The EGKA has a new permanent Honbu Dojo in Bournemouth

We are pleased to announce that Sensei Ernie has secured a permanent Honbu Dojo at the Sir David English Sports Centre in central Bournemouth. It is a five minute drive from the Littledown Sports Centre.

Our new training centre offers us the exclusive use of a fully equipped exercise studio from 7:00 in the morning to 10:00 at night.

We intend to make full use of this facility … So watch the Events page for developments. Sensei Ernie has already published details of his first weekend kumite master class for brown belts and shodans in early February. Click here for details. Details of more weekend training events will soon follow to take advantage of the new facilities. The idea is to focus on specific objectives for small groups of similar graded students to get the best out of the time available over the weekend.

We will continue to use the Littledown Sports Centre for the summer grading weekend and similar major events.

View Master Higaonna´s invitation to Okinawa later this year.

Please click on the image to view Master Higaonna´s personal invitation to members of the EGKA to attend this summer´s World Budo Sai.

AMA North East England Karate Championships, Sunday 13 November 2011

I was invited up to Newcastle to compete in the North East Karate Championships. It was a busy event with numerous categories the tournament kicked of at 9:30am with junior kata and kumite which ran till about 1:00pm.

Then the senior men category kicked off and it was a good standard. About 3:00pm the adult male 3rd Dan and above kata started. I was second up doing kururunfa to start with, which got me through to the second round … followed by sepi, which got me into the quarter finals.

The category was heavily weighted with shotokan exponents and I knew I had to up my game to make it into the finals. So sanseru was my next choice.

Having now reached the finals I tried my hand by repeating kururunfa and was eventually beaten into silver place by 0.2 of a point. I was pleased about that result.

At about 3:30pm the kumite started with me facing the AMA squad captain in the first round (Shobo Sanbon rules ). The fight ended 5-1 to me.

Second round 4-2, and then on to the quarter finals with a 6-0 score, followed by a semi final 4-2.

The final was a close fight, having been up 4-0 with only 30 seconds to go my opponent scored an ippon taking the score to 4-2 with 10 seconds left. I returned with giaku tsuki giving me a wasari taking the final score to 4.5-2 and the gold medal was mine.

After excepting the gold medal I was asked by the event organisers to take part in the European Open Championships in May 2012, which I have excepted.

So in May I will be entering on behalf of the EGKA and I will hopefully return with the gold (in both events). A lot of work to be done, and with the support of the Association and some of the senior instructors, I'm sure this will be possible.

Sensei Damion Wood.

Editor: On behalf of the EGKA I would like to congratulate Damion on his recent success. Results like this not only demonstrate the commendable spirit of the individual to compete at this level. It also validates traditional Goju Ryu as a relevant and modern fighting system on the current international competition scene. Well done indeed Sensei Damion.

2011 Winter Gradings, Wirral

Congratulations to all those who succeeded at the grading sessions on Sunday, 4th December.

3rd Kyu	2nd Kyu	1st Kyu	Jnr Shodan
Everton Hill	Ian Tomlinson	Tracie Cusworth (Prov)	Connor Campbell Smith
–	Megan Doherty	Steven Mansfield	Holly Pearson
–	Debbie Crane	Matthew Smith	Daniel Anstee
–	Tabie Thomson	Glyn Bawden (Prov)	Jazzmin Williams
–	Jeff Kaye (Prov)	Marieke Dubbelboer	Jordan Williams
–	Steve Mottram	Mathilde Laluque	Hannah Ainge
–	Sean Toole	David McCarthy	Alex Angco
–	–	Mark Ellis (Prov)	Ross Welsh
–	–	Mark Diaper (Prov)	–
–	–	Michael Hearty	–
–	–	Philip Burchall	–
–	–	Stephanie Langbridge	–
–	–	Lauren Hall (Prov)	–
–	–	Rebecca Hill	–
–	–	–	–
–	Mason Owen (Jnr)	Ethan Cavanagh (Jnr)	–
–	Harry Sturgess (Jnr)	Cameron Bowen (Jnr)	–
–	Emily Gaffney (Jnr)	Sarah Murphy (Jnr)	–
–	–	Daniel Murphy (Jnr)	–
–	–	Georgia Wylie (Jnr)	–
–	–	Heather Taylor (Jnr)	–
–	–	Nicole Payne (P) (Jnr)	–
–	–	Danielle Payne (Jnr)	–
–	–	Elina Hall (Jnr)	–

