Welsh Bushi-Kai Karate Association

WKGB Welsh Open Championships News

Today saw the WKGB hold its Welsh Open event at the W.I.S in Cardiff. The Welsh Bushi-Kai sent a strong squad to the tournament and came away with a 17 medal haul. (6 Gold, 4 Silver & 7 Bronze).  Congratulations to our Senior and Junior fighters for once again performing to the highest of standards, and showing those present that the Welsh Bushi-Kai continues to be at the forefront of competition karate in Wales.
All of the hard work that has been put in developing not only their karate skills, but also their superb levels of fitness, has paid dividends and the Association Coaches compliment everyone on their performances and discipline on the tatami.

Our Medal Winners are:

GOLD & Welsh Open Champions
David Godfrey ….Snr Male -75kgs
Jordan Harris …. U18yrs -76kg
Amy Nicholas …. U16yrs 54kg+
Tom O’Leary …. U14yrs 55kg+
Girls Team …. U16yrs
Boys Team …. U12yrs

SILVER
Girls Team ….U12yrs
Senior Male Team
Jack Jones ….U14yrs 55kg+
Boys Team ….U14yrs

BRONZE
Senior Ladies Team
Mark McMahon ….Snr Male 75kg+
Holly Carey …Snr Ladies 61kg+
Bethany Southall …. U16yrs -54kg
Morgan Phillips …. U12yrs -45kg
James O’Leary ….  U10yrs
Morgan Evans …. U12yrs 45kg+

Below are the details of the week long  training course for those students who are attempting their Dan Gradings on 2nd October:

Monday 27th Sept – Baglan Club,   7.30 pm – 9.00 pm

Tuesday 28th Sept – Gilfach Goch,  7.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Wednesday 29th Sept – Port Talbot  (Taibach), 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Thursday 30th Sept – Cwmafan, 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm

Friday 1st Oct – Baglan, 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm

The Course will be conducted by the WBK Senior Dan Grades, 4th Dan & above

DAN GRADING – Saturday 2nd October, Cwmafan 10.00am  Start

Last weekend the Welsh Bushi-Kai attended the British Karate Federation Championships in Edinburgh. As we have come to expect, our Senior and Junior competitors fought out of their skins and stood up against the very best in British Karate. Our squad returned home with 1 GOLD, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals. In addition there were notable Top 5 & Top 8 Performances.

RESULTS.
Jordan Harris – GOLD MEDAL and BRITISH KARATE CHAMPION
Tom O’Leary – SILVER MEDAL
Amy Nicholas – BRONZE MEDAL
Dai Godfrey – BRONZE MEDAL
Senior Mens Team – BRONZE MEDAL
Senior Ladies Team – BRONZE MEDAL
Mark McMahon – Top 5
Holly Carey – Top 5
Jess Forse – Top 8
Jordan Hopkins – Top 8
Megan Taylor – Top 8

Well done to everyone who represented the Association, but special mention has to go to Jordan Harris who has had an incredible year on the Kumite circuit culminating in the title “BRITISH CHAMPION”

Gilfach Goch Karate Club:
With Mark McMahon opening a new dojo in Taibach, the Gilfach Goch Club is to have a new Instructor – Grant Hole 2nd Dan.
Grant has been at the Gilfach Club since its’ founding and was the natural choice to take over from Mark.  The Club has been one of the mainstays of the Association through out and will no doubt continue to be as successful and well supported as ever. The Executive Commitee of the Welsh Bushi-Kai would like to congratulate Grant on his appointment as Club Instructor.

BKF British Karate Federation Championships:
The Welsh Bushi-Kai Squad are in final preparation training for the top event on the British Karate Calendar – The BKF Closed Event which is being held in Edinburgh, Scotland on September 11 / 12th.  This promises to be a first class Championships with the best competitors in the UK challenging to become British Karate Champions.

Squad Training:
WKGB Welsh Squad Training takes place on Sunday 19th September at the W.I.S, Sofia Gardens, Cardiff .

Welsh Open Karate Championships:
The WKGB Welsh Open Karate Championships takes place the following weekend, again in Cardiff, on Sunday 26th Sept and the Welsh Bushi-Kai will be sending as strong a squad as possible to compete at this event.

Welsh Bushi-Kai – Brown Belt Grading:
The Course and Grading for those students attempting Brown Belts has been move back one day and has a change of venue.
It will now take place on Saturday 20th November in Baglan Community Centre. –  10.00am – 1.00pm

Welsh Bushi-Kai Invitational Karate Championships:
Finally, after months of hard work, the Welsh Bushi-Kai are proud to announce that it’s Invitational Karate Championships will be held on Sunday 21st November 2010. The tournament will take place at the Bridgend Recreation and Leisure Centre. ( There appears to be little chance of our home – The Afan Lido – reopening any time soon !!).
Further details will be added in the next few weeks as preparations for our popular tournament are finalised.

