The Latest News from the Kugatsu Karate-Do

The Kugatsu Karate-Do affiliates to Shuko-Kai International

Following discussions with Sensei Lindsay Smith (The Shuko-Kai International representative in Scotland) and our senior students, we have decided to affliate to Shuko-Kai International, an international Shukokai Karate organisation headed by Shihan Kunio Miyake (8th Dan). The affiliation provides our members with a direct link to a top Japanese Shukokai instructor and compliments our membership of Karate Kai Scotland and the Scottish Karate Governing Body.

Shuko-Kai International website - www.miyake-shukokai.com

Dan grading success for Kat and Laura - Saturday 19th December 2009

Following a comprehensive and very challenging grading lasting just over 2 hours, Katrina Kinney was promoted to Nidan (2nd Dan) and Laura Williams was promoted to Shodan (1st Dan). Both performed exceptionally well (despite the odd bout of nerves!) throughout the grading. This was the first Dan Grading held by the Karate Kai Scotland and the standard set was high; the grading covered kihon (basics), kata, combinations, kumite and stamina testing. The grading panel consiosted of many of the Karate Kai Scotland's senior instrucots - Sensei Bobby Morton (6th Dan), Sensei Lindsay Smith (6th Dan), Sensei Billy Haggarty (5th Dan), Sensei Graham McCann (5th Dan) and Sensei Jim Sweeney (3rd Dan).

Congratulaitions are also due to all the other Kugatsu Karate-Do students who also sat theier Kyu garding during the last week of training in December.

Major success for the Kugatsu Karate-Do at the 1st Karate Kai Scotland Championships

Our association - Karate Kai Scotland - held their first annual championships on Sunday 29th November 2009 in the Playdrome Leisure Centre, Clydebank.

A large squad from the Kugatsu Karate-Do entered the competition; for many this was their first experience of taking part in a karate competition. Everyone performed exceptionally well and were a credit to the club and the feedback about the event from competitors and spectators was very positive.

Overall, the Kugatsu Karate-Do won the most medals on the day - 13 GOLD, 10 SILVER & 16 BRONZE.

Click here to download a full competition report by Sharon McCann.

Karate Kai Scotland do well at the SKGB Scottish Kumite Championships 2009

Our association entered a small squad into this year’s Scottish Karate Championships (Kumite) on Sunday 22nd November; the event being held in the Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh.  Mark Marshall and Sharon McCann were the Kugatsu Karate-Do representatives in the squad.

All members of the squad performed well and were a credit to the Karate Kai Scotland and their respective clubs. 

Mark Marshall

Male Veterans’ Kumite -              Silver Medal
Mark was also promoted to SKGB Kumite Judge B

Female Team

Heather McLaren, Sharon McCann & Laura Slevin
Senior Female Team       -              Silver Medal

Heather McLaren

Senior Female Kumite   -              Bronze Medal

Laura Slevin

Female Cadet Kumite    -              Bronze Medal

The Kugatsu Karate-Do do well at the Scottish Karate Grand Prix 2009 (Wishaw - 1st November)

Four members of the KKD took part in the final event of the Scottish Karate Grand Prix 2009.

First up was Olivia who was taking part in her first major karate competition. Olivia performed well in her kata and kumite events, being beaten by the overall champion in her kata event. Laura progressed well in her kata event - securing the bronze medal. Katrina, hot on the heels of her success at the British Championship was competing in the senior female Kumite event. After several hard fought rounds, Katrina fought her way to the gold medal.

Sharon, against doctors advice, took part in the senior female kata event. Despite carrying a major injury to her foot (fractured!!), Sharon secured a bronze medal which meant that over the four grand prix events she was crowned the overall winner in the Scottish Karate Grand Prix 2009 (senior female kata).

Well done to you all.

Success at the British Karate Championships 2009 (Meadowbank)

Our association, Karate Kai Scotland, entered a small squad into this year’s British Karate Championship; 4 Kugatsu Karate-Do members were part of the squad (i.e. Katrina Kinney, Sharon McCann, Laura Williams and Bryan McCann).  Sensei Graham McCann also attended the event a kumite referee / kata judge.

There was a huge entry for this year’s championship  with 1400 competitors taking part  (Saturday’s events started at 9.00 a.m. and finished at 10.30 p.m.!!) and the squad were a credit to themselves and the association with all performing well despite a lot of sitting around waiting for events to start. The weekend was a great success.

