Dokan Karate Club

On the 24th of March we had our spring grading, a lot of low grades attended but most of our high grades will wait till june for our large summer grading ceremony. 

Nevertheless the standard was excellent and I was very pleased with the performance of our students. As always there were grading trophies to be won four in total but in the summer grading we split the grading trophies into two sets of four. A set for the high grades and a set for the low grades.

the winners of our spring grading were 4th place Faye Mcquillan now an eighth kyu. Faye trains at Boldon and fulwell 3 hours per week.

3rd place Alex Steadman now a fifth kyu and a kyu grade national kata champion, Alex trains at Bunnyhill and Redhouse 6 hours a week.

2nd place Eve palmer now a fifth kyu aged 8 who trains at all clubs 10 hours per week.

1st place Lola Cassidy aged 8 now a fifth kyu and English national kyu grade kumite and kata champion 2013. Lola trains at all dokans clubs 12 hours a week.

The quality of the first three was phenomenal, there will not of been better 6th kyu's in the country and I say that with confidence.

I have upped the standard of my gradings each year since I started the club, and now have freestyle fighting from 8th kyu onwards in my grading syllabus. I also spring surprise kata's on my graders and make them perform a kata from one of their earlier gradings.

A letter went out to all the parents of the twenty kids that failed to attend and we have had to book another venue to arrange a grading for them.

In future there will be one grading only per three month, there will be no gradings in the club as I think these back room gradings detract from the sense of ceremony and achievement. I apologise in advance if you are on holiday or visiting Buckingham palace for tea with the Queen but there will be only one grading per three month so please do not ask for a back room grading at the club.

You will find even if they miss the odd grading all kids with the gumption to stick with karate until Dan grade black belt will reach that goal about the same time.