Wado UK News 2011

December 2011

The 9th December saw the 4th annual Wado UK presentation evening. Once again the night was a tremendous success, with around 170 members and family members attending the event. This years winners of the Wado UK Association Awards were Katherine Rowland-Hill, George Campbell and Jessica Newton. To see which person won which award and to see photos from the night along with a full report, click (Here).

5th Iceland Bag-Pack
On Saturday 3rd December, around 20 Wado UK Members and parents attended the Iceland Store at the Bransholme Northpoint Shopping Centre. This, the final Bag-Pack of 2011 was aimed at providing funds toward the Christmas Bowling Day. The day was well attended and as a result we managed to add a further £499.82 to the coffers. Thank You to everyone who helped at the event. (More Details)

Click here to read the December Newsletter

November 2011

The English Karate Federation held their latest squad selections on the 13th November and for one Wado UK member it turned out to be a dream come true. Jessica Newton from the Shinken Dojo has been selected to represent England in the Junior European Championships in Azerbaijan. The competition takes place in February and we will be bringing you all the news as it happens.

Click here to read the November Newsletter

October 2011

3rd Wado UK East Yorkshire Championships 2011 (Results PDF ) (Report)

Over the weekend of 1st & 2nd October the British Karate Federation held its British International Open Championships in Glasgow. Wado UK had 6 competitors competing at the event and between them they won 1 gold medal 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal. Click here for fuller details of the event.

Click here to read the October newsletter

September 2011

Six members of Wado UK took part in the Northern Open Classic on the 11th September and between them they brought home a total of four gold and one silver medal. To see how Brandon Greenwood, Alfie Goff, Thomas Balaam-Reed, Joe Munro, Harry Oetegenn and Matthew March got on, (Click here).

Click here to read the September newsletter

August 2011

For Wado UK August started with the South Yorkshire Open at the Metrodome Centre in Barnsley. The association who organise this event is the Yorkshire based ShindoKai group and this time around the event was in its 4th Year. Wado UK clubs have attended on each occasion with a good measure of success at each event.
This year was to be no exception, with 10 medals being the tally on the coach ride home. A full report can be seen by clicking (Here)

Click here to read the August Newsletter

July 2011

July finished on a high note as Wado UK once again invited the 2004 -60 kg World Kumite Champion and Assistant National Coach Paul Newby to conduct a competition Master Class in Hull. The day was well attended with around 40 students attending and once again the day was a terrific success. For more details on how the day went, (click here).

On the 23rd July 2011 Wado UK was once again invited to raise funds at the Iceland Store on Bransholme. Many members of all ages joined in the event and all the details can be seen by clicking (Here)

Wado UK Junior Championships

On Saturday 16th July 2011, Wado UK held its 2nd annual Junior Championships at the Hull University. The day once again was a tremendous success, with around 75 youngsters taking part. The competition again included Kata, Kick-Master Kumite and Kumite divisions for boys and girls 15 years and under.

All the officiating was done by the club instructors and senior grades, with all the help running the event coming from enthusiastic parents and relatives. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make the day a success.

Click here for a list of the days results.

Passing of Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki (1928-2011)
On July 12th 2011 the sad passing of Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki was widely reported on Karate web sites around the world. Suzuki Sensei was one of the pioneering Japanese instructors in Europe and lead a team of Japanese instructors in England with his United Kingdom Karate-Do Wado Kai. More recently his association was the Wado International Karate Federation which has members in many countries around the world.
John Moreton was one of Suzuki sensei's highest graded english students and during the late 60's and early 70's John was one of several Wado practitioners representing the British all styles squad on an International level and Wado Karate in general.
Many of Wado UK's more mature students have trained with Suzuki sensei and his team of Japanese instructors. His passing is a sad loss to Wado Karate and Karate in general.

Central England Karate Championships
On Sunday 3rd July, Paul Braid took several Wado UK competitors to the Central England Karate Championships in Walsall. The event was a chaotic competition, but our competitors came home in the medals again. The best of these medals were gold for Jess Newton in her cadet female Kumite category and Brandon Greenwood in the children's Kata section. Bronze medals went to Brandon for his Kumite section with Joe Munro and Harry Oetegenn also taking bronze in the cadet male team event. The day was finally complete around 8.30pm with a further hard earned bronze medal for Ashleigh Clarkson in the Female Junior Kumite category. A very long day but the results made it a worth while trip.

Click here to read the July Newsletter

June 2011

British Championships 2011
Over the weekend of 25th & 26th June, the BKF held their 2011 championships. The English Karate Federation hosted the event at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield. Wado UK had several competitors at the event, with medal successes going to Steve Balaam-Reed from the Chikara Dojo and Jessica Newton from the ShinKen Dojo.
Steve's success came on day one of the event, with a silver medal in the Male Veteran Kata category. Jessica was to double Steve's success with silver medals in both her Cadet Female Kumite category at her own weight and the Cadet Female Open weight category. Jess and Steve are pictured below

European Championships for Regions
This years European Championships for Regions was hosted in Ankara by the Turkish Karate Federation and the English Karate Federation was represented by three of its refereeing officials. Tony Dent from the Woodford Karate club was one of those officials and was attempting to add European Kumite Judge 'B' to his European Kata Judge 'A'. By the end of the weekend and following a written exam and practical assessment, Tony had been successful in his attempt.

