On Sunday 11th October 2009 York Karate had fantastic success at the KUGB Northern Region Championships.

Alice Atkinson Girls 10-11 years Kumite 1st
Aimee Reeson Ippon Kumite 1st
Sam Wallace Ippon Kumite 2nd
Sammi King Girls 12-15 years U5ft 3" Kumite 2nd
Matty Beilby Boys 10-11 years Kumite 2nd
Ryan Stead Boys 12-15 years Over 5ft 5" Kumite 3rd
Jake Atkinson Boys 10-11 years Kumite 3rd
Connor Dunckley Ippon Kumite 3rd
Fraser Grice, Jason Crowther, Ryan Stead Team Kata 3rd

Well done to everyone who competed.

Another club record, 101 students graded and 101 all achieved their new grade.

Sensei Randolph Williams took a training session for white to green belts focusing on kata, breaking it down and making each technique sharp and solid.

Then the grading for this group followed. Many of the students at York karate impressed Sensei Williams from ages as young as 5 all the way up to 65.

The second session was for purple belts and above. This training session was very advanced focusing on kumite or fighting techniques showing different ways to block and counter with both hands and feet, trying to take you out of your comfort zone, an excellent session that finished with advanced kata, with black belts focusing on Nijushiho.

Grading for purple to brown belts then followed with again some excellent performances with certain students showing marked improvements.

Well done to all that graded and the club thanks Sensei Williams for an excellent training course.

On Saturday 7th March York Karate had 3 members competing at the 1st Grand Slam competition of the year. This year saw more competitors than previous years with Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland both sending teams as well as the usual England, Scotland and Wales teams.

Sensei Liam O'Grady finished 3rd in the Senior Men's Kumite event. Liam was also selected on the England Senior team which beat Wales and Scotland.

Ryan Stead competed in the 14-15 year old kumite and Joe Bell competed in the 18-20 year old kumite event. Both performed well.

York Karate Club Grading Sunday 11^th July 2010

Please pay £17.00 for training and grading no later than Wednesday 7^th July 2010

**Special Training Session for Black belts and 1^st Kyu’s – 10am – 11am**

Training and Grading for:

- Purple to Brown 2White – 11am – 12.30

- Yellow to Green Belts – 12.30 – 14.30

- White to Red belts – 15.00 – 17.00

(Please be aware that the above times may change if gradings over run)

The training and grading will take place at the above address with Sensei Garry Harford 7^th Dan

As we have being let down by York College yet again due to the dojo being used for exams there is some important details you need to know.

The following training session dates will be at the NEW Manor School, Millfield Lane, Poppleton.

Wednesdays 13^th May, 20^th May, 27^th May, 3^rd June, 10^th June, 17^th June (19.00 – 20.30)

Saturdays – 16^th May, 23^rd May, 30^th May, 13^th June, 20^th June (10.30am – 12.00)

 (6th June is now cancelled)

As you can see we will be training on Saturday mornings whilst at the new temporary venue as I can find no where than can accommodate the Sunday sessions.

This does mean there will be no Stockton on the Forest Training on the Saturday dates.
Contact me on 07835 787030 if any further details are required.

Many thanks,

Sensei

Thanks to a fantastic idea and organisation from 10 year old student Thomas Crowther, York Karate helped to raise money for Comic Relief by doing a full training session wearing Red Noses.

The training session took place on Sunday 15th March and all donations will be given to Comic Relief.

Over 50 students participated in the event with the York Press coming to cover the event.

The club has helped to raise nearly £100 so far with further donations to come. Thank you to everyone at the club who donated and bought a red nose.

York Karate took a squad of 25 to the 40th North West Open Karate Championships.

The club had a great day with everyone in the York team giving some awesome performances. Apart from the trophy winners, Sammi Kingand Alice Atkinson showed what fantastic karate-ka they are with amazing attitudes competing against alot older and larger opponents, both just missed out on medals.

Charlotte Doyle and Matty Beilby both were fantasic in Kata and Kumite again unfortunatly just missing out on medals.

Aimee Reeson was fantastic in the Ippon Kumite event looking very sharp and solid finishing in 3rd place.

Ryan Stead continued his success with a 3rd place in the over 5ft 5" boys Kumite event beating some big tough lads with some great, clean points.

