Spring Course & Dan Grading Results - Sunday 11th May
We held a Spring Course on Sunday 11th May, it was well attended by students from all areas of the club and we had members training from orange belt all the way up to 4th Dan Black Belt.
The course was led by Paul Wolstencroft Sensei and he taught alongside Mike Beckwith Sensei, Leesa Beckwith Sensei, Rob Head Sensei and Rachael Wolstencroft Sensei.
All the students who attended worked extremely hard on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year so far. We appreciate your attendance and effort and all of the parents who gave up their time on this Sunny Day. Your effort and commitment does not go unnoticed and your hard work will certainly pay off. We hope you came away with plenty to work on. Our next whole club Course will be the Summer Course taking place in July.
Thank you for your support!
A Dan Grading immediately followed the course where some of our longest serving students were due to take grades ranging from 1st Dan right up to 3rd Dan. Two of whom started as very small children and are now adults. As a Club, this gives us such a great sense of pride in the community that we have created over the years, to know that we are able to inspire, motivate and nurture these very special talents all the way up to their 3rd Dan Black Belt when 99% of the students they started alongside have moved on from karate.
We saw some outstanding performances not just from the very top end, some of the students going for 1st and 2nd Dan also put in incredibly impressive performances and gained seriously top marks! A couple of students managed to fly through two sections but have been asked to retake another which can be disappointing. We were very impressed with both their Kihon and Kata sections and both students scored highly in these areas. We will work together to make sure that these students make the necessary adjustments and enjoy a successful outcome next time around.
Remember Black Belt doesn’t mean the end. It is the Ultimate Goal for the vast majority of people who start their journey and sadly some do quit once they reach it. They have learned as much as they want to and it’s enough for them. And that’s ok with us. You have worked hard and earned your grade and you will always have our respect.
The idea of being a martial artist and a Black Belt is what gets people through the door. They like the outfit, they like making the noise and the confidence it gives them. I’m sure most of us were inspired by the Karate Kid movies/kung fu panda or things we’ve watched on TV. But those who reach this level learn instantly that there is so much more to it. You are no different than yesterday. But now you wear a Black Belt, you have been awarded the responsibility to behave like one. Respectful, humble and courageous.
To be a martial artist for life is to continue your development and live according to the Dojo Kun. The learning simply never stops. We are proud of our new Black Belts, but be inspired by those around you who took their 2nd and 3rd Dan. They never gave up and we hope they never will. They stayed, trained their bodies and their minds, and are still learning and enjoying the benefits that come with continuous training - a healthy body, a positive attitude and mental resilience.
You won’t catch these people going around saying “I’ve done this”, “don’t mess with me”, “I’m a champ”, “I got top marks” etc. They will be back putting in the work where it counts - IN THE DOJO. It’s their way of life. Make it yours too. Life will get in the way, school might take over, work life, responsibilities, but always know that you belong here and will be forever welcome to train and learn. You have to make the time and keep it going.
Well done to the following students who took part in our grading:
Shodan
Finnegan B - 1st Dan Black Belt
This young man is extraordinary. Just two days before this grading Finnegan experienced the most devastating loss a person will ever have to deal with. We were all making plans around him to give him some time and assess him at a later date. But he was 100% determined to take part in his grading and get his Black Belt. He has worked so hard up to this point and somehow, managed to gather the mental and physical strength to complete both the course and the grading. He is just 12 years old. We were amazed by his bravery and inspired by his courage. His performance was excellent and he made everyone enormously proud of him. His Mum, little brother, Nana, his Sensei’s and especially his Dad! Well done Finnegan, you are a Black Belt in every way possible and all of your friends here at RTK are always here to support you and your family as you navigate this devastatingly difficult period.
Esme S - 1st Dan Black Belt
An outstanding performance from Esme. We have always been impressed with her karate. She is quite simply, an exceptional all rounder. She trains several times a week with her Dad and Brother and always tries her absolute best. She scored high marks in every area and we are so excited by her talent. There are plenty of excellent female Black Belts she has to look up to, but she has the physicality and mentality to be right up there with the best if she continues to do what she does. You are now the role model and I am so pleased that our younger girls can look up to you and your karate. Keep your head down, work hard and stay focused! There is plenty more to come from this exceptional young lady and she’s going to be absolutely formidable. We are incredibly proud that you are now an RTK Black Belt!
