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.
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.
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
It was a day of good fortune for our Annual Family Beach Picnic this year, as:
Thanks to everyone that came along to have some fun on the beach before we get back into full swing at all of our dojos in September.
Grading day at Carmarthenshire Karate in June saw 114 students put their hard work and training to the test, in front of the grading panel of our instructors: Sensei Mair Phillips (5th Dan), Eiran Jones (4th Dan) and Dan Phillips (4th Dan). The groups ranged from 5 years old to adults, from novices through to brown belts and the panel was pleased with the overall performance from everyone. Congratulations to everyone on their results.
It was Hanshi Spanton’s first visit of the year to West Wales today, for a WHKK kata course at our Carmarthen dojo, attended by our purple, brown and black belts. The course concluded with a senior grading, where Aled Thomas was successful in his Nidan (2nd Dan) examination, thus keeping our run of black belt promotions running.
Aled (re)joined us at Carmarthenshire Karate back in 2013 as a 2nd kyu, having started the first time around (like many do) as a child, and he hasn’t looked back since. We’ve seen him power through his 1st kyu and then 1st black belt grading, and now its great to see him follow this up with his 2nd Dan too. We’re also pleased to report that Catrin Jones was also successful, passing her final brown belt (1st kyu) grading in front of Hanshi Spanton.
We’re celebrating the news today that Sensei Mair has been promoted to European ‘A’ Kata Judge following the European Karate Federation’s annual referee course and examination, which took place ahead of the 45th European Championships for Cadets, Juniors and Under 21 in Sochi, Russia. Mair will now go on to officiate at the event, which this year is contested between 956 competitors, from 44 nations, across the 35 categories that make up this continental championships.
Today we saw history made at Carmarthenshire Karate, as seven (7!) of our students passed their 1st Dan gradings in front of Hanshi Peter Spanton (9th Dan), following the WHKK West Wales Course in our Narberth dojo. The new black belts were rewarded for their hard work and several years of dedication, which really showed as they were put through their paces by the Higashi Karate Kai chief instructor.
Pictured: Richard Bevans, Keith Jones, Kieran Jones, Alex Rigden, Yazmin Davies, Mina Cook and Karl Sedgwick
We’re celebrating the news from Kosovo today that Mair and Dan have both passed their European refereeing exam, giving us our very first European Referees at Carmarthenshire Karate. They follow in the footsteps of the late Keith Mumberson (chief instructor of WHKK and former World Referee), who taught Mair all the way to her 1st Dan.
This is a significant accolade for the club and will continue to bring invaluable competition knowledge and experience to our growing squad.
It was a double celebration for Dan, as he completed the first step in the kata judging qualifications too, joining Mair as a European Judge.