Congratulations to everybody who passed their grading, hard to see what all the fuss was about now isn't it?  Sensei Brennan was happy with the overall standard.

A very big thank you to everybody who helped turn a large hall from an exam room with 220 desks and chairs, with carpet laid, to a empty hall ready for training in only 15 mins, as well as moving everybody 1.5 miles up hill to a different venue at the very last minute.  The reason for this is the leisure centre failing to put us in their new computer system, despite us booking the halls a year in advance. It's always good to see such a good community spirit and everybody pulling together. Especially after training when we had to put it all back again..........

Sensei

Larger Image available here

TEKKI Karate Club Success with Grading

 

Tekki karate club saw thirty-nine members gain new belts in their grading on May 23^rd.  The club holds a grading every three months, where members are tested on the standard of their basics, kata and kumite by instructor Frank Brennan, 6^th Dan, who is one of the top instructors in the country.

 

Each grade has a set syllabus, at which they must demonstrate competence at a level high enough to earn the next grade, or belt. Basics (punches, blocks and kicks); Kata (a set routine, different for each grade); and Kumite (fighting), are all tested, and grow more complex as students move through the grades.

 

Before retiring from competition, Sensei Frank Brennan was a senior member of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) International Squad, leading the team to world victory most recently in the 1990 World Shotokan Championships. He has been European Grand Champion four times, and is held in great respect internationally – at the World Championships Japanese team coach, ex-World Champion Masahiko Tanaka said that the one man that the whole Japanese Team were specifically trained to beat was Frank Brennan! Sensei Brennan is a firm advocate of the KUGB – to which Tekki is affiliated – praising the “attitude and dedication displayed by its members - people who are in the KUGB do Karate for the benefit of Karate, rather than for personal gain.”

 

On Sunday May 23^rd, members from all four of Tekki’s clubs, situated in Aberystwyth, Borth, Aberaeron and Lampeter, met in Aberystwyth’s Plascrug Leisure Centre for a gruelling two-hour session with Sensei Frank Brennan, followed immediately by the grading.

 

Members who did exceptionally well were Masatake Oikawa, who double-graded from white to red belt and Flora Davies, 13 yrs, whose grading showed significant improvement since the previous time. Rosie Smith, 13 yrs, impressively graded with a broken big toe!

           

Aberystwyth Members

 

Andrew Edgell, Orange Belt

Daniel Griffiths, 11yrs, Orange Belt

David Williams, 9yrs, Orange Belt 

Emilia Meissner, 7yrs, Orange Belt

David Meissner, Red Belt

Jason Taylor, Orange Belt

Joseph Nagaoka, Orange Belt

Melanie Owen, 11yrs, Red Belt

Paul Picken, 16yrs, Red Belt

Sarah Fitzpatrick, 13yrs, Red Belt

Adam Foale, 22yrs, Yellow Belt

George Burt, Yellow Belt

Erwan Izri, 9yrs, Purple Belt w/stripe

Elin Williams, Purple Belt w/stripe                      

Shay Brewster-Liddle, Purple Belt w/stripe

Mike Apps, Brown Belt

 

Aberaeron members

 

Matthew John, Orange Belt

Ioan Davies, Red Belt

Jac Davies, Red Belt

Garry Rees, Yellow Belt

Stephen Swan, Yellow Belt

Ben Jones, Purple Belt w/stripe

 

Lampeter Members

 

Anna Martin, 9yrs, Orange Belt

Rebecca Messer, 6yrs, Orange Belt

Natalie Moyce, Red Belt

Sion Hughes, 8yrs, Red Belt

Mathew Middleton, 13yrs, Purple Belt w/stripe

Claire Jones, Brown Belt

Jim Hackford, Brown Belt

Rosie Smith, 14yrs, Brown Belt

Stephanie Jones, 13yrs, Brown Belt, w/stripe

Ricky Jones, 13yrs, Brown Belt w/2 stripes

Flora Davies, 13yrs, Brown Belt w/2 stripes

 

Borth members

 

Masatake Oikawa

Sam Williams, 18yrs, Red Belt

Marisa Oikawa, 8yrs, Green Belt

Kaori Oikawa, Purple Belt

Joanna Scott, Brown Belt

 

Tekki would like to thank club secretaries Gloria Jones and Elin Williams for organising and ensuring the smooth running of the grading. For more information about the club please visit www.tekki.co.uk.

           
John & Lindsey