Fraser Grice also continued on his success from last year by reaching yet another final in the under 5ft boys Kumite event. Fraser unfortunatly was out scored by his opponent. Non the less Fraser eased his way to the final with some sharp techniques.

Sensei Liam O'Grady also continued his good start to the year by reaching the final of the Senior Men's Kumite event. Liam eased his way past his opponents to reach the final, getting through a tough battle with his old England Squad friend Danny O'Connor in the semi final. Unfortunalty the final didn't go Liam's way with some of the referees scoring his opponent a full point and the win.

The club were very proud of everyone on the day. The future looks very bright.

Sensei Nick Heald 6th Dan from The Leeds Karate Acadamy came to the York karate Dojo on Wednesday 11th March.

Over 60 members of the club enjoyed a fantastic training session by Sensei Heald. The session began focusing on sharp stance changes then moving on to focusing on the technical side of advanced kicking. Overall the session was well recieved by the club with all the members leaving on a high and enjoying the training.

Sensei Heald is a former England and British team member winning many International and National titles in both kata and kumite.

40 members of York Karate enjoyed a fantastic competition kumite class with WKF world champion Paul Newby. The session involved kumite movement and fight tactics then went on to more complex techniques. Overall the students enjoyed the evening and look forward to Paul's return to the club.

We would like to thank Paul for taking time out from his busy schedule at his Olympik Dreams Gym.

This years Shotokan Cup was a great day for York Karate as some fine performances saw the club bring home plenty of trophies and medals.

Jake Atkinson entered only his second National competition in the boys 10-11 years kumite. Jake blasted through his opponents with fast hands. Jake beat many black belts to become the champion.

Alice Atkinson has dominated the girls 10-11 years kumite event this year, being involved in all three finals of that event this year. Once again Alice showed her class by adding the Shotokan Cup title to her National Youth title and National Championship silver.

Ryan Stead has also has a great year and after winning the National Youth Championships in July was confident of a good performance. Ryan did not disapoint with 2 ippons through the rounds to reach the final. His opponent, Jordan Probst, was also looking sharp through the rounds. Both fighters knew each other very well as they have had many fine, exciting, battles over the past 2 years. This final bout lived up to the hype with both fighters going at each other. Both showed great attitude, as always, and finished a very close fight with Jordan the eventual winner. Ryan could hold his head up high with a well earned silver medal.

Nathan Wilson has been competing a while now but this year he has started to show much improvement. Nathan was on his best form scoring some superb points, beating James Brown from the LKA who is the National chmapion and National Youth Champion in the quater finals. Nathan was then beaten by another fighter from the long list of the LKA. Nathan won his first ever National medal taking home a bronze.

Everyone from York Karate performed very well with some close perfromances in Kata. Aimee Reeson just missed out of the semi-finals having scored the same points as the eventual winner but lost on the re-match. Jason Crowther did reach the semi finals but did not quite score enough to get to the finals as he did at the Nationals in April.

Well done all.

On the weekend of 31st January and !st February were the KUGB annual England squad selections at the Liverpool Red Triangle Dojo. Selections were made by Sensei's Andy Sherry 8th Dan and Frank Brennan 7th Dan.

York Karate is pleased to announce that Ryan Stead and Joe Bell were selected on to the Junior squad.

Sensei Liam O'Grady was also selected on to the England Senior squad. This was a special year for Liam as it was 10 years since his first England squad selection. 

This year York Karate held its club competition for the second time. This year Leeds Shotokan Karate club and Low Fell Karate club were invited to take part.

The competition saw over 50 competitors take part which was held at York University. The competition was very successful and ran very smoothly with the help from volunteers helping put out the mats, referee and time keep. A huge thanks you to all the volunteers and to everyone who came to support.

The results were as follows.

Beginners Kata (White to Orange belts)

1st Louie Kirkham York

2nd Paddy Beer York

3rd Lewis Russell York

3rd Sam Blundell York

Mixed Pee Wee Kata (10 years and Under)

1st Jake Atkinson York

2nd Mathew Bielby York

3rd Charle Cuddy Leeds

3rd Connor Dunckley York

Mixed Junior Kata (11 to 15 years)

1st Micheal Gale Leeds

2nd Ryan Stead York

3rd Fraser Grice York

3rd Jason Crowther York

Junior Male Kata (16 to 20 years)

1st Mathew Humphries Leeds

2nd Harry Cuddy Leeds

3rd Sam MIlls York

3rd Samuel Poulton York

Mixed Kumite (10 years and under)

