Welsh Bushi-Kai Karate Association

Welsh Bushi-Kai Grading Examiners and New Black Belts. 

Yesterday, the Welsh Bushi-Kai conducted its first Dan Grading of 2012. The Grading took place at our Baglan Dojo and the Grade Examiners were Percy Brown 6th Dan, Paul Bridge 5th Dan, Nigel Taylor 5th Dan and Mark McMahon 4th Dan.

After completing an extensive pre-grade training program, all of the candidates were primed and ready to go and gave a great account of themselves. We are pleased to report a 100% pass rate, and offer our congratulations to the following:-

1st Dan
Richard Bacagan – Neath Bushi-Kai
Leighton Owen – Baglan/Lido

1st Dan (Junior)
Jack Furse – Cwmafan
James O’Leary – Cwmafan
Harry Lewis – Cwmafan
Morgan Phillips – Cwmafan
Tom Hole – Gilfach Goch
Georgia Thomas – Gilfach Goch

3rd Dan
Jordan Hopkins

We would like to thank the large group of spectators who attended the event and we hope you enjoyed and appreciated the standard of Karate on display, particularly the 3rd Dan Grading which was exemplary.

Great news from the Evening Post Awards ceremony held in Swansea this evening.-

Nigel Taylor has won the Coaching Award for Coaching at Grass Roots Level.
Well done to Nigel on receiving this accolade – a great achievement and deserved recognition of  his coaching ability and dedication to the Welsh Bushi-Kai Karate Association.

Last weekend saw our Swansea University Squad in action at the British University Karate Championships (BUCS) held at the Ponds Forge Centre in Sheffield.
The Teams were in action on Saturday and both the Male and Female Teams narrowly missed out on the Medals, losing at the qtr final stage. A very creditable and encouraging result.

On Sunday,the Individual Events took place. Once again our fighters acquitted themselves very well and we are pleased to report that 3 Individual Kumite Medals were won.

Gold for Holly Carey in Senior Ladies 68kg+, Gold for Jessie May Morgan in the Ladies Novice -57kg and Bronze for Sam Larcombe -60kg men.

The Welsh Bushi-Kai would like to congratulate the Squad on their efforts – Well Done.
Several video clips of our fighters in action have been added to the Welsh Bushi-Kai Youtube Channel …. click on YouTube link on Homepage to view.

The Welsh Bushi-Kai are pleased to announce that our Kumite Squad Coach, Nigel Taylor has been nominated for the Coaching category at this years Evening Post Sports Awards Ceremony. This event is taking place at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on Friday 23rd March.

Nigel Taylor with our 2011 British Karate Champions

To recieve a nomination at this prestigious ceremony and to be shortlisted in your category is  recognition of the amount of time and effort that Nigel puts in to keeping the WBK Squad at the top in British Competition Karate. We congratulate Nigel on his nomination which is a great advert not only for the Welsh Bushi-Kai, but for Welsh Karate in general.

BROWN BELT GRADING AND COURSES

The Brown Belt Grading will take place on Saturday 19th May in Cwmavon Community Centre. – 10 am start, doors open 9.30 am.

There will be 2 Brown Belt Courses leading up to the grading.

The first course will be on Friday 27th April.
The second course will be on Friday 11th May.
Both courses will be held in the Afan Lido / Baglan Karate Club, in the Baglan Community Centre and begin at 7pm.
Normal Dojo fee applies.

Last weekend saw members of the Welsh Bushi-Kai Squad in action in Gloucester and in Lodz, Poland.

Karate Shito-Kai England (KSE) Invitational Tournament – Gloucester.
A small selection of our fighters travelled up to KSE Event last sunday, accompanied by our Kumite Coach, Nigel Taylor.
This was the first Tournament of the year for us, and the first opportunity to experience competition karate under the latest revision of the WKF Rules.

As always our fighters adapted well and returned home with a tally of  5 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals.

Iestyn Williams, Jack Jones and Amy Nicholas won Bronze in their categories whilst Megan Taylor, Morgan Phillips, Tom O’Leary,  and Jordan Harris earned Individual Silver, with the U18 Team ( Jordan Harris, Amy Nicholas and Josh Lewis) also winning Silver.

Well done, a great start to the year.

8th Harasuto World Cup, Lodz, Poland
Two of our Senior Squad, Mark McMahon and Holly Carey, travelled out to Poland last weekend to compete at the Harasuto World Cup event.