Katrina                                

British Champion 2009 (30 years and over kumite) 
Bronze Medal (Senior Female team kumite)                  
5th Place (Senior female kumite <68kg)

Graham                               

Promoted to British Kumite referee and British Kata judge

Unfortunately, Sharon was unable to compete on the day due to injury.  Laura and Bryan both performed well in their respective kata events with Laura getting through to the repocharge and Bryan being knocked out in the second round. 

Well done to the squad.

Success at the SKGB Scottish Kata Championships 2009 (Meadowbank)

Three members of the Kugatsu Karate-Do took part in this year's SKGB Scottish Kata Championships 2009. Sharon had a very unlucky draw (not for the first time!) in the Senior Female event being drawn against the All Styles Scottish Champion in the quarter finals of the Shito-ryu event and then the All Styles Bronze medallist in the repocharge. Laura (in her first Scottish Championships) and Bryan both took bronze medals in the Shito-ryu event. Videos from the championship will be posted on the website soon.

Well done to you all.

Great News . . . . . . . Iona is back at training

As most of you know, one of our junior members (Iona) was recently unable to train with us due to her need for ongoing hospital treatment.  Iona has been making excellent progress and returned to training last week. 

Iona – it is great to see you back training on the class.

Welcome to the Edinburgh Shukokai Karate Club

The Kugatsu Karate-Do, and all at the Karate Kai Scotland, would like to welcome Sensei Derek Spratt (5th Dan) and his students to the association.  Founded over 20 years ago, Edinburgh Shukokai Karate Club is a Shukokai Karate club based in the Gilmerton area of Edinburgh.  We look forward to working together in the future and seeing their students developing within the Karate Kai Scotland.  Welcome!

Members of the Karate Kai Scotland do well at the Cumbria Open 2009 (Carlisle)

Our association, Karate Kai Scotland, sent a small (but strong) squad to the 33rd Cumbria Open Karate Competition in the Sands Sports Centre, Carlisle. Laura W (Kugatsu) was first up in the boys and girls senior grade kata event. She performed well and successfully managed to progress to the third round; a great achievement in her first major open event. Next up was Mark (Kugatsu) in the senior male kata event where he was narrowly beating in the final 2 flags to 1. Despite injuring her knee in the first round of the senior female kata event, Sharon (Kugatsu),with the help of a few ice packs, secured a well deserved third place.

Heather (Kokusai) and Mark both took part in their respective individual kumite events; unfortunately despite fighting well they were unsuccessful in their endeavors. Laura S (Kokusai) took a third in her kumite event. Heather, Laura S and Sharon took part in the female team kumite, all fought well to secure a well deserved second place.

Well Done.

Continued success at the Scottish Karate Grand Prix (event 2)

Four of our students took part in the second event of this year's Scottish Karate Grad Prix in Wishaw Sports Centre. All done well in their respective Kata events; Bryan 2nd place and Jordie, Laura and Sharon taking well deserved 3rd places. At present, Sharon and Nick are sitting in first place in the league, Bryan and Jordie are sitting in second place in the league and Laura is in third place in the league for their respective events after two (or four) competitions.

Congratulations.

Welcome to the Renshinkan Karate Club

The Kugatsu Karate-Do, and all at the Karate Kai Scotland, would like to welcome Sensei Lindsay Smith (6th Dan) and his students to the association.  Founded in 1993, Renshinkan Karate club is a Shukokai Karate club based in the Bearsden.  We look forward to working together in the future and seeing their students developing within the Karate Kai Scotland.  Welcome!

Iona would like to say thank you to everyone for their kinds words and for the great gift

As most of you know, one of our junior members (Iona) is currently not able to train with us due to her need for ongoing hospital treatment. Iona is doing well and always has a smile on her face when she is able to pop into the club to see everyone.

Iona, and her family, would like to say thank you to everyone for the cards and their gift of a "karate teddy bear "; your support and words of encouragement are greatly appreciated. Iona hopes to be back at training soon.

Success at the first event of the Scottish Karate Grand Prix 2009

Several members of the Kugatsu Karate-Do took part in the first event of the Scottish Karate Grand Prix held in Wishaw Sports Centre on Sunday 1st March. FOr a few of our members this was their first experience of taking part in this level of event. Everyone performed exceptionally well and should be very proud of themselves.

Sharon (1st place - Kata), Nick (3rd place - Kumite), Jordan (3rd place - Kata) and Abdu (3rd place - Kumite)

Bryan and Mark do well at the British Open Kata Championships 2009

Bryan and Mark started the karate competition season early by accepting an invitation from the tournament orgainser (Sensei Vince Parker - Mushindo Wado Kai) to attend the British Open Kata Championships 2009 on Saturday 7th February. The was held in the Cheslyn Way Leisure Centre (Wolverhampton). Both performed exceptionally well with Mark being narrowly missing out on a bronze medal and Bryan securing a bronze medal in the senior male individual kata section. Without any real preparation, both MArk and Bryan decided to enter the pairs kata, a wise decision as they secured a bronze medal despite have never participated in pairs kata before.