 

Jnr Nidan	Shodan	Nidan	Sandan
–	Ben Yuen	Asia-Sophia Wolf	Dave Barratt
–	Ali Berendji	David Bruce	Kate Tyler
–	Kelly-Ann Gordon	Richard Owen	Michael Hill
–	Christopher Parsons	Hans Frydenberg (Norway)	Stevn Biggar (Scot)
–	–	–	Colin Clare
–	–	–	Joanne Smith

There is never such a thing as a free lunch … well almost never.

There is a rumour circulating about ‘free flights’ to Japan. You may care to read this extract taken from the official Japanese Tourist Board website.

"Recently a number of media outlets have publicized reports about ‘Japan offering 10,000 free flights to foreigners’. However, this initiative to be carried out from April 2012 onwards is still under examination for government budgetary approval and is at this moment undecided.

If the initiative is confirmed and put into operation, Japan Tourism Agency will officially announce details on this website link. To receive instant notifications on this and more related news, join your local Japan National Tourism Organization on Facebook now!

Warning: There have been reports in some countries about acts of fraud related to this media report. The Japanese government has not committed to provide free flight tickets to Japan to anybody. Please be careful not to get caught up in this kind of fraud."

Stratford Championships Results, October 2011

We were very pleased with the number of competitor (and their long-suffering parents) who made the journey to Stratford to participate in Saturday´s adult tournament and Sunday´s Junior competition.

Click here to watch the Adult Championship Final, courtesy of Steve Walley (Jnr).

Click here to review the Championship results.

12 Quays: July 2011. Congratulations to the following successful junior grading candidates.

3rd Kyu	2nd Kyu	1st Kyu	Jnr Shodan
–	–	Ross Welsh (Jnr)	Lydia Evans
–	–	Jake Pearce (Jnr)	–
–	–	Lee Pearce (Jnr)	–
–	–	Emma Wilcox (Jnr)	–

Notice of the 2011 EGKA AGM

The 2011 AGM will begin at 9:45am at the Holiday Inn, Stratford upon Avon on Saturday, 15th October 2011.

In order to deal with all the usual matters and conclude the AGM in good time for the start of training, any one wishing to raise a issue under ‘any other business’ is requested to submit their question or request by email to the EGKA secretary no later than Thursday, 13th October 2011.

We have been requested to publish the good hotels people have previously stayed at in and around central Stratford:

• Holiday Inn, Bridgefoot, Stratford, CV37 6YR. Tel: 0871 423 4879
• Premier Inn, Peyton Street, Stratford, CV37 6UQ. Tel: 0871 527 9282
• Best Western Grosvenor Hotel, Warwick Rd, Stratford, CV37 6YT. Tel: 01789 269213
• Mecure Shakespeare Stratford Hotel, Chapel St, Stratford, CV37 6ER. Tel: 01789 294997

All hotels are within easy walking distance of Saturday night´s social meet at the Holiday Inn Lounge bar.

Congratulations to the following successful grading candidates from the Summer Grading in June 2011.

