Summer In-House Competition
On Sunday the 15th of June we held our annual summer comp created to introduce new starters and low grades into the world of karate competitions.
This year was our busiest ever with 107 students entered. It started with a very brief display with Eleisha punching through an adult girth wooden board and kicking the apple through the meat cleaver (which is a bit too dangerous for my liking) then I did the ever popular bed of nails before we went into the kata sections.
As I always try to keep my categories small. I split two kata and two kumite sections to create smaller groups and give more kids a chance to win and leave happy. Every grade below green belt got a medal just for entering but our new specially designed medals were very popular with the kids this year.
We had a lot of entries into the low grade sections which is really what this competition is all about and the volume of low grades fighting was very unusual. And, for me, the highlight of the day was when the small new-comers showed their parents their new skills.
From 6th kyu onward the standard shot up. It was commented you would not see a better standard at the big external competitions we enter (especially in kata).
Well that is obviously true as we do well in all the tournaments we enter.
Before starting the Kumite sections we have the Battle of the Genders fight off. 15 girls v 15 boys of similar stature and grade. This is a spirited and enjoyable part of our in house as both sides get behind their competitors loudly. Unfortunately this year the girls thrashed the lads 13 to 2, normally it is much closer than this. This also makes it 3 – 0 to the girls. Come on lads!
The higher grade kumite this year was particularly rough with everyone going for it big time. I suppose in a club where I push for a competitive drive this is bound to happen, as here at Dokan we create winners. No one wants to loose.
We had two professional referees in Brian Graham and Peter Beeforth, the rest were voluntary. Many thanks to Anth Moon, Paul Goldsmith, Ron Angus and Tom Daley for their help but I must also thank everyone who helped me set up and even bigger thanks to Vic Fairbairn, Angela Nicholson, Eve Whitaker, Maria Mcnally, Andrea Bone and Dot Proctor for working the tables all day. This is not a money making affair and if it were not for people donating their time it could not continue.
Below: Various photos from the day.
