Welsh Bushi-Kai Karate Association

WESTERN KARATE UNION INV CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday 1st May saw the Welsh Bushi-Kai Squad in action at the WKU Event held in Weston-Super-Mare. This event is now firmly established on the calendar as a top quality event, and this proved to be the case yet again with a very high standard of competition, with a large number of entries across all categories.
Congratulations to all of our students who took part, and well done to our medal winners.
Our Squad returned home with 1 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze.

DAN GRADE KATA COURSE

On the 23rd April, the WBK held the first course for this years Dan Grade Candidates. Association Kata Coach, Mark Coleman, conducted the course at our Neath Club. The course proved to be a great success, very well attended and a valuable experience for those registered to grade in September this year.
The next course (Blocks) will take place in Cwmafan on Saturday 25th June.

SENIOR DAN GRADE PROMOTION

The Welsh Bushi-Kai would like to congratulate Sensei Paul Watson, Chief Instructor of the Welsh Karate Union, on his recent award of 7th Dan by the Executive Commitee of Karate Wales.  Highly deserved and well earned recognition for over 4 decades of dedication to the art of karate.

Huge congratulations to all competitors who entered to yesterdays Varsity Match between Swansea & Cardiff University. A special mention to all those students who competed for the first time, takes a lot to stand up and have a go!

Thanks to Welsh Bushi-Kai  referees and time keepers for their assistance.

Final thanks Meleri Mai Pryse  and to those involved in arranging a great afternoon.

RESULTS:

Novice Female Kata
1st Sudesna Surestha Su Du (S)
2nd Kate Powell (C)

Novice Mens Kata
1st Alvin Szoto (C)
2nd Chris Piper (S) Hobbid Hobbin
3rd Sam Mason (S)
3rd Pete Blunden (S)

Senior Female Kata
1st Sophie Vingoe (C)
2nd India James (S)
3rd Stacey Southam (S)
3rd Marie Roper (C)

Senior Male Kata
1st Mike Brand (C)
2nd Phillip Nicholl (S)
3rd Benjamin Lewis (C)
3rd Ollie Harverson (S)

Team Kata
1st Swansea

Novice Female Kumite
1st Kate Powell (C)
2nd Sudesna Shrestha Su Du (S)

Novice Mens Kumite
1st Sam Mason (S)
2nd Dan Tyler (C)
3rd Chris Piper (S) Hobbid Hobbin
3rd Pete Blunden (S)

Senior Female Kumite
1st Lai Yan (S)
2nd Stacey Southam (S)
3rd Marie Roper (C)
3rd India James (S)

Senior Male Kumite
1st Tom O’Leary (C)
2nd Phillip Nicholl (S)
3rd Ollie Harverson (S)
3rd Mike Brand (C)

Female Team Kumite
1st Swansea
2nd Cardiff

Male Team Kumite
1st Cardiff
2nd Swansea

Final Scores:
Swansea – 40
Cardiff – 31

Another good day for the Welsh Bushi-Kai at yesterday’s WKL event in Neath. Our squad won 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 8 Bronze medals. There were many other notable performances which proves the strength in depth of our squad.

GOLD:
Philip Nichol, Morgan Phillips, Megan Taylor, Iestyn Williams, Ruby Davies & Mackenzie Aitchison (all Kumite)

SILVER:
Becky Hole (Kumite), Jacob Davies (Kata).

BRONZE:
Morgan Evans, Keiron Hooper, Nic Hole, Olivia Andrews & Faye Phillips. – (Kumite)
Siwan Williams, Ethan Fluck, & Joanne John. (Kata).

It is particularly pleasing to see students from all of our clubs competing and enjoying these events.

Well done everyone.

On saturday 19th March, the first Brown Belt grading of 2016 took place at Cwmafan.

We would like to thank the students and Instructors / Examiners for their efforts on the day. A very successful course followed by a quality display by those taking grading. Congratulations to all involved and well done to those who passed.