3rd Kyu	2nd Kyu	1st Kyu	Jnr Shodan
–	Matthew Smith	Richard Evans	Joel Carter
–	Glyn Bawden	Timothy Maynes	Dylan Ruggier
–	Tracie Cusworth	Christopher Parsons	Jennifer Fletcher
–	Mark Ellis	Andrew Aitchison	Matthew Roberts
–	Marieke Dubbelboer	Kelly-Ann Gordon	Olivia White
–	Lauren Hall	Ali Berendji	Tom Clarke (S)
–	Michael O'Toole (Jnr)	Ben Yuen	Jonathan Anstee
–	Danielle Payne (Jnr)	Alexander Angco	Bradley Moore
–	–	James Omajd	Thomas Dayman
–	–	William Fisher (Jnr)	Jordan Moore
–	–	Mary Sheriff (Jnr)	Bradley Anstee
–	–	Jasmine Turner (Jnr)	–
–	–	Sian Elson (Jnr)	–
–	–	Jordan Williams (Jnr)	–
–	–	Jazzmin Williams (Jnr)	–
–	–	Hannah Ainge (Jnr)	–
–	–	H Winsten-Korver (Jnr)	–
–	–	Morgan Greer (Jnr)	–
–	–	Connie Hutton (Jnr)	–
–	–	Madison Jensen (Jnr)	–
–	–	Kieran Lawford-Hatt (Jnr)	–
–	–	Amy Smith (Jnr)	–
–	–	Samuel Spears (Jnr)	–
–	–	C Armstrong-Brodie (Jnr)	–

Junior and senior black belt candidates who passed:

Jnr Nidan	Shodan	Nidan	Sandan
Jack Donoghue	Ian Sturgess	Graham Sims	–
Michael Gould	Ben Sturgess	Sean Crane	–
Thomas James	Sean Hammond	Tony Jones	–
Ryan Crane	Louise Jones	Glenn Herbert	–
–	Ailsa Burt	Michael Healy	–
–	Petra Roe	–	–
–	Errol Wellington	–	–

Okinawan World Budosai, 9-15 July 2012.

Higaonna Sensei has confirmed the dates for your diary next year for the 2012 Budosai in Naha, Okinawa. We shall keep you informed of group travel plans as they develop.

Results for the Adult Kata Competition, Littledown, July 2011

Although many a senior set out for the Littledown last Sunday half wishing they were going to visit the dentist for some root-canal treatment in preference to stepping out on the mat to compete in kata, a good time was in fact had by all.

Sensei Ernie was extremely pleased with the high standard of kata demonstrated on the day, with the final decisions often being determined by a mere one tenth of a point. Congratulations to everyone who competed, and well done to the winners.

Adult Kara Results

Group 1: Mixed 9th-7th Kyu	Name	Dojo
1st place	Charles Leake	Frimley
2nd place	Anna Kawica	BKA
3rd place	Matt Martineau	BKA

Group 2: Mixed 6th-4th Kyu	Name	Dojo
1st place	Jon McClelland	Frimley
2nd place	Elsa McCleary	New Cross
3rd place	Sarah Bayliss	Tooting

Group 3: Mixed 3rd-1st Kyu	Name	Dojo
1st place	Alex Angco	BKA
2nd place	Matt Smith	BKA
3rd place	Stephanie Langbridge	Tooting

Group 1: Mixed 1st & 2nd Dans	Name	Dojo
1st place	John Fernander	Hedge End
2nd place	Jon Anstee	Frimley
3rd place	Mark Reed	New Cross

Group 1: Mixed 3rd & 4th Dans	Name	Dojo
1st place	Reena Prasad	BKA
2nd place	Chris Walker	BKA
3rd place	Samantha Tomlinson	BKA

Join Master Higaonna in Scotland on 1st ´ 2nd August 2011.

(Click image for downloadable poster)

The SGKA is pleased to announce that Master Higaonna will be leading a special training weekend to celebrate the life of the late Sensei Lambert.

The details have yet to be finalised, but Sensei Stevie Biggar (Chairperson of the SGKA) extends an invitation to all members of the EGKA to venture north of the border to Glenrothes in August to join them over the training weekend.

We shall update you with information as it becomes avaialble, but you can also follow developments directly on the SGKA website.

Mindful of the June grading coming up, we thought it would be timely to release training videos of the first five kyu grade katas. We hope it will help students better understand the pace and dynamics of each of these katas, as demonstrated by Sensei Ernie.

Click on the Kata Video link top right.

Results for the London, Northern and Southern Regional Competition, May 2011

Congratulations to all those who participated in the recent Junior Regional Competitions.

The results are published below, and all the named competitors automatically win through to secure a place in the National Competition to be held in Stratford over the weekend of the 15th and 16th October 2011

Northern Regional Results: Click here.

Southern Regional Results: Click here.

