St.Clears Karate Club is back in action tonight (Monday 9th Jan) after the Christmas / New Year break. Training times remain the same as they were at the end of 2016 (see club details here) and we’ll still be in the main hall at the Leisure Centre.
Take a look at our club pages to find out the new training times for Autumn and Winter 2016:
Training times at Cross Hands, Laugharne and Narberth remain the same.
After a well deserved break over Christmas and the New Year, we’re all itching to get back into action, so why not take a look at our 2016 calendar to whet the appetite and make sure that you don’t miss any of those important dates. Highlights include two visits by Sensei Spanton to our dojo in Carmarthen, in addition to the three WHKK West Wales Courses that we will have with Sensei in Narberth during the year. The events calendar for our competition squad is also building gradually, with many more dates still to come.
It was a huge senior grading day for Carmarthenshire Karate this weekend, as Nia Rees became a Sandan (3rd Dan black belt), Aled Thomas and Raghav Aerasala both earned their Shodan (1st Dan black belt) and Karl Sedgwick, Mina Cook and Yazmin Davies all made their way up to 2nd kyu brown belts.
Pictured: Shihan Barbara Mumberson (7th Dan), Raghav Aerasala, Aled Thomas, Hanshi Peter Spanton (9th Dan), Nia Rees, Mina Cook, Yazmin Davies, Karl Sedgwick, Sensei Mair Phillips (4th Dan)
The WKF Karate1 Premier League has kicked off once again, starting with Paris, which attracted over 900 of the world’s best competitors all keen to make their mark ahead a busy year for karate in Europe. Our very own referees, Mair and Dan were there too and gained some valuable first had experience of the recent rule modifications, at one of the highest levels in world karate.
Karate1 then went on to Almere in the Netherlands and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt – the series’ first visit to Africa – all in the build up to the European Championships in Istanbul in March and then the first European Games in Baku in June. This will be the first time that karate has been included in a multi-sport event and will be an ideal platform to showcase the excitement and competitiveness of karate to a new audience.
Looking for karate in Cross Hands? Look no further: Carmarthenshire Karate is opening a new club in Cross Hands that will have classes for children, teenagers and adults of all abilities.
Cross Hands Karate Club opens on Tuesday 13th January in the Gymnastics Centre at Cross Hands Square Shopping Centre on Pontardulais Road.
The Queen’s Baton Relay comes to Carmarthenshire on Tuesday 27th May, as it makes its way to the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Join Carmarthenshire Karate for a live demonstration and free karate taster at Carmarthen Leisure Centre’s “Turn Up and Take Part” activities.
Carmarthenshire’s Queen’s Baton Relay programme is available here; arriving at Carmarthen Leisure Centre at 9:20am and followed by half-hourly public taster sessions for the the rest of the morning and in the afternoon. For our existing members, this will also be an ideal opportunity to catch up on some much needed practice after the bank holiday disruptions, as well as a chance to see, touch and have photographs with the Baton.
Timetable for the day:
| 9:00 | - | instructors and club members arrive at Carmarthen Leisure Centre |
| 9:10 | - | line the route to the centre to wave flags and watch the baton relay at 9:20 |
| 10:15-10:50 | - | short demonstration and club photo opportunity with baton |
| 11:00-12:00 | - | half hourly public taster sessions |
| 12:00-13:00 | - | lunch break |
| 13:00-15:00 | - | half hourly public taster sessions |
We’re ready to kick start 2014: back in action from tonight in Carmarthen for competition training and senior session, followed by:
Don’t forget that the 6-7pm session on Sunday’s in Carmarthen will now be dedicated to advanced brown and black belt training.
The Karate1 Premier League Grand Final in Salzburg was the last major event of the year for our referees. It was the culmination of World Karate Federation’s K1 series for 2013 alongside the Karate1 Youth World Cup. This attracted over 860 elite competitors from 49 nations to Austria’s fourth largest city and kept our referees busy for the entire event.
Dates for the 2014 Karate1 series have already been announced by the WKF and will be broadcast live via the Sportdata YouTube Channel.
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Hanshi Spanton’s last visit to West Wales in 2013 was a big one – the WHKK Course returned to Narberth dojo and Carmarthenshire’s Alice Bennett was up for her 1st kyu examination…
The course started at Afan Valley dojo in Cymmer. Ten of our senior students from Carmarthenshire made the journey up the valley to kick start the weekend. Kata bunkai was the main topic on the cards, which was tough and very rewarding; more understanding = more satisfaction.
On Friday night, it was great to be back in Narberth, with the atmosphere buzzing in anticipation of Sensei Peter and Sensei Barbara’s arrival. Seventeen from Carmarthenshire this time, even though many of our seniors unable to attend – get well soon to Eirian and Nia, and safe journey home to Dan, Aled and Keith.
Alice was containing her nerves and excitement (just about); a grading weekend is as much about mental strength as it is physical, with the hard work starting months in advance.
Friday’s intense training carried through to Saturday’s full dojo. After our first tea break and a quick catch up with our friends it was back to the dojo and back to work. Before everyone knew it, it was time for grading. Like everyone on the course, Alice had worked hard for the whole weekend and had not let her concentration lapse at all. She then got up in front of Sensei and pulled out all the stops. It was a tough grading with no let up. Kata after kata she dug deep and performed so well. When she passed, there were tears all round – well done Alice, we’re all very proud of you.
We’re pleased to announce that 2014 will bring Hanshi Spanton back to West Wales in February, April, June, September and November – keep an eye out for these dates on our calendar.