Winter Grading Examinations

Dec 092012
 

Our final grading examinations of 2012 brought the year to a very successful conclusion. For the first time, three separate examinations were conducted following the introduction of a new, intermediate group to the program.

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In total, 133 students passed through the dojo for assessment, resulting in numerous changes in belt colour. Most notable was the success of Ethan Young and Rhys Jones; both of whom were passed to 3rd kyu (brown belt) by Shihan Barbara Mumberson, which they thoroughly deserved.

They were closely followed by no fewer than four new 4th kyus (purple belt), thirteen new 5th kyus (green belt), eleven new 6th kyus (orange belt) and nine new 7th kyus (yellow belt).

Well done everyone!

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WKU Winter Invitational Championships

Nov 252012
 

It was great to see our expanded competition squad heading to Weston-super-Mare for the last championships of the year, with everyone having worked so hard during our competition training sessions in the last few months. Together with our friends from Afan Valley Karate Club, we had a team of fifteen competitors, two coaches and five referees at Western Karate Union’s invitational event. Here are the results.

Results

1 Gold - Christianne
3 Silver - Alex, Keiran and Rosie
6 Bronze - Lucy, Jack, Mari, Jordan, Christianne and Ethan
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WHKK West Wales Course & Senior Grading

Nov 102012
 

The big talking point from this, the last West Wales Course with Hanshi Spanton of the year was Alice Bennett’s successful grading examination to 2nd kyu.

Before that, we all had the benefit of a packed weekend course with Peter Spanton (8th Dan), which started with a dedicated brown and black belt session at the Avan Valley dojo on Thursday evening.

Another intense session followed the following evening before the full Saturday course in Narberth dojo, culminating in a senior grading examination for brown and black belt candidates. Among them were three of Carmarthenshire Karate’s members – Rhys Jones, Ethan Young and Alice Bennett.

Alice did the job, moving up to the second of three brown belts (2nd kyu) and continuing on that path to black belt. Rhys and Ethan were desperately unlucky not to reach their goal but were given permission to re-attempt in one month.

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WHKK Invitational Championships

Oct 202012
 

Seven clubs contested this year’s WHKK Championships in St.Clears and once again, Carmarthenshire’s teams were prominent in the medal table.

The top of the table was closely fought between St.Clears and Carmarthen, with St.Clears taking an early lead in the opening categories of both kata and kumite while Carmarthen’s strength came in the latter stages of each section.Β It finished with both teams on an equal number of gold medals, so Carmarthen just edged into the top spot with a greater number of silver medals.

 

Medal table

club gold silver bronze total
Carmarthen 6 7 6 19
St.Clears 6 4 1 11
Afan Valley 3 3 3 9
Cefneithin 1 2 3 6
Neath 1 1 3 5
Llandybie 1 1 1 3
Laugharne 0 0 1 1

 

The good news continued for Carmarthenshire with the selection of the Davies family from St.Clears to receive the “performance of the day” trophy, chosen by the chief instructor of WHKK – Shihan Barbara Mumberson.

This award was in recognition of the combined efforts of Jack, Lucy and Mari, particularly in their respective kata categories in which Lucy won gold and Jack and Mari each won a silver medal. Jack followed this up with gold in his kumite category and Lucy was part of the pairs kata team that took silver; Mari only narrowly missed out on getting another medal too, with a 4th place finish in her kumite group.

All in all, quite a good day for the Davies family. Well done to you all – you’re a formidable team just by yourselves!

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