Report JKA Scotland 2011 Course
Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd October
From left to right: Imamura Sensei, Kawasoe Sensei and Ohta Sensei
Over the weekend of Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd October JKA students from all over Scotland came together for the annual JKA Scotland October Gasshuku.
The JKA Scotland Gasshuku has always offered quality instruction from world class instructors and this year was no exception. The instructors for this year’s course were the following:
Kawasoe Sensei 8th Dan
Imamura Sensei 7th Dan JKA
Ohta Sensei 7th Dan JKA
Over the three days training the classes were broken into three groups Black Belts 2nd Dan and above, Brown Belts to 1st Dan and Colour Belts. Each day’s three hours training was split into two sessions of 1-1/2 hours. Each instructor rotated around the groups after each session resulting in each group being instructed twice over the course from each instructor.
Over the three days various components of Kihon, Kata and Kumite training were covered with each instructor emphasising various points during each of their lessons. This certainly made for a very varied content over the three days giving each student plenty to think about and practice back at their own dojos.
The following is a selection of photographs from the weekend.
Following the conclusion of training on Sunday there was a short presentation to the Instructors thanking them for their exceptional instruction over the three days.
We would like to thank all three instructors for their efforts over the three days and making it a very enjoyable and successful course.
JKA Dan Grading
Following the conclusion of training on Sunday a JKA Dan grading was held.
The following students from JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) passed Dan Grade and will receive their JKA certificate from JKA Honbu Dojo Tokyo Japan.
Pass 1st Dan JKA (Shodan):
| Sandy Carmichael | JKA Orkney |
| Rebecca Tait | JKA Orkney |
| Ola Finnigan | JKA Orkney |
| Melanie Smith | JKA Orkney |
| Stephen Fraser | JKA Orkney |
| Callum Flynn | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| Lucy Ferguson | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| Daniel Simpson | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| Amy Wakefield | Aberdeen |
| Liam Wakefield | Aberdeen |
| Lewis Edwards | Aberdeen |
| Marco Aboim | Perth |
| Dale Gibson | Carnbroe |
| Jonathan Cannon | Port Glasgow |
Pass 2nd Dan JKA (Nidan):
| Samantha James | Aberdeen |
| John Lunn | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| Alicia Steele | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| Blair Currie | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| Colin Flynn | JKA Karate East Lothian |
| David Downie | Port Glasgow |
| Inga Antonio | JKA Orkney |
Pass 4th Dan JKA (Yondan):
| David Bettley | Shibumi |
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) would also like to congratulate all students from JKAWFS who passed Dan grade on the course.
The JKA Scotland October 2011 Gasshuku was organised and held jointly by JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) and JKAWFS who work together to promote JKA Karate in Scotland.
The JKA Scotland Squad attended the 12th Funakoshi Gichin Cup JKA World Championships which were held in Pattaya, Thailand over 18th to 21st August. Over the four days of competition a Junior World Championships were held over the first two days (18th and 19th) and the Senior World Championships were held over the final two days (20th and 21st).
The Squad members and travelling party of family and supporters departed from Glasgow airport on Sunday 14th August and after a long tiring journey via Dubai airport arrived at Bangkok airport Monday evening. There then followed a 2 hour bus journey before arriving at the Ambassador City Jomtien, Pattaya which was to be used as the centre for all activities with the exception of the actual Championships which were to be held in the Pattaya Indoor Athletic Stadium.
Tuesday morning was registration for the squad and information was also given on the various events and meetings that would be held during the week along with allocation of each countries squad training times for each day. Although the junior event would not be held until Thursday and Friday and the senior event Saturday and Sunday the JKA Scotland squad would still be busy each day with squad training, acclimatising and preparing for the Championships. The senior members also supplemented their daily squad training sessions and preparations with additional early morning runs and training on Pattaya beach.
Junior Word Championships Thursday 18th and Friday 19th August:
This event was for various age group categories from 9 years up to 18 years old. The day started with a short opening ceremony including a parade of competing countries. There were a large number of competitors participating with six areas being run throughout the day.
Junior competitors warming up prior to competition.
Junior Championships
All the JKA Scotland junior competitors competed well with some going out to the eventual winner of their category with Alicia Steele making it through to the finals (last eight) of the girls 12 years Kata and Murdo Lunn to the finals (joint 6th) of the boys 13 years Kata.