Port Talbot Bushi-Kai

On Weds 22^nd of Sept, Sensei Mark McMahon – 4th Dan will be opening the doors on his new karate club in the Taibach area of Port Talbot.

Venue
The Club will be based at  ” THE GYM – TAIBACH” (formerly known as the  ‘Body & Mind Fitness Studio’), in Commercial Road, Port Talbot. The dojo has a fully matted floor area plus a variety of Kick / Punch Bags for training purposes. Whilst the Studio is on the main road, there is a large car park to the rear of the building. (by Aldi)

Class Times – Every Weds
Karate & Fitness training   6.45 – 7.45 pm

About Mark
Mark is a qualified karate instructor, certified by the W.K.G.B, the Welsh Karate Governing Body. (Certification entails CRB Clearance, 1^st Aid & Child protection training plus full Insurance) and has vast experience in teaching Karate.

Welcome
Beginners and new starters of all ages and abilities are invited to join this, our newest club, and we look forward to meeting you.  Students who are already members of our Association are more than welcome to attend classes as are any former members who would like to return to karate within the Welsh Bushi-Kai Karate Association.
Come along and see for yourself …. First Lesson is FREE for all new starters.

Enquiries
If you require any further info on the club, please contact Mark – email

As of the beginning of August our Cwrt Herbert Karate Club, run by Mark & Natacha Coleman  ( both 3rd Dans ), has relocated to a new training venue.  Address details as below:

Cwrt Herbert Karate Club –
Caewern Community Center
20 Heol Illtyd
Blaenhonddan
Neath Port Talbot
SA10 7UK

Club Website

Training Times:
Mon:-  5.30 – 7.30   (5.30 – 6.30 Junior grades and 6.30 – 7.30 Senior grades)
Fri:-   6.00 – 7.30    (6.00 – 7.00 Junior grades and 6.00 – 7.30 Senior grades)

The Welsh Bushi-Kai would like to congratulate the Welsh National Squad on their fine performances at the Inter Celtic Cup.

Results:
Male Team – Silver.
Robbie Scott, Gareth Reynolds, Rhys Edwards, David Godfrey & Dean Draper
Female Team – Bronze.
Sammi Scott, Tasha Paton & Ffion Morgan
Male Kata – Bronze.
Nick Hooper
Female Kata – Silver.
Tasha Paton
Male Open Weight.
Gold – Gareth Reynolds
Silver – Dean Draper.

Well done to all.

A venue has now been booked for the final stage of the WKGB coaching award.
Will all club instructors please inform their relevant students of the following details:
 
WKGB THEORY FOR THE COACHING AWARD.
Venue :- BAGLAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, HAWTHORN AVENUE, BAGLAN
On Saturday 28th August 2010
The hall has been booked for 9.30am – 12 noon.
Mark McMahon is the Association assessor and will be in charge of the course.
 
You have been given dates of courses for those students who have not completed all the necessary WKGB courses. Certificates will not be issued by the Governing Body unless all areas are finished.
 
Could you please inform Liz if any student is unavailable for the theory course.

WKGB Welsh Youth Championships – Cardiff July 24th

At yesterdays Welsh Youth Championships in Cardiff, the Welsh Bushi-Kai Juniors once again put in some terrific performances, coming away with 8 GOLD, 4 SILVER and 8 BRONZE  Medals.  Our Junior squad has again proven itself to be one of the best in the country and is developing karate talent that will be challenging for major honors and titles for years to come.
As well as our more experienced juniors, yesterday saw several students from our Cwrt Herbert Club enter their first National Championships and they did themselves proud.
Well done to everyone who represented the association yesterday, particularly those who won Gold and now join our growing list of WELSH CHAMPIONS. 

Photo album added to 2010 gallery,  Full listing of medallists added to results page.

Congratulations to Rhys Edwards and David Godfrey of the Welsh Bushi-Kai, who will be representing Wales in The 1st Inter- Celtic Cup to be held in Brittany, France early in August. The Welsh Bushi-Kai would like to wish Rhys, David and their team- mates good luck at what promises to be a formidable International Event.

The following statement appears on the WKGB Website:

Wales has been invited to take part in the first ever, “Inter Celtic Karate Cup”. This is being organised by the Brittany Karate League, as part of the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Lorient Interceltic Festival. The Competition is approved by the French Karate Federation and will be run under the World Karate Federation Rules. It will include Kumite & Kata.

Each Country will comprise 1 x Male Team Kumite (5) selected in the 5 weight categories, plus 1 Male Kata. 1 x Female Team (3) selected in their weight categories, plus 1 x Female Kata.

Celtic Countries taking part are;
Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Galicia and Asturia.

Congratulations to the following WKGB Squad Members, on their selection to represent Wales at this event.

Robbie Scott WKK
Gareth Reynolds VGKO
Rhys Edwards WBKA
David Godfrey WBKA
Dean Draper BW
Sammi Scott WKK
Natasha Paton VGKO
Ffion Morgan WKK
Nick Hooper WKC