New Training Times

From Monday 14th March our training times will change.The new times are as follows:

Kids Class - 6:15 - 7:15
Early Class - 6:15 - 7:15
Main Class - 7:15 - 9:15

visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk


Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk

Holly gets her 2nd Dan

Haxby Shotokan Karate Club are celebrating after one of their junior members achieved a milestone in their karate journey. Holly Bamford, aged 16, attended a JKS karate course held on the 25th October in Nottingham under the watchful eye of Alan Campbell 6th Dan, Chief Instructor of JKS England and two other Senior 6th Dans.


After three hours of intensive group training Holly had to wait while many other students attempted to grade to their next level. Fellow Club member Elizabeth Massey and Sensei Mike Gude, Chief Instructor at Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, after completing three hours training, sat down to watch Holly take her grading. Holly was last to be called to be assessed on her 2nd Dan examination. Her nerves were visible at the beginning but her performance obviously impressed the examination panel because she was finally rewarded with the rank of 2nd Dan. All the club members and Instructors are extremely proud of Holly's example and dedication because this is the culmination of over 8 years of hard work.


Holly’s achievement is the latest success for the Club who have had many students achieve their black belt goals over the last 3 years. In 2013 two club members were awarded their 1st Dan. In 2014 five students achieved their 1st Dan and Club Founder member and Senior Instructor, Ian Shaw, was awarded his 4th Dan. This year as well as Holly achieving her 2nd Dan, 3 Club members were awarded their 1st Dan and their Chief Instructor, Sensei Mike Gude was awarded his 6th Dan.

Holly back at the Club training

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Club is welcome to pop down to one of our training sessions held at Wigginton Recreation Hall on Monday and Thursdays, 6.30pm to 7.30pm for ages 5 to 8 and 7pm – 9pm for adults and kids age 8 and above. See www.haxbykarate.co.uk or phone 0758 324 9115 for more details.

Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk

Change of Venue and Training Times

Monday's (5th October) training session will be held at Ralph Butterfield Primary School, Station Road, Haxby, YO32 3LS.  Training times are 6pm - 7pm for Haxby Karate Kids and 7pm - 9pm for the main class.

Click here for a location map of the school.

Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk

Family Fun Day

Join us at our annual family fun day. There will be lots of activities including inflatables, Soak-A-Shodan (where you get to throw wet sponges at a black belt) free karate class, smoothie bike and refreshments. Entry is free with a small charge for refreshments. Profits raised from the sale of refreshments will be split between SNAPPY (a charity that provides social and recreational opportunities for children and young people with special needs in the York area) and Haxby Karate Kids. So if you want to join in the fun, eat lots of cake and get a black belt wet whilst raising money for charity then pop along to Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby on Saturday 6th June from 1pm to 3pm.


Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk

Sensei Mike Gude is awarded his 6th Dan

7th March 2015 was a long anticipated date for some members of the club (and for some members of our extended ‘karate family’) not only because it was the Spring Seminar with JKS World Chief Instructor Masao Kagawa Shihan, but because it was the date of Mike Sensei’s grading!

With his usual self effacing style Mike Sensei had tried to keep his preparation as low key as possible. However I think that a lot of people noticed him practicing some of the more advanced Kata and wondered what was going on.

Mike Sensei had already trained on the Friday night - gruelling session focussing on kicking and Ura Mawashi Geri in particular, but seemed focussed and ready for anything when Lorraine Sensei, Holly (B) and I arrived on the Saturday morning.

As you would expect with an instructor of Kagawa Shihan’s calibre the training was superb. Particularly useful was covering all the Heian and Junro Kata and pulling out key teaching points.

Mike Sensei was looking nervous at times, and I must admit that some of us took great delight in repeating to him the advice he had been giving us over the years when we were faced with our own gradings!

As might be expected Mike Sensei was the last to be called up for his grading, after a seemingly endless wait. However from the first move of his chosen Kata – Unsu – any thoughts that his nerves might get the better of him were instantly removed. He gave such a strong, focussed and powerful performance that he got a spontaneous round of applause from everyone watching – something that I have experienced seen at any grading I have seen. I think those of us that were watching looked more nervous waiting for Kagawa Shian to announce his next Kata – after all he could choose any of Shotokan Kata include any of the Junro Katas, that’s over 30 to choose from! However when he announced Hangetsu I think we all breathed a sigh of relief – it is one of Mike Sensei’s favourites. And again he gave an assured and skilful performance.

We were a little unsure what was to happen next. Mike Sensei had been asked to prepare a Thesis on some aspect of karate, and we were not sure if that would be taken in place of Kumite, or if he would have one or more Kumite bouts. Kagawa Shihan requested that Mike Sensei pick a section of his Thesis and demonstrate his viewpoint – as the Thesis was concerned with Kumite he ended up performing Jyu Ippon Kumite with Craig Williams Sensei from Siebukan.

Although there was little doubt in our minds as to the eventual result it was great relief when it was announced that he had successfully graded to Rokudan (6th Dan).

Mike Sensei with Kagawa Shihan

I am sure that I speak for all of our club members (and the many friends that Mike Sensei has in the Karate Community) when I say how proud we are of Mike Sensei. This was a well deserved result, and one that he had worked hard for. Not only that Mike Sensei has devoted many years to helping countless people on their karate journey, he never asks for thanks, never demands recognition or special treatment, and often has let his own training suffer for the good of the club or the development of a student. This is a reflection of the many years he has devoted to his karate journey and hid dedication to the art.

Congratulations Sensei

OSU!

visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk

Beginners Class - 8th January

If you have made a New Year’s resolution to get fit or lose weight then why not give karate a go. Karate is a fantastic way to keep fit, increase flexibility and improve self-confidence no matter what your age, size or fitness level. Haxby Shotokan Karate Club is encouraging anyone wanting to give karate a go to come along to their beginners’ course starting on the 8th January costing only £10. The course is held on Mondays and Thursdays from 7.30pm to 9pm at Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby and is suitable for all levels age 14 and above. Anyone wanting to join the karate club after completing the course will receive a year’s free Club membership. To book a place or to find out more email info@haxbykarate.co.uk or call 0758 324 9115

visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to find out more about our Club. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk

Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk

Dojo's Friend

As Usual Dojo had a tough job deciding who he should go home with. There were a couple of karate kids in the running but he had been watching closely and it had come down to the very finest details which made up his mind for Octobers friend.
Dojo decided that he would go home with Alex.

Alex started with us in in August and I'll always remember that first day. He bounced in like Tigger talking at a hundred miles an hour. His sunny disposition and his cheeky smile make him easy to teach even though his Tiggerish tendencies can sometimes get him into trouble. Alex impressed us all with his maturing attitude and everyone has mentioned how well he has settled down and has become more focused.  I look forward to February and to his first grading which I'm sure he will pass with flying colours.

Haxby Karate Kids 6.30pm to 7.30pm Monday and Thursday ONLY £10 a month. Haxby Karate Kids is part of Haxby Shotokan Karate Club, Wigginton Recreation Hall, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2PL www.haxbykarate.co.uk