1st Jake Atkinson York

2nd Hamish Campbell-Smith York

3rd Aimee Reeson York

3rd James Humphries Leeds

Boys Kumite Under 5ft (11 to 15 years)

1st Keenan Eddie Leeds

2nd Tom Barnes York

3rd Mathew Beilby York

3rd Jake Atkinson York

Boys Kumite Over 5ft (11 to 15 Years)

1st Micheal Gale Leeds

2nd Ryan Stead York

3rd Matthew Humphries Leeds

3rd Jason Crowther York

Girls Kumite (11 to 15 years)

1st Alice Atkinson York

2nd Sammi King York

3rd Jenny Beilby York

3rd Tamara Antypas York

Junior Male Kumite (16 to 20 years)

1st Harry Cuddy Leeds

2nd Ryan Stead York

3rd Sam MIlls York

3rd Matthew Humphries Leeds

At the end of the competition the coaches and referees vote on who has being the most impressive competitor. The decision is made not only on results but attitude and ettiquette.

This years 'York Karate Most Outstanding Competitor' went to Connor Dunckley.

On Saturday 11th July 2009 York Karate were invited to do a karate demonstration for the Osbaldwick Gala which was in aid of the Dickie Bird Foundation. The foundation was set up in 2004 by Dickie Bird with its aim to help finantially disadvantaged young people across the UK to participate in the sport of their chioce.

The demonstration was deliverd by 3 of York's finist junior karate-ka's as each are current National champions. Ryan Stead, Fraser Grice and Sammi King entertained the large crowd with a good range of karate. Team kata, Ippon Kumite, sport karate and a self defence demonstration excited the crowd as they were amazed at the skills and abilities of these talented young athletes.

Dickie Bird attended the Gala and showed a keen interest in the karate demonstration and was also very impressed by their talent but also the attitude and etiquette they showed. A fine example of York Karate and KUGB students.

Saturday 15th August was the date of the 2nd Grand Slam competition of the year for International squads from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Ryan Stead competed for England in the 14-15 year old kumite event. Ryan has been suffering from a painful injury in his hip but still managed to fight. He won his first round and came off in pain. Non the less Ryan still fought his next round but went out of the competition due to his injury.

Liam O'Grady showed his consistancy this year by reaching the final four in the senior men's individual kumite. Liam fought a very close fight in the semi finals against JJ Bruce. The fight was packed with lots of action with either fighter close to winning. Unfortunatly Liam was out scored and JJ Bruce went on to win the event.

Liam was also selected to fight on the England senior team who fought Wales in the final. Liam beat his opponent with a jodan kick scorring an Ippon. England beat Wales 4 wins to 0.

On the weekend of the 26th and 27th September Sensei Liam O'Grady travelled to Cancun, Mexico with the KUGB England Team to compete in the World Karate Championships.

With a fantastic performance from the England Cadets and Junior teams winning many events. The pressure was on the Senior team. Sensei Liam lost in the 2nd round against a sharpe fighter from the USA. It was a very close fight but luck didn't go Liam's way.

Next was the Senior Men's Team event. After the team's success over the past couple of years England are the team to beat. Fortunatly this proved too difficult for all the other teams and England once again became World Champions. The team consisted of Chris Cray, John Bruce, Micheal Davison, Dean Field, Liam O'Grady, Anthony Duffy and Ryan Tucker as reserve.

Congratulations to the whole England Team on their great performance.

For a full report go to www.kugb.org or www.wska-karate.com

On Saturday 22nd May 2010 York Karate sent a small team of 14 to the St Helen's Open.

Not all of our usual team entered this event as the National Championships were only a week earlier.

None the less we had a good day winning many medals and trophies as always.

York Karate entered the Senior Male Team Kumite event with the team consisting of Liam O'Grady, Ryan Stead and Jason Crowther. Ryan is only 15 years old and Jason only 14 years old. The Senior team is for people 16 years and above but the organiser allowed us to enter.

In our 1st round we won 3 - 0 the next round being the semi finals we also won 3 - 0. We met Halewood in the final. Only a week earlier Halewood won the KUGB National Championships so it was going to be very tough. Liam got York off to a good start winning the first fight. Ryan then had to fight Jon McGorian. Jon is a world class international fighter winning many national and international titles. Ryan went out and fought like an international fighter himself taking the first point. Jon now had to do something special. He did, and scored a sharp punch to score ippon and win the fight.

