Yet another year must have passed, as it was time once again for the KUGB National championships, held in Birmingham’s NIA.

This year TEKKI was very lucky to be able to field our most gifted members.  Virtually everybody went 4 or 5 rounds in all categories, with both Euros and Rhianedd being seeded in kumite - meaning that they enter the competition at the quarter-final stages.  Both put up a good fight with not much between and their opponent.  Rhianedd came up against Gemma (former European champion) and Euros coming up against Mathew Price (multiple national’s winner).  It was a golden opportunity for us to see Euros competing on equal terms with Mathew, with Mathew only just beating Euros to a punch, which must have been a hard call for the referees.

A special mention to Alice and Victoria, who performed admirably, despite the extra pressure of moving from the junior to the senior categories this year.

Euros, John and Alice performed a superb team kata easily gaining a place in the finals.  All was looking good, much practice had taken place, the nerves here under control and it was kata time.  The plan however, was dashed when one of them (well keep the name a secret!) skipped a move due to a momentary brain reboot.  These things happen.  The thing that brings more joy than medals was the unity of acceptance shown by the team members, despite all the preparation and the small public embarrassment there was no ill feeling.