London Regional Results: Click here.

We will be running separate adult (18+) kumite and kata competitions. Start training as there is no adult pre-qualifier, so all adult EGKA members can enter.

New EGKA sparring Video published today, May 2011

In the latest video, Sensei Ernie and Sensei Roy demonstrate a punching combination, where the real emphasis is on training you to keep your guard up!

One of the problems inexperienced students face in their early sparring training, is remembering to keep their guard up to protect their head and vulnerable ribs.

This video shows a very effective, close quarter, punching combination where the attacker also has to concentrate on keeping their guard up as well.

View the latest EGKA Punching Combination Video: Click here.

EGKA Adult Goju-Ryu Kata Competition on Sunday, 3rd July 2011

(Click image for downloadable poster)

Every adult (4th Dan and below) in the Southern and London regions are invited to enter into this Kata Competition to be held at the Littledown Centre on Sunday afternoon, 3rd July 2011.

"I can understand why adults don´t enter kumite competitions, but putting yourself under the kind of competition pressure that comes with stepping out on the mat before five judges serves to really lift your kata standard and prepares you for your next grading. So, if you´re 16 or older, no matter how good or bad you think you are; no matter how old or young you feel you are … I expect to see you on that mat on Sunday." – Sensei Ernie

For more information, click here.

New EGKA Forum (see menu) launched today, April 2011

We invite members to sign-up to the new EGKA Forum and improve the exchange of ideas and views across the membership.

The Forum will be strictly policed, but the only rules are no profanities and certainly no personal criticisms.

The EGKA exists to promote and safeguard a traditional Okinawan martial art. On the other hand the Association knows it has to be progressive and reactive to the needs of the membership. Here is your chance to have your say … and we hope you use it.

Suport the EGKA ITKA Japan Tsunami Appeal

On Sunday, 8th May 2001 the ITKA and the EGKA will running an open tournament in Liverpool in aid of the Japan Tsunami Appeal.

We have cancelled the Stratford training day to support this event. So we hope many of you will pull out the stops and go along to support this worthy initiative, either to participate in the event, or to cheer on from the side.

Please make sure that you bring all the loose change you can (paper optional)!

A Norwegian on Liverpool

This is the third time that I have traveled to the city of Liverpool to train with Sensei Roy Flatt and all of the good Goju Ryu Karateka who train with him. I made this trip for the first time three years ago (the last two times have been within the last 6 months). It all started with a nice invitation from Sensei Roy and Sensei Ernie Molyneux to feel free to travel over to train with them whenever I can. Liverpool is very easy to get to from Norway and the airport is close to where I live, so the first time I travelled there was in December 2008. I planned my trip with the EGKA calendar (from their website), this way I could also go to the English mini-gasshuku for the weekend as a nice end to my week of training.

The Flight:

Liverpool airport is easy to reach, and if you order the ticket in advance you can get some really cheap flight tickets. The most expensive tickets cost me 1500 NOK (around £150) and the cheapest around 700 NOK (around £70). The first time I made the trip over, Sensei Roy came and met me at the airport. I couldn´t believe it the first time to be honest … I just came over to train and the one of the best instructors came to pick me up! I thought ‘Wow that´s really nice!’ and from there on it just got better and better!

Accommodation in Liverpool:

I started to look online for a place to stay and I found a place called ‘The International Inn’: A hostel in Liverpool city centre. It´s a nice place if you are looking for a cheap place to sleep. The standards there are good, the cheapest rooms are domitories that bunk around 15 people sharing the same room. You can also get a double room or double hotel room if you prefer. The double room costs about £22 per night and the mixed rooms are cheaper still. There´s also a kitchen that you can use, so if you are low on budget you can buy your one food and prepare it there. Last time I was there I spent around £60 in a week for food.

Liverpool the city:

Liverpool is a great city, it has everything you can think of. There are plenty of shops and you can get mostly everything you want from there. There´s also a lot of pubs and restaurants to visit. A beer cost around £3 and you can find a meal for around £5 to £12 (depending on what you want). Some of my English friends have showed me some really nice places to go out and eat, it´s all great. There´s a lot of culture in the city and, there´s always something going on with much to see. You will not be bored in this great city!