Murdo Lunn boys 13 years Kata
Overall Squad team spirit was shown with the senior squad members attending the junior event following their own squad training sessions to cheer on and encourage the junior competitors during their events, something that was appreciated by the younger competitors.
Senior World Championship Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August:
There was quite an atmosphere of anticipation in the stadium early on Saturday morning as each country’s squads arrived and started going through their last minute training routines and drills.
The day started with a parade and line up of the various countries attending followed by some opening remarks from the various JKA dignitaries present.
The competition started with six areas in operation during the elimination stages. As would be expected with the top competitors from each country taking part the standard on display was exceptionally high. The JKA Scotland senior members competed well getting though a number of rounds in both Kata and Kumite with Andrew Hamilton making it through to the last sixteen of the men’s individual kata.
JKA Scotland Kata Team
With a strong squad in attendance from Japan including a number of all Japan Champions most of the share of medals went to Japan. There were however a number of strong competitors from other countries who also showed great skill and technique showing the depth of JKA karate throughout the word. Following the conclusion of events the medals presentation was held then a short closing ceremony.
Sunday evening was a chance for the squad to relax and reflect on events and their experiences following the Championships and all the hard work and training that had lead up to them.
Men’s Individual Kata Winner K. Kurihara (Japan)
Men’s Kumite final: Winner R. Iimura (Japan) Versus K. Chubachi (Japan) Runner Up.
Demonstration by M. Tanaka 8th Dan JKA and T. Imura 7th Dan JKA
Monday morning saw the JKA Scotland squad preparing for the long journey home following a week of training and competition at the highest level. It was again a bus journey from Pattaya to Bangkok airport and return flights to Glasgow via Dubai. On arriving in Glasgow there was a short get together with the entire travelling party to say our goodbyes and each then carried on their journeys home to various parts of Scotland.
The following attended the Championships as JKA Scotland squad members and officials:
Andrew Hamilton
Magnus Garson
David Bettley
Drew Caffrey (boys 16-18 years)
Blair Currie (boys 13 years)
Murdo Lunn (boys 13 years)
Alicia Steele (girls 12 years)
Jake Beverage (boys 11 years)
Bert Stewart: Squad Manager/Coach
Alan Simpson: Official/Coach
For more details and application form use this link.
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
Japan Appeal Donations
Over the month of May a few of our clubs organised some fund raising events and took in donations from students and friends to raise money for the Japan Tsunami earthquake appeal.
Over £1500 was raised which will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.
We would like to thank the following club’s students and friends for their efforts in taking part in the appeal.
Aberdeen
Kirkwall Orkney
Musselburgh
Dalgety Bay
North Berwick
Shibumi Saltcoats
Shibumi West Kilbride
JKA Scotland Medal Success
JKA Junior European Championships
Beek, Holland 21st – 22nd May 2011
JKA Scotland junior squad
After a lot of hard training and squad sessions in preparation, JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) junior squad members travelled to Beek, Holland as part of the JKA Scotland Squad to take part in the JKA Junior European championships which were held over the weekend of May 21st and 22nd.
There was a large turn out of competitors from all around Europe participating over the 2 days. The weekend turned out to be very successful for the JKA Scotland team with a number of medal places being achieved including a Gold medal for Jake Beveridge in the 10 years Individual Boys Kumite.
JKA Scotland junior squad
Below are the JKA Scotland medal places achieved:
| Individual Kumite Boys 10 years | GOLD | Jake Beveridge |
| Team Kumite Boys 10-11 years | SILVER | Jake Beveridge |
| Team Kumite Boys 10-11 years | SILVER | Ross Lunn |
| Team Kumite Boys 10-11 years | SILVER | Calvin Bruce |
| Individual Kumite Girls 10 years | SILVER | Emma Eaton |
| Individual Kumite Girls 10 years | BRONZE | Aria Pascual |
| Individual Kata Girls 10 years | BRONZE | Aria Pascual |
| Individual Kata Girls 11 years | BRONZE | Alicia Steele |
| Team Kata Girls 10-11 year | BRONZE | Aria Pascual |
| Team Kata Girls 10-11 year | BRONZE | Jodie Fergusson |
| Team Kata Girls 10-11 year | BRONZE | Alicia Steele |
Jake Beveridge Gold Medal Individual Kumite Boys 10 years
Well done to all the JKA Scotland competitors, Squad Coaches and Manager who attended for your efforts over the weekend.
