New Training Times

From Monday 14th March our training times will change.The new times are as follows:

Kids Class - 6:15 - 7:15
Early Class - 6:15 - 7:15
Main Class - 7:15 - 9:15

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

Another very successful grading!

 It was a rather wet and miserable Sunday morning, but for most of the members of the club that did not matter as they were going to spend most of the day at Joseph Rowntree School attending our latest grading course.

Steve Sensei with the Junior grades

The course started off with a surprise for me – Alan Sensei (JKS England Chief Instructor) presented my Nidan certificate with some very kind words about my determination and dedication to Karate – I have not found my Karate Journey to be easy, but that just makes me value how far I have come even more. I had passed at the JKS Christmas course, and Alan Sensei brought my certificate back from Japan after attending Kangieko.

Sarah showing her ‘kill face!’

After this brief presentation, training started in earnest with Alan Sensei (6^th Dan), and Steve Carless Sensei (6^th Dan) taking turns to instructor the more Junior students, taking them through the traditional combination of Kihon, Kata, and Kumite, along with some more unusual exercises. I was particularly pleased to see some of our junior members who were not grading but had turned up to take advantage of training with our excellent guest instructors.

 The gradings started at 11am and once more our students performed brilliantly with Izzy, Oliver, Ethan (M), Annabelle, Riley, Kai, Ethan (D), Alexander ©, Keira, Stanish, and Poppy all successfully grading..

Whilst these gradings were taking place, the training continued uninterrupted.  With the Junior level grades being out through their paces before their grading. There were definitely some nerves in evidence, but once again Ireana, Jack, Aidan, Carl, and Sarah all successfully reaching the next step on their Karate journey. Special mention must go to Ireana who, despite running a very high temperature and not looking very well at all, insisted on grading. Her comment of “well, I am here, so I will go for my grading” demonstrates a true ‘Karate’ attitude!

And for Sarah this represents her graduation from ‘beginner’, and her grading results showed, she has got a good understanding of the fundamentals of karate and now we will build on them to deepen her knowledge and ability.

Olivia demonstrating Yoko Geri Kekomi

The Mid level grades were training while Ireana was battling through her grading.  Again, both instructors covered the three pillars of Shotokan – Kihon, Kata, and Kumite, and Steve Sensei finished off with an explanation of the importance of displaying your Spirit when you train and grade – this is something that we continually mention at the club, and it was great to have this sentiment repeated by one of our top Karate-ka. Holly and Olivia were both successful in their grading, putting in strong and confidant performances, showing that they had been paying attention during Steve Sensei’s teaching.

The senior grades were training at the same time as the mid grade. Alan Sensei began (after Matt Sensei’s warm-ups) by taking us through a grueling set of squats and other conditions exercises. I have to admit to struggling with the last set of squats, but a glance to the left of the line were Mike Sensei was leading by example by sweating away with the rest of us was all it took to get me through them. I find it very inspirational that Mike Sensei trains harder than any of us, he attends every course that he can, and never spares himself from any effort – if you doubt this just ask to see the bruises that he picked up when training on the course.

 

We then practiced Mae Geri, Yoko Geri Kekomi, and Mawashi Geri, very slowly focusing correct preparation and technique, before doing them with speed and power, and then went through some Kumite exercises focusing on movement and speed.

The Senior class tackling Gojushiho Sho

Alan Sensei finished off by starting to go through Gojushiho Sho, an interesting kata with some unusual transitions and moves but some repetition that made it quicker to learn. Unfortunately we ran out of time before we could finish the kata, but Steve Sensei picked up seamlessly were Alan Sensei left of and we finished Gojushiho Sho and also picked up some important tips for refereeing on what sets an excellent performance of this kata apart from an average performance – brilliant advice for those of us that are learning to referee.

We then moved onto Junro Shodan, after first doing a number of exercise to improve the first three moves of the kata. Ju Ippon drills followed this, again focusing on correct movement to block and counter. To finish we went through a number of exercise and stretches using a partner to provide resistance.

Jonathan pushing Rebecca Sensei around whilst Steve Sensei looks on with approval!

For a change we did not have any student attempting their Shodan this time, but Mike Sensei will be looking at Brenda and Joe to see if we can get you ready for next years course.

I would like to express our thanks to Alan and Steve Senseis for their excellent and engaging training. Wendy Sensei for her work behind the scenes ensuring that everyone’s membership is up to date and the Dan gradings run smoothly. And of course Paul Sensei who devotes a lot of time and effort to ensure that we always have top instructors at our courses, and that the courses and the gradings run smoothly.