The training:

Every time I have been to Liverpool the training has always been fantastic. Sensei Roy has always taken time to give me personal instruction and I get a lot of training, some days I even trained twice. I got to train a lot of different places: in sensei Dojo, in a great boxing gym, in other dojos around the region and even in sensei´s back garden! There´s a lot of different training and you can pick up a lot of ideas and inspiration to take with you home.

The standard of karate in England is the best I have found; In the main dojo in Liverpool there´s a lot of black belts so I always get a good challenge. The students are really friendly and you will easily make a lot of new friends. The progression and learning I get from one week is amazing. I feel that every time I visit Liverpool I take a big step forward on my way as a karate student, and when I come home I have more to give to my students in the dojo. As a friend told me Sensei Roy has ‘a crystal brain’, he has such a great understanding of everything! I get to train everything I need and every time he hits exactly on the spot.

Hans Frydenberg

Japanese Earthquake Disaster - March 2011

On behalf of all the members of the EGKA, our thoughts are with all those affected by the Japanese earthquake disaster.

The transient comfort provided by learning that a complete stranger on the other side of the world has paused to think of their plight, is not going to relieve their more immediate and pressing need for water, food, shelter and medicines.

We provide links to two respected charities that have launched appeals to provide the more practical help our friends in Japan need right now.

Japan Tsunami Appeal Please Donate Now
www.redcross.org.uk/JapanTsunami

Japan emergency appeal
Donate now. Help save the children affected by the Japan earthquake.
www.savethechildren.org.uk

Sensei Linda´s reflections of her Okinawa visit - January 2011

2010 for me was focussed on getting my new dojo up and running and helping to coach the English team ready for the World championships in October. So I was very ready to spend some ‘me’ time with the challenge of an intense training period, Zen meditation as well as a technical check of techniques, kata and bunkai.

This trip achieved it all and more. It was great to be with Senseis Ernie, Roy, Paul and Gary Webber and this brought a different experience to the trip for me as I have usually undertaken the additional training alone. The time with Higaonna sensei was very precious. His ability to push you in basics for two hours at a time is unique and the way that he demonstrates techniques is truly inspirational. Every session with Higaonna sensei is mind blowing and a physical assault course that leaves you feeling exhilarated and alive!

There was certainly the intensity of the regime - training three times a day: 06:30-08:00, 13:00–15:00, 20:00–23:00. This schedule that we set ourselves was not for the faint hearted! We focused on kata in the morning which was usually the same as we had been through with Higaonna sensei the night before, so as to consolidate our practice and also compare notes with each other on all the points that he had commented on, demonstrated and corrected. This was brilliant and also added to the quality and depth of the practice so that I felt every time we performed a kata I was on high alert with all the techniques!

We used the afternoon sessions for hoju undo practice and trained together in stations. This meant that you had a limited time on any particular implement and this gave me huge focus and drive to practice even harder within the period. It was also very motivational to be training together and the energy levels were increased as a result!

A very important part of any gasshuku is the social side of the day and this for all of us was after the evening session when we would go to the local restaurant, sit in the same places every night and order the same combination of food! This trip was also lot of Nabe which is the food of the Sumos but by the evening we were ready for it!!! It is quite a basic dish that is cooked over a portable gas ring at your table. It is a large pot of broth with mushrooms, prawns, pork, spinach-like greens, udon or soba noodles that you serve out into small bowls.

Once the ingredients are finished, the broth is topped up, rice is added plus a raw egg and once cooked served out again. A very communal way of eating! Thankfully it didn´t have the same effect on us as the sumos in terms of increased size (thank goodness!), but that´s probably because we shared a pot between five rather than have one each!

As well as eating there were of course some great discussions! Stories of the past, shared events, remembering all those teachers who have gone before us and who we had trained with under them at gasshukus as juniors! We shared personal training experiences, methods that worked, stuff that didn´t. We discussed technical points and explored what were the origins of the technique, tiger, crane or other. Life experiences are also a great source of information and entertainment some sad, some bewildering, some very funny, some long!!! This also meant that we didn´t get to bed until 01:30 and it wasn´t long before the next session! However, these were times that were very precious and as enjoyable as the training.