Well done to you both.

Kugatsu Karate-Do resigns from Baska Karate and becomes a founder member of the Karate Kai Scotland

The Kugatsu Karate-Do became a member of Baska Karate (the Scottish arm of the British All Styles Karate Association) in 1996 and was an active and one of the leading groups in the association in Scotland. However, over the last year or so Graham and other senior instructors from Baska Karate were concerned that membership of Baska Karate was no longer meeting the needs of their members. After a lengthy period of discussion, debate and consideration, Graham along with Sensei Billy Haggarty (Kokusai Karate Kai) and Sensei Bobby Morton (Ardeer Karate Club) decided to form a new association, Karate Kai Scotland, and resign from Baska Karate. The Kugatsu Karate-Do officially resigned from Baska Karate on 4th March 2009 and we wish all of our friends in the British All Styles Karate Association all the best for the future and thank them all for their friendship and support over the last 12 years.

Following the formation of the Karate Kai Scotland, various decisions were taken to establish the association as a forward thinking and motivated association designed to meet the needs of all its members. Office bearers were confirmed and Sensei Graham McCann was appointed Chairperson of the association, with Sensei Billy Haggarty and Sensei Bobby Morton being appointed Secretary (and Licensing Officer) and Treasurer, respectively. Karate Kai Scotland is fully constituted and has secured continued membership of the Scottish Karate Governing Body for our members. (Click here to download a copy of the KKS constitution)

New Licence Structure

We have introduced a new and simpler licence structure for all of our members.  The introduction of the new structure follows the formation of Karate Kai Scotland.  The key features of the new structure are outlined below.

• All Karate Kai Scotland licences will expire on the last day of February each year
• The fee for all new licences applied for throughout the year will be linked to the time remaining until the licence is due for renewal on 1st March
• A new Karate Kai Scotland licence and grading record book will be introduced

Unfortunately with the introduction of the new licence system there will be a small increase in the licence fee (i.e. the first increase in around 6 years); the new annual licence fee is £12.00. The fee reduces on a pro-rata basis for new applications during the licensing year (see licence application form for details).

It is essential that all members of the Kugatsu Karate-Do hold a valid licence.  If you do not have a licence, your licence has expired or your licence is due to expire over the next few weeks please complete and return a licence application form and the appropriate fee to Graham as soon as possible.  (N.B. two passport size photographs are required for all new applications).

Paul Hanson - our newest Black Belt

Following several months of preparation and hard work, Paul put himself forward for his Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt) grading in front of Sensei Bobby Morton (6th Dan), Sensei Billy Haggarty (5th Dan) and Sensei Graham McCann (5th Dan). 

Paul’s grading was held on the 19th December 2008 in the Playdrome Leisure Centre.  The grading lasted around 1½ hours and covered basics, pad work, kata (lots of kata!!) and kumite.  Paul performed exceptionally well throughout the grading; the outcome was a well deserved promotion to Shodan (1st Dan).

Well done Paul

Dan grade promotions for Mark (3rd Dan) and Graham (5th Dan)

On Sunday 26th October 2008, Baska Karate (our association) held their annual course and grading in the Birkenshaw Sports Barn (Uddingston). The Kugatsu Karate-Do were well represented with over 25 of our members participating in what was a most enjoyable course. Senior Instructors from Baska Karate lead students in a variety of activities and sessions covering kata, sparring and practical self defence.

Following the 5 hour course, our own Mark Marshall put himself forward for his San-Dan (3rd Dan) grading in front of Sensei Billy Haggarty (5th Dan), Sensei John Riley (5th Dan), Sensei Bobby Morton (6th Dan) and our Chief Instructor Sensei Graham McCann. His grading lasted over one and a half hours and covered basics, shukokai combinations, padwork, kata and kumite. To his credit Mark performed exceptionally well; the outcome of which was a well deserved promotion to San-Dan (3rd Dan black belt).

Another highlight of the course was the decision of the senior members of Baska Karate to promote Sensei Graham McCann to Go-Dan (5th Dan black belt) in recognition of his work for and on behalf of Baska Karate and his on-going efforts to continually develop and sustain the high standards of the members of the Kugatsu Karate-Do.