Jason was now under pressure as the score was 1 - 1. Jason was also fighting an international fighter, James Campbell. Again, like Ryan, looked very focused and unphased by his opponent. After a few clashes, James scored a sharp point and ended up beating Jason.

Both boys impressed everyone at the competition with their abailities and attitude. York Karate is very proud to have produced 2 very fine and talented karate-ka's.

Results as follows -

Ryan Stead - Male Kumite 14 - 15yrs - 1st

Sammi King - Girls Kumite - 12-15yrs - 2nd

Thomas Crowther - Boys Kumite 10-11yrs - 2nd

Liam O'Grady, Ryan Stead, Jason Crowther - Male Senior Team Kumite - 2nd

Emily Drysdale - Girls Kumite U12yrs - 3rd

Sammi King - Girls Kata - 2nd

Anthony Coatsworth - Boys Kata - 2nd

Well done everyone!

On Sunday 31st May York Karate sent 3 of its members to the back and brown belt course and grading in Kendal.

After a tough training session with both Sensei Andy Sherry 8th Dan and Sensei Frank Brennan 7th Dan the grading took place.

Chris Grice, Jonathan Poole and Drew Langan all looked sharp and strong throughout the grading exam and they all passed and are now 1st Dan black belts.

Well done guys!

On Sunday 8th February York Karate sent a group of its members for their KUGB Dan grade examinations with Sensei's Andy Sherry and Frank Brennan.

After a a two hour training session the grading exam began.

Ryan Carlyle and Jason Crowther both passed their 1st Dan black belts. Fraser Grice and Ryan Stead both passed their 2nd Dan black belts.

Congratulations to all four students.

York Karate sent a team of  12 to the KUGB National Youth Championships in Chesterfield on Saturday 4th July.

Once again the team showed how strong the karate club is by winning a good amount of medals and trophies.

The results are as follows;

Ryan Stead Boys Kumite 12-15 years 5ft 5" and over 1st

Alice Atkinson Girls Kumite 10-11 years 1st

Sammi King Girls Kumite 10-11 years 3rd

Jenny Beilby Girls Kumite 10-11 years 3rd

Aimee Reeson Ippon Kumite under 10 years 3rd

Fraser Grice, Ryan Stead, Sammi King Team Kata 4th

L - R Fraser Grice, Sammi King, Ryan Stead, Alice Atkinson, Jenny Beilby, Aimee Reeson

Well done to all who competed, you all did a fantastic job.

On Saturday 15th May 2010 York Karate sent a 27 strong squad to the National Karate Chamionships held at the NIA in Birmingham.

Every single student from York impressed  as it was many of the team's first outing at competition karate.

We were so close to medalling in nearly every event this year but many just missing out losing in the 1/4 finals.

The results were as follows -

Senior Male Kumite - Liam O'Grady 3rd

Girls Kumite 12-15 over 5ft 3" - Alice Atkinson 3rd

Boys 10-11 years Kumite - Jake Atkinson 3rd

Congratulations to everyone who competed.

On Sunday 15th August Elite Fight and Fitness have been invited to do a training demonstration at Osbaldwick Sports Club.

We will train as normal in the morning and then go across to the sports club for 13.00 and do 2 x 15 minute sets.

We are hoping that all members support Elite and come and show your skills off to people in the local area. You never know we might even get a few new members. We need people to hand out as many leaflets to as many people as possible too. If parents fancy a job?

The day is a family day at the Osbladwick Sports Club with lots of other things happening for all the family to enjoy, so why not make it a nice family day out?!

On Saturday 19th September in Barnsley, Nathan Wilson graded for his 1st Dan black belt under examiners Sensei Andy Sherry, 8th Dan and Sensei Billy Higgins, 7th Dan.

Nathan looked very sharp throughput the grading in his basics, kata and following on from his bronze medal at the Shotokan Cup domintated his opponents in the kumite.

After a tough grading Sensei Sherry announced that Nathan had fully passed his 1st Dan.

Congradtulations to Alice and Jake Atkinson who after only 33 months of training have passed their KUGB 1st Dan Black belts.

The grading took place in Rhyl, North Wales under examiners Sensei Sherry 8th Dan and Sensei Rhodes 7th Dan.