Ezra S - 1st Dan Black Belt
Ezra showed us that he has excellent karate. He was sharp, focused and showed great determination on the day. He surprised us with his kumite because he just came straight out, with no fear and just absolutely smashed that section. It is a testament to the amount of training he has done to prepare for this day. His Katas were lovely and strong and we could have thrown absolutely anything at him. He was calm and could’ve done them all. He did brilliantly and we are extremely proud of him. Keep up the great work young man, you have excellent potential.
Ryan Smith - 1st Dan Black Belt
Another excellent performance from this highly talented - karate mad family. Ryan always works hard every time he trains. He really enjoys his karate and I am sure he is a pleasure to teach. He scored good marks in all three areas and we were really impressed by his katas, he has been clearly working hard to improve these. He’s made great progress between 1st Kyu and Black Belt and we are delighted to have awarded you, Ezra and Esme your Black Belts! There are not many families who do manage to do this together on the same day and I am sure that will be a treasured memory for all three of you going forward. Well done fella.
Isaac W - 1st Dan Black Belt
Congratulations to Isaac who has been training with us since he was very little! He tried really hard throughout the grading and has committed much of his time to karate over the years. He did some fantastic Katas and remained focused and strong throughout the Kihon. He struggled a little in the kumite section due to being one of the youngest in the group but he showed great determination in the final round to swing a pass! Congratulations young man, I hope this gives you a much needed confidence boost and you will now start to believe in yourself a little more. We all think you are fantastic, you now need to believe it and strive to fulfill your excellent potential.
Carlo S - 1st Dan Black Belt
Carlo is another student who has been incredibly dedicated over many years. He never misses class and always tries his absolute best. Carlo is strong and seems to really enjoy his karate. He has gained more confidence recently and performs with more belief. This has made a massive difference to his karate. We were impressed with his combinations, they were sharp and well practised. There was a momentary lapse of concentration in the kata section, but he managed to put it right and do brilliantly in the kumite section despite being up against some top quality fighters. He has a great chudan mawashi, we will all know to watch out for! Well done Carlo, keep up the outstanding work.
Keiran G - 1st Dan Black Belt
We absolutely love Kieran. What a wonderful young man. So polite, hard working and humble. He’s been training in our club for over 10 years, starting back when he was a tiny little one of our Lacey Greeners! We have had some exceptional talent from that school! His grading performance was well worth the wait and he scored excellent marks in all areas. His Katas are beautiful to watch and he has developed into a strong and powerful young man. He was brave and resilient in the kumite section and managed to scored some good points on some excellent opponents. We are excited by your talent and you are a great role model to all your class mates. You are living proof that if you remain patiently committed and continue to work hard, that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Well done Kieran!
Mitchell L - 1st Dan Black Belt
Wow. What a grading. We expected GREAT. You delivered us LEGENDARY!! I don’t think we have ever seen a student come through for Shodan with the confidence and downright cheek to score whatever technique they wanted to on their opponent. You just about ticked off every scoring technique there is. And your Kihon and Katas weren’t bad either! You are a an excellent all rounder and I am sure you’re a pleasure to teach. You are an absolute Kumite machine fella. You set the standard in your section and for Shodans going forward and we hope that you will continue to work just as hard and never take your exceptional gift for granted. The speed you can generate and your timing is just extraordinary. Keep doing what you are doing, be a great model to others and you’ll be unstoppable fella.
Lois C - 1st Dan Black Belt
What a tremendous display of determination, strength and spirit from Lois. This was such an emotional day for her and you could tell from the first minute just how much getting her Black Belt meant to her. I have to say, based on previous grading performances I thought she will be a strong candidate. But to perform the way she did, it blew me away. She poured every ounce of energy she had to give into every single move. It was pure controlled aggression and it made her karate incredibly strong and powerful from start to finish. She was so spirited in the fighting section and her Katas were excellent to watch. She has made tremendous improvement between 1st Kyu and Shodan and we are so proud she now one of our Black Belts inspiring the next generation of young girls to be like her. After everything she has been through in recent years, she did this for her Dad but couldn’t have done it without her incredible Mum Helen Sensei. Well done Lois, you were pleasure to watch. Keep it up.
