Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Extra training session - Bank Holiday Monday


There is now a training session next Monday (Bank Holiday), from 6.30 - 7.30pm for Haxby Karate Kids and 7pm -  9pm for the main class. Normal place.


visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Friday, 17 May 2013

Change of venue and times

Monday's training session will be held at Ralph Butterfield Primary School, Station Road, Haxby, YO32 3LS. Click here for a map.

Training times are 6pm - 7pm for Haxby Karate Kids and 6.45pm- 9pm for the main class.

Training will be back to normal next Thursday.


visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Sunday, 12 May 2013

Selby Shotokan Karate Club Novice Competition


The Haxby Team
This year saw a team of sixteen, covering a range of ages and grades, from HSKC travel the short distance across to Barlby High School to compete in the Novice competition organised by SSKC. Sensei Paul has designed the competition as an introduction for those who are thinking about competing, and as such anyone who has held their Shodan for more than a year is not eligible to compete. The focus then is on allowing karateka who are coming up through the coloured belts to get a taste of competition and to test themselves in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

This years Competition was the biggest yet!

This was the biggest competition yet, with 170 competitors in total the school gym was inevitably a bit cramped, not only with the number of people watching but also the addition of a third “mat” to allow more events to be held at the same time. It did, at times, seem a little chaotic with the organisers, judges and administrators having to make themselves heard over the noise of competition, warm-ups and chatting spectators but, excepting one or two “mishaps”, things were well organised, a credit to Sensei Paul who puts in a lot of time and effort to ensure that things run smoothly.

Katherine looks to be
enjoying herself too much!
The event itself lies somewhere between the Children’s Competition and the JKS Nationals. It is a bit more relaxed than the Nationals, particularly in respect of some of the junior kumite events during which the judges could be seen to be giving a lot of thought towards how to explain some of their decisions to the younger competitors while still allowing a competitive feel. On the other hand, the inclusion of older competitors results in some very fierce and hard-fought matches. Almost inevitably in a martial arts competition there were a few injuries, ranging from minor bumps among the juniors to near-knockouts among some of the seniors, the Red Cross were there to minister to the few people then needed attention.  I don’t remember seeing anybody from Haxby having to have first aid, but I did see both Abi and Dave from Selby (and, occasionally, Haxby) being knocked to the floor. Both were able to get up and carry on, with Dave eventually winning first place in his event.

Thank you to Deal who, as team captain, did an excellent job of getting the team organised, making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time, and keeping track of our results:
Under 12 Kata:

Kian never seems phased
 by competitions !
Bethany was Haxby’s star of this event, making it through to the semi-finals before being beaten into fourth place, just missing out on a medal. Kian, the only competitor from Haxby to not have a “by” into the second round, managed three wins before being beaten while Elizabeth managed her first ever Kata win in the second round before being beaten by Lucy Winn in the third. It was Lucy who beat Bethany to take third place in the event.

Under 17 Kata:

Adam, Katherine and Oliver were all knocked out in the first round of this event. Thomas successfully joined Holly in the second round but only Holly progressed, eventually taking second place (and Haxby’s first medal of the day) behind Emily Crockford of Selby.

Over 16 Kata (Beginner to 3rd Kyu):
Both Helen and Lisa made it through to the second round of this event but Gareth, in his first competition, was knocked out in the first round.

Over 16 Kata (2nd/1st Kyu +U22 Shodan):

Dael’s second round defeat was to Matt Beard, the eventual winner of this event, so no shame there.

Dael performing Tekki Shodan against Matt from Selby
Family Kata:
I don’t know whether Kian and Aaron progressed past the first round but Lisa and Rebecca had a very unfortunate draw which saw them up against Holly and Bethany in the second round. The Bamfords won that round and, eventually, first place overall and a second medal for Haxby.

The Gowlands performing Family Kata

Under 12 Kumite:
Again Kian was the only Haxby competitor to start in the first round and managed to defeat two opponents before being beaten the third. Elizabeth started in the second round but made no progress despite a spirited showing against the much taller Laura Tideswell of Crystal Peaks.

Elizabeth's opponent seemed much bigger in real life!

U17 Kumite – Male:
There were more Haxby competitors in this even than in any other. Oliver was the only one to fight in the first round but was beaten by Niall Worsfold of Akashi, who went on to win third place in the event. Aaron, Jonathan and Adam were all beaten in the second round, while Thomas progressed to round three where he was knocked out by eventual winner Darenz Custodio of Walsall.