Tony is pictured below (Right) with his colleague Peter Bibby who was successful in being promoted to European Kata Judge 'A'

Click here to read the June Newsletter

May 2011

European Championships
It was hoped to bring good news back from Zurich and the recent European Championships, but fate was to deal a cruel blow to Barry Meanwell's chances of glory. Barry was drawn to fight in the number 5 position for England's senior male team, but the other members of the team struggled to show any dominance over current world champions Serbia. By the time the fourth English competitor had finished his fight the score was 3 wins and a draw in favour of Serbia. This meant that Barry didn't get the chance to compete on this occasion.
It was a disappointing conclusion to an intensive four months training for Barry, but one which we feel his strong and tenacious character will help him overcome.

Pictured above is Wado UK instructor Tony Dent with fellow English officials at the championships, Billy Brennan, Dale Gamble and Steve Coupland

Pre European Squad Training
Monday 2nd May is the final day of the English Karate Federation pre European Championships squad training weekend. The sessions started on Friday 29th April and have covered the whole Bank Holiday weekend, with several sessions each day. Wado UK were represented by Barry Meanwell who is in the senior men's team at the European Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. The competition takes place over the weekend of 6th - 8th May with Barry competing on the 8th May. We will post all relevant news items here as soon as possible.
Everyone in Wado UK would like to wish Barry every success at the event and we are proud of Barry's achievements following his extensive and rigorous training regime. Good Luck Barry!

Click here to read the May Newsletter

April 2011

Scottish International Open Karate Championships 2011
On 23rd April Barry Meanwell traveled to Edinburgh for the Scottish International Open. Entered in his -84kg section and the open, Barry was hoping for some pre-European pressure. His opponent in the -84kg was an Egyptian who proved to be quality opposition. With the match going one way and then the other and Barry's opponent on the floor twice things were looking good. Unfortunately with no scoreboard on this area the scores became confused and it was deemed that Barry had lost 5-4. It was a strong professional performance from Barry however and one which should bode well for Zurich.
His open weight division was to be equally disappointing as an eye injury forced his exit earlier than anticipated. It was a long day with a 500 mile round trip, but hopefully the experience will help for the future.

English Karate Federation National Championships 2011
Over the weekend of April 16th & 17th, the EKF held their National Championships at the Ponds Forge International Sports centre in Sheffield. Wado UK had several competitors at the event and the group had secured three Bronze medals by the end of the competition.
Matthew March won his third place in the Junior Kata event, with Harry Oetegenn and Barry Meanwell winning one each in their Individual Kumite events.
Matthew & Harry are Pictured right wearing their Bronze medals
(Read More)

Pre European Championship Squad Training

Pictured above is Woodford Captain Barry Meanwell at European Championship pre training. Barry is pictured with fellow England competitors and EKF Board member Ticky Donovan.

Many of our junior members and several adults took part in a third bag-pack fundraiser on the 9th April, with a view to part funding two more events. Firstly we intend to continue with our coach trips to competitions, by repeating the Chojinkai trip with another to the South Yorkshire Open in August. Secondly we aim to repeat last years Paul Newby Kumite course either in July or December.
(Click here) to read more

Click here to read the April Newsletter

March 2011

Two Wado UK athletes have now been selected to represent England in International Competition. Barry Meanwell who knew of his call up to the European Senior Championships in Zurich Switzerland in May, has now been joined by Jess Newton from the ShinKen Dojo who will be competing in a Turkish Invitational event between 19th - 23rd April 2011.
Both Jess and Barry are pictured below with National Coach Wayne Otto OBE.

Italian Open Karate Championships
Tony Dent was invited to officiate at the Italian Open Karate Championships recently. The competition took place in Milan, over the weekend of 18th-20th March. The experience was a great success, with Tony judging in his first European final. Over 2000 competitors registered for the event, with the number who actually competed being nearer 1950.
Tony is pictured below with other International officials and his Tatami Chief for the weekend, Elsa Epifani from Italy, 2nd from right.

Wado UK once again attended the Chojinkai Junior Championships in Penrith for 2011 and had a successful day at the event. A report of the days activities can be found (Here)

Click here to read the March Newsletter

February 2011

Barry Meanwell has once again been selected to represent England at International competition. Barry will join forces with other EKF Senior male athletes to contest the senior men's team event in Zurich, Switzerland in May. Congratulations Barry and good luck!

On the 5th February, four established English Karate Federation 'A' Squad members from Wado UK, attended the latest open squad session in Barnsley. Barry Meanwell, Jessica Newton, Joe Munro and Ashleigh Clarkson were joined by Tom McAlindon, Harry Oetegenn, Chris Fenton, Matthew March and Adam Francis. The aim of the open sessions is to allow those athletes who are not established the opportunity to shine in front of the National Squad Coach, Wayne Otto O.B.E.
The day was a long one with a 9.30am start and a 6pm finish, but all those who attended the event were suitably impressed with the opportunity. The next open event is planned for September.

Click here to read the February Newsletter

January 2011

On the 23rd January 2011, six members of Wado UK attended the Tobi Ishi Kai karate championships in Worcester, a total of six medals would be their reward. To read a report and the results of the day, (Click Here).

We are running a bus trip to the Chojinkai Junior Championships, at the Penrith Leisure Centre, Penrith. Anyone interested should register their interest with Tony Dent. Details of the competition can be seen by clicking (Here) for the categories, or (Here) for the rules and other info. The cost of the coach will six medals thanks to the money raised at the bag-pack earlier in December, with the cost per seat being £6 for children or adults. Places will be reserved on a first come first served basis, once the full cost of the coach fare has been given to Tony Dent.
The coach will be leaving the Woodford leisure centre at 6am and will be leaving for home at the end of the competition. If the competition is running late the coach will leave for home regardless by 5.45pm.

Click here to read the January Newsletter