I also fitted in three sessions at the zendo temple (instead of the morning session not as well as!!). This had a very different degree of difficulty. The first session Paul and I went with Higaonna Sensei which meant that we got to the Zendo temple early and were sitting by 05:30. So by the end of the second session we had sat for over an hour and half – that was tough and I analysed the pain in my hips and legs in some detail! However, I felt energised afterwards.

We joined in with the tea ceremony with Sakiyama Sogen Roshi. He is such a charismatic person and at 92 years old he still does not miss a thing. The tea ceremony is very precise and the things you do are very deliberate. It is difficult but so wonderful that there are no distractions to the actions, that what you are doing is the only thing of your attention and to me it makes the tea taste better! Each time I went to the Zendo the rest of the day seemed more in focus. When I was training the techniques seemed clearer and crisper. It was as if my senses were tuned into the day and actions could be broken down to a singular level. The lecture that I attended with the Roshi pointed out about taking care of yourself and practising regularly which is difficult but necessary to progress.

When you are balancing your life there are usually a number of factors that are always around and getting these elements in the right order all the time is also a challenge! I find that in a period of intense training I can also get back some perspective and see better ways of balancing life and its distractions.

We had an additional challenge with all of us being a bit under par with residual or renewed winter colds which added to the physical strain. However, Dr Flatt had every medication that was required and when my cold decided to freshen up, this really helped me get through the worst of my cold!!!

There was a consensus from all of us that after over 27 years of training together at the end of two weeks the camaraderie was even stronger and the focus in training meant that we all felt physical progress in both hoju undo and kata. There was such a willingness to practice three times a day with huge positive energy from each that it was mutually nurturing and our discussions were full of forward planning, growth and education for all in EGKA. What stood out for us from Higaonna sensei´s teaching was the depth of his masterclasses in moving basics using groups of techniques from the kata and his warmth and generosity towards everyone in training evidenced his passion for the art.

If love was visible then you would have seen all of our hearts and spirit grow bigger. If that energy was transferable we would gladly have sent it to all four corners of the world to sow it in a single moment towards happiness, hope, charity and faith in mankind.

Gambatte in your search for the same!

Sensei Linda Marchant, 2011

Sensei Ernie Course – Hallam Dojo Saturday, 26 February 2011

Sensei Andy is pleased to invite you to a course with Sensei Ernie open to all cadets (14 yrs+) and seniors.

Dan grades: 10:00-11:00
All: 11:00-14:00

Course fees:
Yudansha: £20
Kyu Grades: £15
Cadets: £10

Venue:
University of Sheffield
Goodwin Sports Centre
Northumberland Road
S10 2TY

Car Parking: There is a car park on the opposite side of the road just after Marlborough Road. Parking is 40p, the maximum stay stated on the machine is 4 hours but I have spoken to the parking attendant who assures me that this will not be an issue.

Please contact me on 07891 671730, or email me at info@hallamdojo.co.uk if you have any queries.

Andy Barker

December 2010 Winter Grading Results - 12 Quays, Woodchurch

Congratulations to the following successful candidates that passed their gradings in a cold, snow-bound Wirral last weekend:

3rd Kyu	2nd Kyu	1st Kyu	Jnr Shodan
Michael O´Toole (Jnr)	George Sheriff	Ian Sturgess	Bethan Jenkins
–	Mary Sherriff	Benjamin Sturgess	Charlie Norman
–	Nicole Payne (Jnr)	Jim Penny	Lewis Mayles
–	–	Daniel Anstee (Jnr)	–
–	–	Joel Carter (Jnr)	–
–	–	Connor Campbell-Smith (Jnr)	–
–	–	Louise Jones	–
–	–	Olivia White (Jnr)	–
–	–	Sam Holcroft (Jnr)	–
–	–	Jennifer Fletcher (Jnr)	–
–	–	Lydia Evans	–
–	–	Tom Clark (Jnr)	–
–	–	Joe Cholmondeley (Jnr)	–
–	–	Holly Pearson (Jnr)	–

