July 4 2010

Southern England Karate Competition 4 July 2010

Last Sunday a 35 strong squad of students from SD School of Martial Arts (SDSMA) in Colchester, attended the Southern England Karate Championships, held locally, at Clacton on Sea.

It was a gloriously sunny and hot day, more designed for the beach than the breezeless sports hall, that the competition was held in.

The day began with the Kata categories (a series of moves, punches, kicks and blocks) SDSMA perform Korean Karate, as opposed to the more usual Japanese kata that other local clubs practice.

SD students took 5 Silver and 3 Bronze medals in the individual Kata categories and an amazing Gold and 2 Bronzes in the Team section.

This was just the beginning of SDSMA’s domination of the competition.

Kumite (sparring) was next up on the agenda for the day. This section is where SD students who are taught solely by either current or former England Karate Internationals excel.

SDSMA continued to storm their way through the rounds and sweep the board both in medal hauls and in points collected.

Once again SD School of Martial Arts thrashed the other clubs to take the trophy for overall best club of the day, 90 points ahead of their closest rival.

Sean Doyland, SDSMA Chief Instructor, said ‘I was once again incredibly proud of my students, they are not only exceptional practitioners of Karate, but they show great sportsmanship, both on and off the mats. Richard Hunter, SD instructor and also a former England International, did a fantastic job, coaching the students, and encouraging them through the rounds, mostly to the finals!!’

The medal haul is as follows:

KATA

Paul Hodgson  (Silver)  Jed Leeson  (Bronze)  Tyler Herbert-Scott  (Silver) Eren Isikgun  (Silver)  Alex Atkins  (Bronze)  Tristan Earl  (Silver)
Rodolfo Tolosa  (Bronze)  Samantha Pharoah  (Silver)

TEAM KATA

Brogan & Samuel Willis (Gold)  Gil Beresford-Frost & Paul Hodgson (Bronze)
Eren Isikgun & Adam Murray (Bronze)

KUMITE

GOLD – Marley Ladbrooke (2 golds), Paul Hodgson, Nicholas Heathfield, Samuel Willis, Aaron Tester, Maisie Cox, Brogan Willis, Rachel Croly, Rebecca Croly,

SILVER – Max Worrow, Jed Leeson, Gil Beresford-Frost (2 silvers), Benjamin Dixon, Maisie Cox, Rebecca Croly,

BRONZE – Jed Leeson, Max Worrow, Kenan C Ahmet (2 bronzes), Kemal C Ahmet (2 bronzes), Gil Beresfrod-Frost, Sam Tester, Cavan Trenerry

TEAM KUMITE

Harry Laughlin, Daniel Miller & Nicholas Heathfield – Gold
Cavan Trenerry, Benjamin Dixon & Eren Isikgun - Silver