the sensei’s if you wish to compete.

Yours in karate Sensei Andre and Sensei Daphne