 

Jnr Nidan	Shodan	Nidan	Sandan
Steven Crane	Tim Crosby	Natalie Roberts	Neil Meadows
Jordan Evans	Alice Griffin	Christopher Spencer	Bev McParlan
–	Robert Harcup	Daniel Healey	Michael Lyons
–	Gordon Smith	Sarah Williams	–
–	Glyn Norman	Stephen Quirk	–
–	Thomas Roberts	Kevin Bown	–

 

November 2010 Southern Junior Grading Results - Bournemouth

Congratulations to the following successful candidates that passed their Junior gradings:

2nd Kyu	1st Kyu	Jnr Shodan	Jnr Nidan
Alex Angco	Dorinda Chandrabase	Owen Choy	Travis Bussell
Connie Doohan	Dylan Ruggier	Lucy Moore	Curtis Bussell
–	Chris Walker	Thalia Norman-Perkins	Connor Lynne
–	–	Andre Wong	–
–	–	Georgina Arnold	–
–	–	Toby De-Mendonca	–
–	–	Jacob Jarris	–

 

IOGKF South Africa World Tournament Results

We are pleased to announce that the England squad did extremely well in last Saturday´s competition in South Africa.

Women´s Individual Balck Belt Open Division: Gold Reena Prasad

Women´s Black Belt Team: Gold Reena Prasad, Angela Downing, Helen Smith, Stephanie Parker

Men´s Black Belt Team: Silver John Timson, Jason Rogers, Phil McClements, Jordan Birch

Senior Men´s Green Blue Belt Division: Bronze Nick Scott-Smith

Junior Black Belt (14-17 yrs): Gold Jordan Evans

Sensei Ernie once again wishes to thank all those who participated in the EGKA events that helped train and raise funds for the squad who attended the competition. Although it´s time for a well deserved rest for all the participants and trainers, we hope we have sown the seeds of inspiration for those of you with an eye for winning a place on the next competition squad the EGKA send overseas. Keep training.

Goju Ryu Academy - Kata, Bunkai, Kakie & Kumite Video Instruction Library

Sensei Ernie Molyneux and Sensei Roy have completed the first stage of laying down the complete EGKA Goju Ryu Karate syllabus in a series of short web-videos.

The idea of the library is to provide a convenient and easily accessible resource of online instruction that directly reflects the techniques currently being taught by EGKA–recognised instructors in their Dojos around the Country.

Of course, as Sensei Ernie is a member of the IOGKF Executive Committee, it also means this library will be of relevance to any IOGKF affiliated student where ever they happen to train in the World.

If you visit the website you can view a FREE Street Fighting Self Defence session to get a feel for the way the library works. We include some really sensible advice about why you should avoid street violence, but if you do have to fight Sensei Ernie and Sensei Roy demonstrate some simple and highly effective techniques you can use to defend yourself.

Any current EGKA member can use the ‘JOIN’ procedure to sign-up for the Free 10th Kyu level. Just complete the form that requests your personal information, only select 10th Kyu, and you do not have to proceed any further with the payment section. You will receive a username and password within 24 hours. The content of this entry-level resource is designed to provide the basic information a 10th Kyu will need when they first start training. It nonetheless contains some very useful instruction on Goju Ryu basics and dojo etiquette that any grade may find of interest, if only to see how Sensei Ernie and Sensei Roy approach the teaching of the subject matter.

Website: www.GojuRyuAcademy.com

Sunday, 26th September 2010
Annual Open Training Day - Nishimon Dojo, Rotherham.

Starting at 12:00 noon on Sunday, 26 September 2010, Sensei Steve Gouldson (6th Dan) and Sensei Mike Draper (6th Dan) will be holding their annual open training day. This year it is at the Nishimon Dojo, Rotherham. There are junior and adult sessions planned. Click on the poster for full details.

Chris Davidson report on IOGKF Copenhagen Gasshuku,2010.