Barbara C - 1st Dan Black Belt
Barbara is a the kind of student who must be a dream to teach. She will always give you 100%, she listens, corrects what you ask her to and has beautiful karate. She never misses class and clearly practises a lot. She gets on with it and sets a great example to others. Barbara was born to be a black belt! Her Instructors Helen and John Sensei have done a fabulous job guiding her through the kyu grades and she has reached an exceptional standard. Her Kata marks were amongst the highest on the day and she tried her best in the kumite and was up against some tough opponents. Keep up the outstanding work Barbara, we know there is so much more to come from you.
Giacomo T - 1st Dan Black Belt
What a pleasure Giacomo is to have in the dojo. He is SUCH a hard worker, there are often times we have to say, slow down or stop trying too hard! He puts that much effort into every training session. We were frustrated to have not passed the Kata section at the last grading but since then, he has worked every single week on perfecting all of his katas, especially Junro Shodan. It was much improved and we are delighted to have awarded him his Black Belt at this event. It has been hard earned and is very well deserved. I hope that he can relax a little in his training now and regain some confidence. You’ve always had amazing karate and now you’ve got the Black Belt to prove it. Well done fella.
Our Newest Nidans
Nidan
Loui D’A - 2nd Dan Black Belt
Loui is one of the best students we have ever trained and he proved this on the grading day. What a karateka he has become over the years. He is so strong and powerful for his age, I always forget he is only 15! He’s so calm and mature and it feels like he has been around for ever. Loui takes every opportunity available to him to learn and improve. He has attended every course possible, done training weekends, he tests himself at internal and external competitions, trains with guest Instructors and at all of these events he LISTENS, CORRECTS and IMPROVES. He stands out for all the right reasons. This is how you go from being gifted and very good, to being gifted and exceptional. Loui’s karate does not stand still, he doesn’t want to maintain. He wants to better himself at every lesson. I see his strength as his biggest asset, but there is a quality to the whole of his karate. There are no weak areas, he is as formidable when performing katas as he is when he’s in front of you with his mitts and pads. He sets the BEST example to our Friday class and is such a reliable and inspirational Cadet Leader. I still feel there is more to come for him and I’m so glad he graded alongside Jaime and Kyle, because he can see what there is still to achieve with dedication and the same work ethic. He has everything it takes to be just as good as them. Well done Loui, we are immensely proud of you and well done Ralphy too, who keeps us on our toes and has beside Loui every step of the way.
Zena Clarke - 2nd Dan Black Belt
They don’t come more dedicated than Zena, who I’m sure has achieved far more than she ever set out to after being roped into karate after years of watching Jayden from the sides. I am not surprised at all how far she has come because she is always training so hard, she’s determined to overcome any and all obstacles and is an absolute pleasure to have in the class. You always know you're going to have a great class with Zena in it. She’d be the last one to say it, but she’s become quite brilliant at karate over the years and is fit and strong (even if she doesn’t feel it the next day). She is an inspiration to all of the parents who’ve ever sat at the side and thought, i’d love to give that a go. That was Zena and look at her now. She found the courage and is a much loved and well respected member of our Club. She achieves all of this alongside her lovely and immensely talented son Jayden, this makes it even more special. She takes every opportunity to test herself and improve including competing which I am sure she absolutely hates until it is over. She trains at every course and makes constant and steady improvement. She scored great marks in each area from all three examiners, so please take confidence from this, breathe a sigh of relief that it is all over for now, until the Sandan! Well done, not bad for a Goooooooner.
Lilly O D - 2nd Dan Black Belt
Awwww lovely Lilly O’Donovan has passed her Nidan, what a wonderful achievement at such a young age. Lilly has been doing karate for over ten years and has worked tremendously hard towards her 2nd Dan. She’s stepped up and started teaching, she’s pushed herself out of her comfort zone and competed in and helped out at Tournaments. She balances all of this with college and 2 jobs and this is why she will be successful at whatever she puts her mind to. What an incredibly hard worker. She is a pleasure to be around and the students in the classes look up to and absolutely love her. She has light, bright energy and really enjoys her training even after doing karate from such a young age. She always seems motivated and willing to learn and share her skills with others. She showed strength throughout her combinations and had lovely Katas. She is learning to manage her emotions during kumite (once she has stopped trying to kill everyone) and will improve the more she does it. It is possible to relax whilst sparring and I am sure this is something she will be able to work on and smash for her Sandan. You are quite the inspirational young lady and great role model to all the other girls in the Club. Keep up the outstanding work Lilly, we are all so proud of you and you are now catching up Dad John O D Sensei who I am sure was the proudest Dad ever on Sunday!