Both Jake and Alice looked very impressive throughput the grading.

Congratulations to everyone from York Karate who competed at the KUGB National Youth Championships.

Once again we had some exciting performances from those who were selected to compete at the event.

Results as follows -

Matty Beilby - Boys 10 - 11 years Kumite - 1st

Jake Atkinson - Boys 10 - 11 yearsKumite  - 2nd

Ryan Stead - Boys 12-15 Over 5ft 5" Kumite - 2nd

Ryan Stead - Boys Black Belt Kata - 3rd

Emily Drysdale - Girls Kata - 4th

On Saturday 30th May saw another successful day for York Karate at the Liverpool Youth Championships. This is an event hosted by the KUGB and all profits go to charity. York Karate is more than happy to support ths event each year.

York's Results are as follows -

Team Kata 3rd (Ryan Stead, Fraser Grice, Jason Crowther)

Fraser Grice 3rd Boys Kumite 12-15 years 5ft - 5ft 5"

Alice Atkinson 3rd 10-11 years Ippon Kumite

Once again most of the team sent to this event just missed out on the finals reaching quater finals. This continuous experience will improve all competitors. Well done to all who competed.

On Sunday 30th May 2010 in Kendal, Ian Seavers and Aimee Reeson both passed their 1st Dan black belts under Sensei's Frank Brennan 7th Dan and Sensei Andy Sherry 8th Dan.

Congratulations to both on their achievment. That is now 5 members of York Karate who have passed their black belts this year already.

Karate Fun and Fitness Camp

with Elite Fight & Fitness

• ·        Mon 26th July - Fri 20th August
• ·        9.00am – 3.30pm
• ·        6 - 16 years
• ·        £15.00 per day or £60.00 per week 10% family discount

Unit 3, Bentley Park, Osbaldwick Link Road, York, YO10 3JA

Karate, Fun and Fitness Camp. The camp includes Karate classes taught by a current World and European Karate Champion. Fun team games, quizzes, fitness circuits, kick and punch pad workouts and earn award certificates. www.yorkkarate.org

To book please call: 01904 414101

or email: liam.ogrady@hotmail.com

LIMITED PLACES NOW AVAILABLE

On Sunday 14th September York Karate hosted a training course and club grading with Sensei Garry Harford 7th Dan.

The first training session was for purple belts and above. The advanced training session was well attended with our friends from the IJKA also training. The session started with combinations focusing on correct hip movment and timing then moved on to concentrating on distance work with partners. A very intersting and high quality session from Sensei Harford as always.

Following the training was the grading for the Kyu grades. All students gained full passes with some fantastic perfomances.

The second training session was for the white to green belts. Again the session was well attended with a great atmosphere. The session was based around good solid basics that all karate-ka need. Sensei Harford pushed the students and got the best out of them ready for the grading.

The grading again followed the training after a short break and some outstanding performances from the club showed the strength and depth of York Karate.

In total 75 York Karate students graded with 100% passes. Congratulations to everyone.

Next grading and course will be in December with Sensei Randolph Willams 6th Dan.

On Sunday 17th May York Karate sent a team to the KUGB National Championships at the NIA in Birmingham. The club had a great day with some fantastic performances.

Sensei Liam O'Grady was part of the England team that were introduced to the crowd at the strat of the finals ceramony after the success of winning the European Championships for the 2nd year in a row last year.

L - R Dean Field, Michael Davison, Anthony Duffy, John Bruce, Chris Cray, Liam O'Grady, Jon McGorian, Ryan Tucker, Craig Reynolds

Sammi King National Champion Girls 10 - 11 years Kumite and Alice Atkinson 2nd place Girls 10 - 11 years Kumite, Well done girls!

Jason Crowther also came 4th in Junior Male Kata upto age 15. Great performance and recieved a bronze medal.

.

Sensei Liam O'Grady also came 3rd in Senior Male Kumite.

Well done to all who competed.

York Karate selected a squad of 9 to represent the club at this years championships.

With some much improved performances from the junior squad this year they all proved what a strong club York Karate is.

Sammi King has been working very hard on her Ippon Kumite this year and has always been very close to the finals and this time she got there with a superb performance beating higher grades all the way through. In the semi final Sammi lost to the eventual winner but a bronze medal in a major KUGB National event is a fantastic result.