It may well have been the second time that Copenhagen has hosted the European Gasshuku; however for me the number was even more auspicious: ‘one’, as in ´first´, as in ´never before´. So was I nervous? Sure. This was new territory and I didn´t want to disappoint those who´d invested so much of their effort and energy in me so far – I was, after all, our dojo´s sole representative. On the flip side, I was keenly aware that I needed a break. Work had recently been very intense. My brain needed to focus on something other than putting a roof over my head and my body needed the endorphin rush that comes from serious exercise. I´m delighted to report that I loved the whole experience – and knew I was going to from the moment I entered the dojo on the first morning.

To read more, click here …

15th International Summer Gasshuku in Hamburg, 10th to 12th September 2010.

We are pleased to provide details of the Hamburg Summer Gasshuku to be led by Sensei Katsuji Kasmashiro, 7th Dan.

General Information.

Hamburg Summer Gasshuku Poster.

Gasshuku Registration Form.

June 2010´s Grading Results - Littledown Centre, Bournemouth

Congratulations to the following successful candidates that passed their grading in June 2010:

3rd Kyu	2nd Kyu	1st Kyu	Jnr Shodan
Michael Murray	Tom Clark	Steven Brown	Ben Slater
Emily Sheriff	Joe Cholmondeley	Bradley Anstee	Bethany Norman
Mary Sheriff	–	Ralph Elliott-King	James Mulhall
George Sheriff	–	Andre Wong	James Penny
–	–	Alice Griffin	Phillipa Lamb
–	–	Thomas Roberts	Sean Pitt
–	–	Jonathan Anstee	Rachel Sawyer
–	–	Emily Wilcox	Alexander Sawyer
–	–	Sean Hammond	–
–	–	Angus Long	–
–	–	Jordan Moore	–
–	–	Matthew Cromwell	–
–	–	Lucy Moore	–
–	–	Matthew Roberts	–
–	–	Georgina Arnold	–
–	–	Ailsa Burt	–
–	–	Owen Choy	–
–	–	Bradley Moore	–
–	–	Thalia Norman-Perkins	–
–	–	Andrew Reslan	–
–	–	Gordan Smith	–

 

Jnr Nidan	Shodan	Nidan	Sandan
Matthew Fletcher	Michael Wallis	Joshua Holmes	Philip McClements
Scott Pritchard	Stephen Sutton	Sam Karagiannidis	Samantha Tomlinson
–	David Campbell	Robert Carter	Paul Meeks
–	David Beck	Francis Casey	Gilbert Angco
–	Gordan Mcfarland	–	Stephen Butler
–	Francis Berkelaar	–	Matty Barlow
–	Roland Balgobind	–	–
–	Asia-Sophia Wolf	–	–
–	Andrew Coy	–	–
–	Darren Hall	–	–
–	Jonathan Goodwill	–	–
–	Jonathan Laskovsky	–	–

18 April 2010 - On the road to a Gasshuku record.

Now that we have passed the 1st April deadline I am extremely happy to report to you all that there are well over 500 people signed up for the European Gasshuku in Copenhagen. This means that we are well on the way to a new European record and creating karate history.

There is still room for more – so tell your training partners, friends and acquaintances about this unique training opportunity and challenge them to claim their place in this historical event. The absolute last chance to sign up is 1st July 2010 but why not sign up today at www.gasshuku.eu and become a part of writing history.

The European Gasshuku, Copenhagen, 26th to 30th July – Probably the best gasshuku in the world …

Med venlig hilsen
Henrik Larsen
Chefinstruktor IOGKF.dk
www.KarateCenter.dk

14 April 2010 - Free Chiropractic services will be on hand for the next few EGKA meetings.

Dr Jason Gould from Chislehurst Chiropractic Clinic will be providing support and advice about elite performance, nutrition as well as complimentary treatment at the squad training sessions in Stratford on 16th May, 11th July and 15th August, and the black belt grading weekend in Bournemouth in June.

Jason is well known to many of you, and in between training himself, he treated quite a few of us that had minor pulls and strains at last weekend´s Stratford meeting.

Any questions, or to pre-book a session on one of the above dates please contact Jason on 02082951733. For further information, please go to www.chislehurstchiro.com

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