This high profile tournament, held in the Malachowsiego Sports Hall in the city of Lodz attracted 1525 entrants from across Europe as well as th Malaysian National Squad.

Holly, following on from her recent success in Belgium, gained a well earned Bronze Medal after narrowly losing to a Slovakian opponent and Current European Silver Medallist.

Mark, after losing out initially in the first round, came back through the field in the repercharge and came close to the Bronze medal.  A last second victory over a Polish Fighter saw Mark nearing the repercharge Final before losing  to another fighter for Slovakia. Mark can still be extremely pleased with his Top 8 Placing.

A great experience at International Level for both fighters and a first chance to see the new WKF Kumite Rules in action at the highest level.

Great performances by both fighters who once again represented the Association, and Wales so well and it demonstrates yet again the ambition of the Welsh Bushi-Kai in sending competitors to first Class European Karate events.

Earlier today, the Welsh Bushi-Kai held their first Grading of 2012 at the Cwrt Herbert Sports Centre in Neath.
Proceedings began with an hour plus long course to “fine tune” the students and get them fully prepared to grade. All students, from those going for their first Grade to the Blue belts aiming for Purple, were put through their paces and it was very pleasing to see the standard of Karate on show.

The Grading itself went very well, with a 100% pass rate. All of the Grade examiners were impressed with the attitude and determination of each and every student. Congratulations to everyone who graded, you all put on a great show and fully deserve your new grades.

As well as those grading, there was an excellent turnout for the Senior Course conducted by Percy Brown.
Passes by grade were as follows:
Red:- 10, Yellow:- 9, Orange:- 6, Green:- 17, Blue:- 11 and Purple:- 4. In addition there were 18 students who attended the course only.

We would like to thank all of the Dan grades who turned up to assist the examiners and special mention to the  families and friends who came along to supoort the students.
The next Kyu grading takes place in July and we look forward to seeing you then.

Yesterday, WBK Coach Mark McMahon took a small squad from our Swansea University Club to the UK Open Championships in the Midlands.
This popular event, hosted by Paul Campbell gave the squad a useful run-out in preparation for the forthcoming University Championships.

We are pleased to report that Holly Carey won double Gold in the Ladies events, taking the -68 kg and  +68 kg Titles.
In addition, the Mens Senior team reached the Final and came away with Silver after a close Match. Sean Rees ( WKK ) was also in the medals, winning Bronze in his category.

Well done to all of the Squad for your efforts on the day – great preparation for the B.U.C.S Championships.

The dates / details  for the forthcoming WBK Gradings & Courses are listed below. 

FRIDAY MARCH 2nd – DAN GRADE ASSESSMENT
The Dan grade assessment will take place in Baglan Community Centre and will start at 7pm.
All students attempting their Dan grade later in the month are expected to attend.

SUNDAY MARCH 4th – GENERAL GRADING  ( 9th to 4th Kyu )
Association Kyu Grading in Cwrt Herbert Sport Centre. 9.00am – 11.30am.
All coloured sheets, licences etc to be given to Liz by the Thursday before please.

DAN GRADE COURSE
Dan grade course begins:-
Monday 19th  –  Baglan Karate Club  – 7.30pm
Tuesday 20th –  Gilfach Goch Karate Club – 7pm
No training Weds 21st
Thursday 22nd –  Cwmavon Karate Club – 7.30pm
Friday 23rd –  Baglan Karate Club – 7pm.

SATURDAY MARCH 24th – DAN GRADING
Dan grading taking place in Baglan community centre –  10am start   [ please note doors open 9.30am and no admittance after 10am]
All licenses and fees to be given to Liz on the Monday night [19th], in Baglan please.

WBK FIGHTING COURSE:  ( Covering the New WKF Kumite Rules & Scoring )

On Sunday the 18th of December, the WBK will be holding their last  Course of the year at the superbly equipped, purpose built Dojo at the Fit4Less Gym, Acacia Avenue, Sandfields, Port Talbot. ( Which has new shower and changing facilities)
Course Instructor will be Jordan Harris who will be covering, amongst other things, the New WKF Rule changes which affect scoring techniques, Warnings and Penalties. Course will run from 9.30 – 11.00am and costs only £5.00
Our Previous Kumite courses were a great success and were very well attended. Remember this course is open to all members of the WBK, from experienced and novice competitors, to coaches and their assisstants who are interested in keeping up to date with the latest  competition rules.

If you have any further enquiries please contact WBK Admin – Liz, or WBK Kumite Coach, Nigel.