Tzachi Kittaer - Retake Kumite
Tzachi has extremely strong karate and we know that it would really work for him outside of the Dojo. He scored great marks in the kihon and kata sections of the grading and had some really great comments from the examiners. We do need to work on distance control in kumite and this is something that I am sure Tzachi will be able to adapt to. He’s a great martial artist and holds a Black Belt in another discipline. We respect this and understand that under pressure you can get caught between the two worlds and revert to what comes naturally to you. We have to assess the karate at the end of the day. Tzachi’s got a great attitude and was pleased to have passed 2/3rd's of the grading, we can and will work on the kumite and get the full pass. You’ve work hard for this, keep it up and we will get there!
Paul Evans - Retake Kumite
Paul is one of the loveliest fellas you could ever meet. The whole Evans family, Sarah, Poppy and Luke are wonderful people and a great part of our Club. They are dedicated and karate is such a big part of their routine. It has been over 4 years since we have seen Paul for his Shodan and since that day he has done HUNDREDS of lessons. You cannot fault this level of commitment and it does not go unnoticed. Paul did brilliantly in the Kihon and Kata sections and I understand that he is incredibly releived to have these out of the way. Sometimes the kumite section just doesn’t go your way, you can’t quite get done what you want to depending on opponents and how you handle the pressure at the time. It was just one of those frustrating days at the dojo for Paul and now that he can focus all of his energy on just this section, he will smash it next time around. You can do it Paul!
Our Newest Sandans
Sandan
David Smale - 3rd Dan Black Belt
David Smale’s karate is incredible. So clean, powerful and natural. It just looks effortless. We were all really looking forward to seeing David attempt his Sandan and it has been a pleasure to watch his preparation in the run up. He has only been at Red Tiger for a short time since relocating from Nottingham, but since he arrived he’s taken to the club like a duck to water. He’s been fortunate enough to train with Alan Campbell Sensei for much of karate career and you can see how Alan Sensei and the JKS has shaped his incredible karate. David’s karate is pure quality and class. His Katas are outstanding and his movement is effortless. He is equally talented when it come to kumite, he stays cool, calm and in complete control of his emotions. He glides in and out and confidently handles everything thrown at him. We are in the fortunate position that David is now helping out in our Squad Class, so if you want to improve your Katas and have now seen David in action, you can see that he is an incredibly talented karateka to learn from. He’s such a polite and gentle person at the same time. He really embodies what being a martial artist is all about. We will be forever grateful to Kate for bringing David to Manchester so that he can continue his karate journey with us! Well done David, we look forward to seeing what more you are capable of next time for Yondan!
Bernadette Burton - 3rd Dan Black Belt
Bernie Sensei has been training in our karate Club for well over a decade. She started with her twin boys when they were still at Primary School and now they all still train together as adults. Bernie Sensei is an incredibly inspiring karateka. She trains several times a week, every week and teaches a fantastic class down at Holcombe Brook Primary School with her son Phill. She has already led students from beginner right up to Black Belt. Her students always have a good standard and she is a brilliant leader. She gives her best to every session, you will never see her complain about anything and she will always give her absolute all. Bernie put in a strong performance on the grading day and it was all down to her preparation. She has done everything possible since her last grading to ready herself and enjoy a successful outcome. No corners cut, no lessons skipped. Just pure dedication. The Burtons are all incredibly committed to their karate and always support everything we do as a club from courses and events to tournaments. She takes advantage of every opportunity and keeps learning for herself and so that she can pass knowledge gained onto her students. Her choice Kata was fantastic and suited her karate perfectly, she was brave and worked within her limits in the kumite section. She has good distance control and showed great spirit. There is no quit in this lady and that is what being a karateka is all about. We absolutely love you Bernie Sensei and you earned the respect and admiration of everyone on the grading day! Well done and keep up the amazing work. Our Club is a better place because we have you and the boys in it!!