Adam sizes up his opponent!

U17 Kumite – Female:
Katherine, another first-time competitor, was knocked out in the first round while Holly was beaten in the semi-final by the ever-impressive (and eventual event winner) Rebeka Thacker of Walsall before coming fourth behind fellow 1st Dan Jane Jackson of Bunbu.

O16 Kumite  - Male (Beginner to 3rd Kyu):
Gareth progressed to the second round where he was beaten by Scott Haxby of Selby, an excellent performance given the disparity in grades and the fact that Scott won second place in the event.
O16 Kumite – Female (Beginner to 3rd Kyu):
Helen, Haxby’s final competitor of the day, was knocked out in the first round by Lindsay Kirk of Selby.
This was the first competition for some of our squad (Lisa, Katherine, and Gareth) who all showed impressive spirit and courage to step onto the mat. You must remember that the majority of Karateka choose not to take part in competitions. It takes real courage to step on to the mat, the aim should always be to test yourself and your karate, and that courage was displayed by the whole team.

Oli displaying the sportsmanship that we are proud of at the club
It was also the last time that Holly would be eligible to compete in the Selby Competition, and she put in a very good performance gains Fourth in Kumite, Second in Kata and bringing the Family kata cup home to Haxby again. It has become a tradition for the family kata cup to come to Haxby, and as we pride ourselves on being a family club it is a reflection of the values of the club. We will be looking to our other family teams (the Acasters, Gowlands, Sutherlands, and others!) next year!

The Bamfords collecting gold for Family Kata
With a first, a second and two fourths HSKC came fourth in the medal table, an impressive showing. Well done to all competitors, both for their spirit and their sportsmanship.
Thank you to Sensei Paul for all the hard work he obviously put in beforehand to ensure the competition ran so smoothly. Thanks also to Sensei Mike and Sensei Ian who must have been exhausted by a full days refereeing, and to Jim, Pete and Catherine who all volunteered to help out with the running of the competition on the day. Thanks also have to go to Ian Massey for writing this report and being in charge to the photography.

Finally well done to every who competed and supported your spirit, sportsmanship and dedication are a credit to you and the club.



visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Dojo's Friend


There was a very happy boy at training on Thursday when he was presented with Dojo's Friend for the month of April,

congratulations Dylan!

Dylan joined the club on the 18th of June 2012 and has shown real dedication and commitment to his training. His award was given for a 'huge improvement in attention and behaviour.'

He has worked so hard on all his personal skills that it is hard to believe he is the same young, giddy boy that stepped into our Dojo almost a year ago.

Dylan is always keen, polite and tries really hard to give the correct Japanese terminology to stances and punches that are being used.

He is also always quick to help,and make, new starters feel welcome and at ease.

I'm sure that Dojo will have a whale of a time with Dylan and we look forward to hearing all about their adventures.


visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Saturday, 4 May 2013

So why did we do it?

Our Club members wanted to surprise Sensei Mike and Sensei Ian and raise funds to send them on the JKS England Annual Trip to Japan. Here is the speech that Sensei Scott Langley read out at the end of the course to enlighten Sensei Mike and Sensei Ian why the course had been held. Up until that point they had no idea.


Mike and Ian,
Today’s karate course has actually been organised by your lying students and instructors and is indeed a special course, but not for the reasons you believe,
You have both taught karate for over 35 years and we would all like to say thank you for your commitment to Karate and its teaching to new students over those years.
You have both not only achieved high grades in your karate but also the respect that can only be earned through dedication and trust from your students and instructors.
It is unfortunate then that you have both not fulfilled your own goals and dreams in Karate over these many years which we hear you mention from time to time,
Therefore,
This course was set up to enable you both to go to Japan with Sensei Scott, it is our way of demonstrating our recognition of your commitment to, your students, Instructors, Haxby Karate Club, Selby Club, other clubs and the JKS, we are hopeful that this does fulfil those dreams you have often told us about.
You will also be given the opportunity to Grade for your 4th and 6th Dan’s, while you are in Japan; arrangements are compliments of Scott, JKS.
We also know how both of you typically refuse gifts of this nature at club level events but as we have you totally outnumbered with karateka you will just have to accept this gift.

Finally,
“Everyone line up, feet together, bow etc”---
-Osu
Sensei Scott Langley, together with Sensei Alan Campbell and Sensei Rob McCartney revealing why the course had been held




visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk