I have sent the report (below) to the Chronicle and to the Bangor & Anglesey along with pics of our new Dan grades. The Chronicle is really good with printing our reports and pics, so if anyone has any other pics of the grading day (ie apart from the ones of the new shodans) e-mail them to me or stick them on a floppy disc. I have asked that the B&A also distribute this to the other papers in their group (Caernarfon Herald etc).
osu
Dave
"Black belt success for traditional karate clubs.
The clubs of the Welsh Traditional Karate Federation (WTKF) have long been recognised for the quality of karate students they produce. Evidence of the continuation of this quality was demonstrated at the Maes Glas sports centre in Bangor recently, when over 170 students were testing for their next belts. The testing was conducted by Sensei Masoe Kawasoe, 8th Dan, and Chief Instructor of the United Kingdom Traditional Karate Federation. The policy of the WTKF, is that all gradings are conducted by Sensei Kawasoe, members are therefore assured that, when achieving success at grading, they have been judged by one of the world’s top karate masters.
Although grading examinations are always nervous times, all students demonstrated excellent spirit and all performed to the best of their abilities.
Towards the end of the grading session, all eyes were on 4 karate students who were preparing to undergo their examination for the coveted black-belt. Leanne Baxter, Aled Clarke and Richard Jones of the Bangor-based Seki Ryu Zan club and David Williams of the Caernarfon-based Sakura Karate-do club had been training for 12 months or more for the opportunity to test for shodan, they also had the opportunity to train with Sensei Kawasoe the night before, in a free pre-grading session.
The large gym hall became very quiet as these four hopefuls lined up in front of the watchful eyes of Sensei Kawasoe to test for shodan black-belt. The examination consisted of basic techniques (Kihon) followed by forms (Kata) and finishing with set and free-style fighting (kumite). All four students worked very hard in all the required elements and showed great character in meeting the exacting standards of Sensei Kawasoe. All four were delighted that, after all the long years of training they were finally rewarded with their black-belts.
The WTKF is recognised by the Governing body for Wales and by the Sports Council for Wales. All instructors are licensed, insured and police checked. Clubs train regularly in Amlwch, Llangaffo, Bangor, Caernarfon, Nefyn, Llandudno and Conwy. Adults and children train alongside one another in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
For more information ring 01286 671912"