Kyle Girault - 3rd Dan Black Belt
What a student, what a grading. Kyle doesn’t like to do it the easy way does he! The Giraults are another family of karate Royalty! Lily, Lola and Kyle started well over a decade ago and all three are still going strong. Lily has already achieved Sandan and Lola is too young to take hers so this was Kyle’s turn to shine. There’s always something emotional with the ones who’ve started out a very young age and stick with it into adulthood. We get to watch them grow from babies into incredibly mature, strong and responsible young adults. Kyle has never stopped training since the day he started, he is incredibly committed even through exams/beginning his working life, he’s always made time for training. He is enormously talented and his karate is an absolute pleasure to watch. He’s without doubt a naturally gifted athlete thanks to Lily and Cedric but over the years there’s only so far this can take you. Mindset and the willingness to work must do the rest and Kyle has a strong mindset and positive attitude to his training. He takes it seriously and has become one of the best, most inspirational students we’ve ever had the pleasure of training. His kumite was outstanding, he can do everything. He’s patient when he needs to be and lethal on the counter. But can also put some lightning quick combinations together, he’s creative and demonstrates excellent control. He also has the utmost respect for his opponents. He does not take advantage, he’s kind and helpful to everyone but can switch it on whenever needed. Kyle has developed into a true martial artist and an absolute gentleman. We are so lucky to have the Giraults here inspiring and passing on their exceptional karate to the next generation. I hope you continue and achieve more and more!
Jaime Pratley - 3rd Dan Black Belt
This wonderful young man has no idea how many students he inspires every single day! Watching him do kata makes us all want to get up and do more, train harder and become stronger versions of ourselves. He is an incredible karateka with no ounce of ego or and NO sign of the petulant attitude that can (unfortunately) taint so many Kata competitors. That isn’t Jaime. He is kind, sweet, patient and giving with his talent. He shares, he encourages and he expects only the very best from himself. The number one priority for Jaime is learning. He puts that at the top of the tree and this is why he is so amazing and his trajectory is only going in one direction and that is UP. He will take advice and give his absolute best. He isn’t afraid to step out of comfort zone in order to improve. At great personal expense he travels the world, not for the photos for insta, but to learn from the very best. The ones out there winning, he’s out there finding out why and how he can be better than he was the day before. He does the work. It’s as simple as that. Early mornings, travelling up and down the motorway, sacrificing time with friends and family. Jaime has been doing this for years and years. This is is how he has become such a formidable karateka. The medals have come and gone over the years but he is continually improving and staying true to his roots. Traditional karate. This is KARATE. Jaime is fortunate to have such supportive parents in Gary Sensei and Marie who have done everything possible to support all his dreams. I know he is grateful and so are we. Jaime was exceptional on his grading day and back in the dojo the next day. Why? Because he LOVES karate. He loves training and working hard. Another true martial artist who will no doubt continue to develop his exceptional talent and prioritise having a healthy and strong body. We are so grateful that you train and teach here and we are honoured to have promoted you to Sandan. We know we made you work for it, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. I bet you thought the opponents weren’t going to stop coming, but we wanted to get the very best out of you and see if you’d break. You didn’t. You refused to give up and showed true fighting spirit to the very end. Exceptional grading from an exceptional young man. Well done and keep up the amazing work and reaching for the stars!
I have mentioned a few parents along the way but these students could not do any of this without the support of those who love them. They financially enable you, ferry you to and from class, make you go when you can’t be bothered (and I’m sure they can’t be bothered driving either after a long week at work) and emotionally support you. They are the ones who make this all possible. Biggest thanks goes to you. We appreciate all you do.
Lastly, we must pay a sincere thanks to our Instructors. Without their care, guidance and selflessness, these achievements would not be possible. So do not forget to thank your Sensei. They do it for you and they will be forever proud of your achievements and the memories you’ve made together. Thanks also to the grading panel; Paul W Sensei, Mike B Sensei, Leesa B Sensei, Rob H Sensei, Helen D Sensei and Gary P Sensei and Jo S Sensei without your expertise we would not be able to host these events and make it all work. #1 TEAM!
If you’d like to place a Japanese Hirota Belt Order, you can do so before the end of this week. You can choose any colour on the chart but please send us a message if it is not on the drop down menu (email: info@redtigerkarateclub.co.uk) and I’ll change the colour for you. So for example; if you wanted Man City Blue, send us a message saying you want colour 1506. Here is the link to the belt: https://www.redtigerkarateclub.co.uk/shop/p/hirota-black-belt