The star of the day was Fraser Grice, firstly narrowly missing the Kata finals and secondly reachig the 12 - 15 year old Under 5ft Kumite (fighting) event. Last year Fraser won the 10-11 year old kumite event but this year was a much bigger step up. Fraser showed his class by dominating his way to the final even beating this year National Champion in the semi final. Unfortunatly Fraser lost in the final to a very good opponent from the Leeds Karate Acadamy. A great result none the less from Fraser.



Finally the York Karate Junior Team Kata performed well to reach the finals. In a tough final the team which consisted of Fraser Grice, Ryan Stead and Jason Crowther, managed an excellent 3rd place. Another fantastic result.



Full list of competitors were, Fraser Grice, Ryan Stead, Jason Crowther, Sammi King, Tom Goodall, Aimee Reeson, Tim Boynton, Alex Pearson and William Strachan.

York Karate took a small squad of 13 to the North West Open. The squad consisted of; Liam O’Grady, Joe Bell, Ryan Carlyle, Jordan Bell, Ryan Stead, Fraser Grice, Nathan Wilson, Drew Langan, Jason Crowther, Sammi King, Tom Goodall, Simon Moulds and Aimee Reeson.

The club used this competition as a warm up for the KUGB National Championships in May. There were many highlights of the day including Joe Bell reaching the quarter finals in the Senior Men’s Kata event narrowly losing to the European Bronze Medallist Paul James. Ryan Stead, Fraser Grice and Drew Langan all reached the quarter finals in the 12 – 15 years kumite. Sammi King also reached the quarter finals in the children’s Ippon Kumite. She beat a black belt and a brown belt before losing to a tough 1st Kyu brown belt, Sammi is only a green belt! This was Simon Moulds first competition and he beat a purple belt in the first round of Kata, he is a yellow belt, the lost to a brown belt. Aimee Reeson was also competing at her first competition at the age of 6. She won her first round in Kata the only just lost to a brown belt in the next round, Aimee is only a yellow belt. York Karate also had a Senior Men’s team entered which consisted of Liam O’Grady, Joe Bell and Ryan Carlyle. We came up against a very strong Halewood team which consisted of 1 senior international squad member, a World silver medallist and a European bronze medallist. Joe went out first and fought Steve Cheetham. After a few exchanges Steve scored a very well executed sweep and punch combination to score Ippon, we were 1 – 0 down. Ryan was up next against David Campbell. Ryan went out hard and sharp scoring a great body punch to put himself a point ahead of the 2006 world silver medallist. After both fighting extremely well, David’s experience put him just ahead of Ryan to put the York Karate Team 2 – 0 down. Liam went out last and fought Adam Hodgson. Adam scored first with a very sharp head punch, Liam evened the score with a sharp punch combination to the head. Then Liam scored off the line with a round house kick to the body to make the final score Halewood 2 wins, York 1 win.

Pictured above, the Welsh Squad 2008 with their coaches, Richard Poole and Kevin O'Neill following selection which took place on 2nd February 2008 at Welshpool.

Congratulations to Lisa O’Grady who was selected onto the Welsh Squad. Unfortunately due to work commitments Lisa was unable to attend the above session.

Liam O'Grady on stage with Harry Gration after receiving his award.

The KUGB’s First Grand Slam of the year took place in Chesterfield. The competition saw record numbers of Squad members attending from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with over 160 competitors. The event consisted of training followed by a competition for Teams and Individual Kata and Kumite contestants. The atmosphere was very exciting with many terrific matches and some spectacular Ippons scored. The event is designed to give the Squad members experience under the European Shotokan Karate Association rules.

York Karate had 3 members competing at the Grand Slam they were; Lisa O’Grady representing Wales, Liam O’Grady and Joe Bell both representing England.

Lisa fought Helen Crowe from England in the 2nd round, due to a by, and quickly beat her with two very sharp chudan gyaku tsuki’s. Lisa then fought Caroline McGrath, Junior European Champion, but lost in a hard fought fight. Lisa was then later picked to lead the Welsh Senior Ladies Team out against England. Lisa fought this years Grand Slam winner and Lisa looked sharp from the start. It was a good contest and the fight was deemed a draw.

This was Joe’s first time at the Grand Slam and fought in the Male Cadet category. Joe fought Kai Stoud from Wales who is a European Silver Medallist. Joe went out and scored a great timed chudan punch, then after being on top for most of the fight Kai scored to even the score. The fight went to a time extension but unfortunately Joe narrowly lost and Kai ended up going on to 3rd place.

