Our referees were back on international duty this week, officiating at the European Championships for Seniors in Guadalajara, Spain. Mair and Dan took part in two days of competition that saw the best kata and kumite competitors across the continent battling for qualification for both the European Games in Minsk later this year, and of course the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
Carmarthenshire Karate – clean sweep in male cadet individual kata
Mina Cook, Shivani Cook, Yazmin Davies, Bara Housova, Klara Housova, Joseph Jones, Olivia Jones, Ali Riaz, Asmaa Riaz, Alex Rigden, Max Ryan-Davies, Nia Thomas, Ben Williams & Erin Williams
| 4 | Gold | - | Ben, Max, Mina, kata pairs (Alex, Max) |
| 3 | Silver | - | Ben, Yazmin, kumite team (Erin, Klara, Nia) |
| 5 | Bronze | - | Alex, Mina, Nia, kata pairs (Asmaa, Klara), kumite team (Ali, Ben, Joseph, Max) |
Kicking off the 2019 competition season with a bang at the Welsh National Championships, held at the Sport Wales Centre in Cardiff. Carmarthenshire Karate celebrated three individual champions, along with two gold medals in team events:
Shivani Cook – kumite
Max Ryan-Davies – kata
Erin Williams – kumite
Kata pairs (Alex & Max)
Kumite team (Erin, Klara, Nia)
Carmarthenshire Karate – girls team kumite, Welsh Champions 2019
Carmarthenshire Karate – kata pairs, Welsh Champions 2019
Carmarthenshire Karate – boys team kumite, Welsh Vice-champions 2019
Mina Cook, Shivani Cook, Yazmin Davies, Bara Housova, Klara Housova, Joseph Jones, Olivia Jones, Ali Riaz, Asmaa Riaz, Alex Rigden, Max Ryan-Davies, Nia Thomas, Ben Williams & Erin Williams
| 5 | Gold | - | Erin, Max, Shivani, kata pairs (Alex, Max), kumite team (Erin, Klara, Nia) |
| 3 | Silver | - | Alex, Mina, kumite team (Ali, Ben, Joseph, Max) |
| 4 | Bronze | - | Max, Olivia, Shivani, Yazmin |
We were privileged to see two of our students representing Wales at the European Championships for Cadets, Juniors & U21s in Aalborg, Denmark this weekend. This was Mina’s third international cap, having represented Wales at both World and European championships already over the last two years, while Ben was gaining his first international honours with the Welsh team.
Both of our fighters did themselves proud on the tatami, never giving up and making life very difficult for their opponents. Their time with the Welsh squad, working with the National Coaches and fellow team members will prove an invaluable experience.
Joining Ben and Mina in Aalborg (along with the rest of the Welsh team and travelling supporters) were Mair and Dan, officiating once again and celebrating successful examinations, both achieving their final European Kumite Referee qualifications.
We’re delighted to report on another successful senior grading examination by Hanshi Peter Spanton (9th Dan) at our Carmarthen dojo this weekend. Following a kata course with Hanshi Spanton, five of our senior students were put to the test in front of him. Both Ben Williams and Catrin Jones achieved their 1st Dan black belts, while Gareth Thomas, Max Ryan-Davies and Sarah Phillips all progressed to 1st kyu – their final brown belts. Congratulations to all of them.
Ben was one of the very first members to join our new dojo at Cefneithin Karate Club on its opening night in January 2011 and he’s been one of our most faithful students ever since, training at both Carmarthen and Cross Hands dojos too, up to four times a week. Having been a core member of our squad for several years, competing in both kata, kumite and team events, Ben achieved recognition earlier this year, for his success at several National Championships with selection to represent Wales at the European Championships for cadets, juniors and U21 taking place in Denmark in February 2019. His ultimate reward for hard work and dedication was still to come though and Ben made sure that he finished the year in style, giving everything that he could in front of Hanshi Spanton to earn his black belt.
Catrin started her karate journey as a nine year old child at our Carmarthen Karate Club and like all young students she was training back then just once a week. About a year went by and she achieved her yellow belt (7th kyu), with her progress continuing steadily for the next few years. When she got to her first brown belt (3rd kyu) in early 2017 at the age of fourteen there was a substantial change in attitude and determination, which is always an exciting time for both student and instructor. Her next grading was to be her 2nd kyu and by the end of 2017 Catrin faced her first grading with Hanshi Spanton and passed with a first class pass. This followed with another first class pass to 1st kyu, which allowed her the opportunity to attempt her black belt grading within the same year. Catrin’s dedicated training paid off with the achievement of gaining her Shodan (1st Dan) at the age of sixteen in front of Hanshi Spanton.
Mina Cook, Yazmin Davies, Max Ryan-Davies, Aled Thomas & Nia Thomas
| 1 | Silver | - | Nia |
Mina Cook, Shivani Cook, Yazmin Davies, Carys Fernandez, Chad Fernandez, Sean Fernandez, Sed Fernandez, Paul Harley, Bara Housova, Klara Housova, Joseph Jones, Olivia Jones, Ali Riaz, Asmaa Riaz, Alex Rigden, Max Ryan-Davies, Ben Williams & Erin Williams
| 4 | Gold | - | Bara, Max, Mina, kata pairs (Alex, Max) |
| 6 | Silver | - | Alex, Mina |
| 12 | Bronze | - | Ben, Max, Sed, kumite teams (Alex, Ali, Ben, Joseph, Max, Sed) |
Mina Cook, Yazmin Davies, Paul Harley, Joseph Jones, Alex Rigden, Max Ryan-Davies, Gareth Thomas, Nia Thomas, Ben Williams & Erin Williams
| 3 | Bronze | - | Nia, Paul, kata team (Alex, Ben, Max) |
It had been a while since our last junior club tournament in Carmarthen but it didn’t take long to get into full swing, with the help of our senior students officiating. Our youngest and newest competitors were given encouragement and guidance by our regular squad, who then showed them how it’s done on the mat too, in both kata and kumite.
Winners in their respective categories were:
Kata
Sean Fernandez
Bara Housova
Max Ryan-Davies
Nia Thomas
Kumite
Chad Fernandez
Elin Davies
Joseph Jones
Shivani Cook
Mina Cook, Shivani Cook, Yazmin Davies, Paul Harley, Bara Housova, Klara Housova, Joseph Jones, Olivia Jones, Ali Riaz, Asmaa Riaz, Alex Rigden, Max Ryan-Davies, Nia Thomas, Ben Williams & Erin Williams
| 1 | Gold | - | Mina |
| 3 | Silver | - | Max, Mina, kumite team (Ali, Ben, Max) |
| 7 | Bronze | - | Alex, Bara, Joseph, Shivani, Yazmin, kata pairs (Alex, Max), kumite team (Erin, Klara, Shivani) |