JKA European Championships
April 2011
London, England
This years JKA European Championships were held in London England on Saturday 2nd April at the K2 Arena in Crawley London. The JKA Scotland squad travelled down on the Thursday as did many of the European Teams two days prior to the competition to prepare.
Each country was allocated training slots and times for their final Squad Training sessions. Once the squad had checked into the hotel a squad training session was held in the evening at the allocated 7-00pm slot.
The following day (Friday) was an early start as the JKA Scotland squad had been allocated a 9-00am training slot at the K2 Arena for their final squad session before the event. This early start did however give some time to rest in the late afternoon prior to the next day’s competition.
On Saturday the day of the competition it was another early start with the JKA Scotland squad arriving at the Arena at 8-00am ready to start. Two refurbished red London Double Decker buses had been provided by the tournament organisers to shuttle competitors and officials from the Hotel to the venue.
There were 21 European countries in attendance with Senior and Cadet (16-20 years) events in Kata and Kumite being held. The eliminations were held during the day on 6 areas with two giant screens giving spectators an additional view of the action. The finals were held in the evening on two raised areas.
With the top competitors from each country attending it was no surprise that the standard on display was very high. On the day there were some good individual and team performances from the JKA Scotland squad coming close to a place in the finals and possible medal position in a couple of categories while some of the younger members also gained some valuable experience for the future.
The next day (Sunday) the squad departed and made the journey back home. Thanks to all JKA Scotland Squad members for your efforts over the weekend.
The following JKA KDS members attended the Championships.
Squad members: Andrew Hamilton, Magnus Garson, David Bettley, Robert Morrison, James Sinclair, James Campbell, Drew Caffrey, Stephen Vernon, Steven McIntosh and Stuart Robertson.
Squad Coach: John Deans,
Squad Manager and Referee: Bert Stewart
Referee: Alan Simpson
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland)
Association Championships
Saturday 5th March 2011
JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) association championships were held on Saturday 5th March at the Queen Anne High School Dunfermline. Senior and junior competitors from all around Scotland travelled to the event to take part in the various Kumite and Kata events that were being held over the day.
Following the arrival and entry of competitors and spectators into the arena the KDS 2011 Championships commenced just after 9-30 am with a short opening ceremony. There were various Kata and Kumite event categories according to grade and age with events being run concurrently throughout the day. The events started with junior kyu grade kata leading up to senior Dan grade Kata which was then followed by the Kumite events. Once all elimination events were completed there was a short break followed by the start of the finals.
All the junior and senior competitors showed a great completive spirit striving to perform to the best of their ability while at the same time demonstrating correct etiquette and respect for their opponent. A number of the competitors taking part are members of the JKA Scotland Squad and were using the event as preparation prior to next months JKA European championships.
There were a number of great matches cheered on enthusiastically by the spectators with one of the highlights as always being the Senior Mens Kumite. The final this year was once more between Andrew Hamilton and David Bettley with both competitors justifying their seeding by reaching the final although both competitors had to get through some hard fought matches to reach the final. This year saw David take 1st place with Andrew runner up a reverse of last years final.
Following completion of the finals and the medals presentation there was a short closing ceremony and the Championships were over for another year.
Thanks to all competitors who took part and to the spectators for your support. Thanks also to the referees and officials who gave up their time to make sure the long day ran smoothly.
As well as having a successful championship £500 was also raised on the day for the Help for Heroes charity.
Below is a selection of photographs from the day and a link to the full results table.
For a full table of results please click this link.
JKA Scotland Squad for JKA European Championships 2011 London England
The JKA Scotland Squad has been selected for the JKA European Championships which are being held this year in London England on 2nd April 2011. The squad was announced following last months joint JKA Scotland Squad training session.
The following JKA Karate Do Shotokan (Scotland) members were selected for the JKA Scotland squad:
Andrew Hamilton
Magnus Garson
David Bettley
Robert Morrison
James Campbell
James Sinclair
Drew Caffrey
Stephen Vernon
Steven McIntosh
Stuart Robertson
As well as the above competitors John Deans (Squad Coach), Bert Stewart (Squad Manager and Referee) and Alan Simpson (Referee) will be travelling officials with the squad.
Congratulations to all JKA Scotland squad members who were selected to travel to this event and represent Scotland. Squad training is still ongoing see squad page and event calendar for more details.