OSU

Jim

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

Jim and Holly get their Nidans

An article appeared in The Press on 9th January 2016 about Jim and Holly being awarded their Nidans. The article can also be viewed on The Press website

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

Kangeiko 2016

It seemed very early indeed when my alarm went off to get me up to head off to Cleethorpes for our annual Kangeiko with Kiazen No Michi and Selby Karate Club. To be fair it was 4:45am, and my only consolation was that I knew that Joe had been awake since 4am!

Kangeiko on the Beach 2016

After picking up Joe, Helen and Olivia we headed into the darkness on what seemed like an endless tour of East Yorkshire villages (we only discovered later that the Sat Nav had been set to avoid toll roads so refused to direct us over the Humber Bridge which added 20 minutes onto our journey!).

Despite this we arrived just before 7am to join the others who were mad enough to gather in a very cold and dark leisure centre car park. The welcome that we got however was very warm from Andy and Jackie Sensei and our friends from Kiazen and Selby. After a quick warm up to stretch out our cold muscles we started with the traditional run along the sea front to get the blood flowing. Then it was onto the beach for some fast and furious Kihon combinations to make sure we did not get cold.

Sunrise

If you have never trained on the beach I high recommend that you try it. Not having a firm surface to push against means that you have to move in an entirely different way – if you want to try we will be returning to Cleethorpes in the summer for ‘Bears on the Beach’ (it should be a little warmer by then!).

To Finish off Andy Sensei lead us through the Kata Sochin, and introduced us to some very effective Bunkai for the first series of moves. 

Training over we moved down the beach for some photos in front of the pier, and then (for some the highlight of the trip!) we adjourned to Browns Cafe for a celebratory fry up! It was great to warm up and take the edge of the appetite that the training had given us. It was also great to be able to catch up with some friends form Kiazen that we do not get to see very often.

Joe, Olivia, Helen and Jim after training

I’d like to thank Andy and Jackie Sensei for their kind invite, and everyone from Kiazen for their warm welcome. I’m looking forward to Bears on the Beach in the summer, and returning on another cold and dark January morning for Kangeiko next year.

OSU

Jim

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

Beginners Class

Come along to our 2-week course to see how karate can improve your flexibility, fitness and self confidence, ages 8 and above. Only £10. For more information phone 0758 324 9115

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

JKS Christmas Course 2015

It was a very wet and miserable morning that saw an intrepid bunch set off from Haxby very early to make the annual trip down to Nottingham for the JKS Christmas Course. For some of us (Mike Sensei, Jim, Brenda, Jonathan and Elizabeth) it was nothing new, having attending these or the Black and Brown Belt courses before (Adam was planning to attend but unfortunately broke his nose in an accident at school – Get well soon, and we hope to see you back in the dojo before too long). Others (Ian, Olivia, Joe, and Sarah) felt some nerves as this was their first time attending a big JKS England course, and they were not sure what to expect. One of us had another reason to be nervous, but more on that later…

We arrived slightly early, which gave us time to catch up with the friends that we have made on these courses, and to introduce our clubs members that were attending for the first time.

The attendees at the JKS Christmas Course

 As always the course was lead by Head of JKS England Alan Campbell Sensei, 6th Dan, supported by National Head Coach Matt Price Sensei 6th Dan and Steve Carless Sensei 6th Dan, all of whom had recently arrived back in England following a training trip to Japan.

As usual the class was split between Dan grade and Kyu grades. Matt Sensei took the kyu grades initially focusing on kumite drills and the Heian Katas. Steve Sensei took the Dan grades through kihon drills and movement, Kumite drills and finishing off with Kata - Jiin and Kashu. The instructors swapped after the first session with Matt Sensei taking the senior class through some more advanced kumite drills and exercises while Steve Sensei took the junior grades through Kihon, the use of body mechanics in karate movement to generate power, and finishing with Heian Yondan.

Brenda, Joe, Olivia, and Sarah training hard

As I was training with the Dan grades I did not see any of Brenda, Joe, Olivia and Sarah’s training, but they all reported that it had been a fun, challenging and interesting session. The higher grade training was fantastic as usual. I did notice that Jonathan more than held his own when grouped with some very strong and talented karate-ka when we were doing group kumite drills. Ian also seemed to greatly enjoy his introduction to the JKS programme of training.

In the final session Alan Sensei took everyone through the kata Hyakuhachiho (108 steps). For many this was the first time they had been introduced to this kata as it is not part of the shotokan syllabus, and there were some very interesting combinations of moves to master.

