Dokan Karate Club

On the 20th of January Dokan Karate club took 15 students to Ponds Forge Sheffield to compete in the English National Kyu Grade Championship. The competition was massively supported despite the inclement weather and half the country being covered in snow.

With almost 800 people entered the categories were large and there were eight areas running for most of the day.

The competition was beautifully organised and ran, as far as I could tell, very smoothly. We finished ahead of schedule which was a pleasant surprise.

The students that Dokan entered were aged between 7 and 14 years, and between them won 6 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze medals. An impressive haul of medals in such a high profile tournament.

Gold medal winners in kumite ( freestyle fighting) were Hannah Nicholson, Simone Stewart, Abbie Scollen and Lola Cassidy. Gold medal winners in kata were Alex Steadman and Lola Cassidy. All these students can now rightfully claim to be national champions.

Of particular merit was Lola Cassidy aged 8 who won gold in both individual Kata and Kumite, in the 9 years and under section. Normally a person will excel at one discipline so to win at both is an exceptional achievement. Lola who started karate 17 month ago now trains on average between 6 and 9 hours per week, at Dokans Boldon, Redhouse and Bunnyhill clubs.

Also worth a mention is Sadie stoner and Grace King both of whom were narrowly beaten into second place. Grace loosing 10 points to six in a hard fought kumite final.

The club as a whole performed brilliantly, I was proud of them all.