Many thanks to all the Students and Instructors who attended the Association Course and Gradings, held yesterday in Neath and we would like to congratulate everyone who successfully passed their Gradings.

This past weekend saw a contingent of WBK students in action at the British University Championships, held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. In addition to our usual representation via the Swansea University Club, we also had students representing Cardiff and University of South Wales.

These Championships have always been contested by some first class Karate-Ka and this year was to prove no different.  Well done to all of our students on your performances.

Swansea Uni:-   Senior Men’s Team, Senior Ladies Team, Sam Mason (Men’s Novice), Lai Yan (Ladies HW), Meleri Pryce (Senior Ladies MW) —– all achieving 4th placing in Kumite

Cardiff Uni:-   Amy Nicholas, (Senior Ladies Kumite) – 3rd Rd – Narrowly losing out on progressing further.

University of South Wales:- Nic Hole, winning Silver in the Men’s Senior Kumite (-60kg). This is a fantastic achievement for Nic, who automatically qualifies for the European University Championhips, to be held in Croatia in July.

Congrats to all involved … Apologies if I’ve missed anyone out.

The following dates have been finalised for those students attempting their Dan Gradings in September.

Saturday 23rd April : Kata Course in Neath Karate Club 10.00am – 12.00 midday. Cost is £5 per student.

Saturday 25th June: Blocks Course in Cwmafan Karate Club 10.00am – 12.00 midday. Cost is £5 per Student.

Saturday 16th July: Basics Course in Baglan Karate Club 10.00am – 12.00 midday. Cost is £5 per student.

There will be 2 assessments prior to the grading: Saturday 20th August & Saturday 3rd September. Both will take place at the Baglan Club, 10.00am – 11.30 am. There is no charge for either assessment.

On Sunday 31st January, the WBK held an Invitation Tournament at Cwrt Herbert in Neath. The event was very well supported and proved to be a resounding success, with all categories running smoothly and on time, thanks to the efforts of the Officials.

There was some first class Karate on display in both the Kumite and Kata events, and the atmosphere throughout the day was superb. We would like to thank everyone who supported the event and it was particularly pleasing to see so many top associations, coaches and instructors all enjoying the competition.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event.

Another good day for the Welsh Bushi-Kai at the latest Welsh Karate League  event held in Cowbridge last Sunday.
Some great performances in Kumite and Kata resulted in 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze medals being won.

Abigail Fluck … Bronze
Faye Phillips …. Bronze
Ethan Fluck ….. Bronze (kata)
Siwan Williams …. Bronze (kata)

Jacob Davies …Silver (kata) & Bronze.
Keiron Hooper … Silver

Mackenzie Aitchison … Gold
Iestyn Williams … Gold
Megan Taylor … Gold
Morgan Phillips … Gold

Sunday the Welsh Bushi Kai squad attended the WKU winter invitational at Weston- Super- Mare.
As always it was a top quality,well run tournament with a high standard of competitor.
In the morning it was under 16’s with some excellent performances leading to really competitive finals for Iestyn Williams and Megan Taylor both just falling at the final hurdle but 2 superb silver medals,also 2 excellent bronze medals in a big category of very high standard for Morgan Phillips and Tom Hole.
The afternoon was the Seniors turn a welcome return onto the mat for Amy Nicholas, who fought superbly to take the Gold Medal, Anthony Bridge was producing some outstanding karate going through the first few rounds and looked the one to beat, unfortunately he was then disqualified for excessive contact while being 5 points clear with 11 seconds on the clock costing him the medal.
It was then time for the Senior Mens Teams consisting of 12 quality teams, the Bushi Kai Boys( Anthony,Rhys Edwards and Keiran Hooper) were fantastic. Anthony, Rhys & Keiron showing some quality karate, winning their fights comfortably, taking us to the final against a good Bristol team.
It was the highlight of the day with all spectators gathered around the centre mat, with superb karate from both teams, the boys were pipped 2-1,  having to settle for the Silver medal.
The squad total ended up at 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze.

Nigel Taylor: WBK Squad Coach