For most of us this signaled the end of the course, and we could relax and try to commit to memory some of the most relevant issues that that the excellent instruction had highlighted for our training. For myself, though, the day was far from over!

I lined up with the other nervous Dan grading candidates and waited for my turn to be called up to attempt my Nidan grading. It took some time for the grading panel (which included Mike Sensei) to work their way through the Shodan candidates, and like the other Nidan hopefuls I spent the time trying to keep warmed up, and nervously going though kata and kihon.

All too soon (it seemed) we were called up to do our Kihon – of course I was placed right in front of the examiners table (Mike Sensei and Steve Sensei) – there would be nowhere for me to hide! But thinking about it I am glad as it forced me to give my very best, and as Alan Sensei instructed the Dan grade candidates – this was our opportunity to show off what we could do – coasting wasn’t an option. We seemed to fly through the kihon and before we knew it we were doing the dreaded (well for me anyway!) four kicks from one leg that signaled the end of the kihon section.

Mike Sensei with a very relieved Jim after the grading

There was a short break whilst the final Shodan candidates completed their Kumite and Kata sections in front of Alan Sensei and Matt Sensei and then we were called up. For kumite I was partnered with Lewis Bradbury and Joseph Bulmer, both considerably younger and fitter than me (and England Squad members), but with Mike Sensei’s mantra of “don’t keep running away!” firmly in mind I gave it my all. Alan Sensei gave me some feedback between my first and second bouts that I needed to try to release my punches a bit quicker, which I tried to incorporate. Both my opponents were very skilled and displayed excellent control, despite trying as hard as I was to score.

I was lucky to gave a short break (to catch my breath) before being called on to do kata. I performed my chosen kata (Jion) and then Bassai Dai and Junro Nidan to complete my grading.

There was a short pause whilst the grading panel conferred and then the results were announced. It seems like I am always the last one to be announced (possibly they do it in age order and I am always the oldest there!) – Nidan Pass!

I would like to thank my instructors Mike Sensei and Ian Sensei for the support and dedication in getting me through my grading. I think that sometimes we lose sight of how lucky we are as a club to have such talented, passionate and supportive instructors. I’d also like to thank my ‘karate family’ – my friends from the club, from Selby, from the JKS and beyond for their support and good wishes.

Speaking to Mike Sensei after the grading, the focus will now be shifting to others who are due to grade soon (Ian, Lorraine, Brenda!) and the club will continue to develop its members into well-rounded karate-ka.

OSU

Jim

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

Holly gets her 2nd Dan

Haxby Shotokan Karate Club are celebrating after one of their junior members achieved a milestone in their karate journey. Holly Bamford, aged 16, attended a JKS karate course held on the 25th October in Nottingham under the watchful eye of Alan Campbell 6th Dan, Chief Instructor of JKS England and two other Senior 6th Dans.


After three hours of intensive group training Holly had to wait while many other students attempted to grade to their next level. Fellow Club member Elizabeth Massey and Sensei Mike Gude, Chief Instructor at Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, after completing three hours training, sat down to watch Holly take her grading. Holly was last to be called to be assessed on her 2nd Dan examination. Her nerves were visible at the beginning but her performance obviously impressed the examination panel because she was finally rewarded with the rank of 2nd Dan. All the club members and Instructors are extremely proud of Holly's example and dedication because this is the culmination of over 8 years of hard work.


Holly’s achievement is the latest success for the Club who have had many students achieve their black belt goals over the last 3 years. In 2013 two club members were awarded their 1st Dan. In 2014 five students achieved their 1st Dan and Club Founder member and Senior Instructor, Ian Shaw, was awarded his 4th Dan. This year as well as Holly achieving her 2nd Dan, 3 Club members were awarded their 1st Dan and their Chief Instructor, Sensei Mike Gude was awarded his 6th Dan.

Holly back at the Club training

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Club is welcome to pop down to one of our training sessions held at Wigginton Recreation Hall on Monday and Thursdays, 6.30pm to 7.30pm for ages 5 to 8 and 7pm – 9pm for adults and kids age 8 and above. See www.haxbykarate.co.uk or phone 0758 324 9115 for more details.


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

Change of Venue and Training Times - Monday 5th October

Monday's (5th October) training session will be held at Ralph Butterfield Primary School, Station Road, Haxby, YO32 3LS.  Training times are 6pm - 7pm for Haxby Karate Kids and 7pm - 9pm for the main class.

Click here for a location map of the school.

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