Liam was fighting for the first time in exactly a year since he snapped his cruciate ligament. Still not 100% fit he fought Lee Butler from Wales in the first round. Liam scored with a timed gyaku stuki to win the fight. He then fought Stephen Olver. After the first clash, stephen managed to score first then Stephen threw a chudan kick which Liam blocked and counted. Unfortunately the referee’s scored the kick from Stephen and Liam was out. Still, a very pleasing performance for Liam after such a long time out. Liam was then asked to be reserve in the Senior Men’s England Team. Again, very pleasing after a year out from competition.

York Karate sent a squad of 30 to this years championships in Leeds.

We had an average day with some good performances from many just missing out on the finals.

The first medal winner of the day from the York Karate team came from 7 year old Aimee Reeson who won a bronze medal in the Under 10 years Ippon Kumite event.

Aimee Reeson - Joint 3rd place

The second medal winners came from the 'A' team kata consisting of Jason Crowther, Fraser Grice and Ryan Stead. Being the highest scoring team going into the final the team's confidence was high but a mistake cost us dearly and the team finished in 4th place winning a bronze medal.


Jason Crowther, Fraser Grice, Ryan Stead

Full list of York Karate competitiors were;
Liam O'Grady, Mick Smith, Joe Bell, Ryan Carlyle, Jordan Bell, Jane Crowther, Elliot Davies, Ryan Stead, Jason Crowther, Nathan Wilson, Drew Langan, Sammi King, Tom Goodall, Luke Bailey, Richard Packer, Alex Pearson, Thomas Crowther, George Dodd, Ashley Vickers, Abigail Yeomans, Rosa Kerr, Jake Atkinson, Mathew Beilby, Sara Hutchinson, Charlotte Doyle, Jake Quirke, Aimee Reeson, Toby Reeson, Tom Barnes.

On Wednesday 12th November York Karate was pleased to host a training course with Sensei Matt Price 5th Dan

The training session started with the whole class of 55 students practising the Kata, Hangetsu. Sensei Price focused on the Hangetsu - Dachi stance and correct breathing and timing of this brown belt kata.


Sensei Matt Price teaching Hangetsu to the whole class.

The second part of the training session concentrated of particular kumite techniques, starting with attacking gyaku-tsuki's moving on to more advanced combinations including ushiro tobi geri (jumping back kick).


Sensei Price demonstrating kumite techniques on Sensei O'Grady.

Unfortunatly the training session had to come to an end with the whole club enjoying the evening. The enthusiasm from Sensei Price transferred to the class with the students wanting more.


York Karate class after the training session.

Sensei Price is one of the most exciting intructors within the KUGB. His achievements include KUGB Grand Champion, European Champion, World and European Team Champion.

Sensei Price runs the Leeds Karate Acadamy which is one of the most successful clubs in the KUGB. You can visit the clubs website at www.lka.org.uk

This years ESKA European Championships were held in Crawley, England over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd November 2008.

Sensei Liam O'Grady was part of the Senior England Kumite Team which once again took the 2008 European title beating Austia 3-0 in the final. The team consisted of Chris Cray, John Bruce, Micheal Davison, Liam O'Grady and Dean Field, with reserves Anthony Duffy and Ryan Tucker.

England Team European Champions 2008


England Team Line Up


Sensei Liam O'Grady with Sensei Andy Sherry about to fight


Sensei Liam O'Grady just missing with a head kick

York Karate would like to congratulate the whole England Team on their performances at this years ESKA Championships. The following results were achieved by England;

Senior Men Kumite Team 1st (C Cray, JJ Bruce, M Davison, L O'Grady, D Field, A Duffy, R Tucker)
Senior Men Kata Team 4th (S Gordon, D Field, JJ Bruce)
Senior Ladies Kumite Zoe Campbell 3rd
Junior Men Team Kumite 1st (R Tucker, C Reynolds, J McGorian, J Baker)
Junior Men Kumite Craig Reynolds 3rd
Cadet Men Team Kumite 2nd (J Rawcliffe, J McGorian, J Plumb, D Campbell)
Cadet Men Kumite James McGorian 3rd


Full England Squad with Coaches Frank Brennan and Andy Sherry