Dokan Karate Club

On May the 5th Dokan karate took 19 students to The Western Karate Union’s tournament held at Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.

We travelled down by coach on the 4th and had a two night stop over at a Premier Inn right on the seafront overlooking the new pier.

The competition was very busy which was evident by the fact that loads of spectators couldn’t get seated, but the day was superbly organised with six areas working constantly. I have never seen a competition ran better with no silly stops or referees’ dinner hours. The whole thing finished as prompt as can be expected for such a full agenda.

Dokan finished in a respectable third place on the medal table with 43 clubs entered and Dokan only having a fragmented squad present. This was an excellent result all things considered.

The refereeing was, on the whole, good and the categories excellent. All our students acquitted themselves well but of particular merit were Tammy Proctor and Eve Palmer. Eve won her first large competition in kata (and about time too). She was in stunning form despite being unwell with a cold like virus. And Tammy (who won something in every event she entered) was outstanding in kumite. She scored into the double figures in every bout she had. The volume of varying attacks she thrust upon her opponents totally befuddled them.

Sadie Stoner never lost a flag in her way to first place kata victory and Ben Purvis (aged 7) yet again picked up gold in kumite but this time with a gold in kata too.

Lola Cassidy continued her winning streak with yet another kumite gold.

The day was a massive success with the kids. They loved it. The comp had a good atmosphere and the sun was shinning outside. Afterwards when we returned to our hotel we had a couple of drinks in the sun while the kids and some parents played rounders on the beach. Later we watched the Motocross stunt riders display and after tea watched the firework display - which rounded off a fantastic day.

The following morning (Monday) was glorious so we delayed our return and took the kids to the fair on the pier with the £10 unlimited-ride wrist bands they were happy all morning until we had to return to our hotel to get on our coach home at 2.00pm. By this time Weston was stowed off with bank holiday makers and a huge traffic jam had appeared with people trying to get to the beach to capitalise on the weather.

What a fabulous stop-over. All the parents and the kids can’t wait till next year.