British Wadokai News - Archive 2009
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The England Karate ‘A’ Squad - Article prepared by Wayne Otto OBE England National Coach for the EKF magazine Konnichiwa
The formation of England’s Cadet & Junior ‘A’ Squad
Selecting
With the selection process over for the Cadet & Junior World Championships, a process which has taken over three months, we have filtered and narrowed down a multitude of athletes to produce a group of athletes that have now formed a stable core of group of fighters to nurture and develop. As with all selections, there will always be those that leave disappointed, and for the lucky ones, an opportunity to fulfil their dreams and goals and represent their country at a major championships. However, for those that made it to the final selections but, were unfortunate to get selected for the championships, their contribution can still be very valuable and as such their efforts should not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
The difference
As the national coach of karate in England, one of my goals is to have a strong core and depth of fighters that I can pull from and thus ensure that we don’t just have quality fighters for a short period of time, but have a system that produces quality athletes for years to come. I believe in order to produce this, there has to be some kind of difference between those that attend open squad training to select, and those athletes that have proven themselves to be of an exceptional ability.
Moving forward
In the future I see the open squads as a tool to introduce potential sport karate athletes to the national squad. The open squads will have a selection process with which the best from these selections will be invited to train and select in the newly formed England Karate 'A' Squad. If these individuals do not make the grade and fail to impress, they will be put back into the open squads until their abilities improve. Improvement for these individuals can be gained via the regional kumite classes, and additional training given by their instructors and advice from the National and assistant coaches.
On the Squad
For the athletes that have been selected for the newly formed England Karate 'A' Squad, their training will be of a much more specific nature with regards to fighting strategies and tactics, more Intense training sessions and from the athletes an increased level of commitment to training and the national squad. Athletes that make up the A squad will be subjected to a review of their position on the squad every 2 years. Considerations such as fitness, attendance, and results at domestic and international tournaments will all be reviewed and monitored. Training diaries will be reviewed on a regular basis and all aspects of the athletes training shall be noted in these diaries and be ready to be inspected at any moments notice. In addition, all athletes will have specific tasks and homework for them to perform and drills to work on, specifically to them.
Athletes who are current members of the England 'A' squad will be recognised by the Yellow jersey which must be worn by all members of the squad when attending any kind of EKF Squad training. Ideally each category within the 'A' squad should have a minimum of 2 persons in each category, but only a maximum of 4 person within each category. In future all athletes, selecting for major championships, will have to make the grade for the 'A' squad and thus from this only athletes who are members of this squad can represent their country at major championships such as the European and Worlds.
Athletes becoming of age and moving from the Cadet & Junior England 'A' squad will automatically progress to the Senior England 'A' squad. Once there, the athlete’s position will be reviewed at the 2 year period just as they would have experienced in the cadet and junior squad.
Life for athletes on the 'A' squad will be one of hard work, pressure, dedication, commitment and sacrifice, all of these things will be needed if we are to succeed. I know the proposal I have put forward is a structure that can work, athletes on the squad will get value for money, prestige amongst their peers and more importantly we all will have a stable structure that we can build and develop our future champions.
We have Martial Arts centres up and down the country that are sympathetic to our cause and are only too willing and able to help. We have an excellent group of athletes, all of which have the potential to become World and European Champions. In addition to all what I have mentioned I believe we have the best coaching staff, admin staff and dare I say it Governing Body (EKF) to make this a reality. To all athletes and everyone that is involved in this great sport, now is the time and it’s our time, either “Step Up or Step Out” the choice is yours. Let’s rise to the challenge and make it happen.
The KUMITE ‘A’ Squad
It is with pride and pleasure that the following have been selected to make up the current 2009 Cadet/Junior England Karate A squad:
FEMALE CADET 14 TO 15
1. FALLON RAYMAN -47KG
2. CHARLENE OAKS -47KG *
3. LAUREN CRAWFORD -47KG
4. JASMINE POMEROY -47KG
5. HEIDI JAY -54KG
6. KELLY HORSFALL -54KG
7. CHLOE COOPER -54KG
8. REBECCA CROLY +54KG
9. AMELIA HARVEY +54KG
FEMALE JUNIOR 16 TO 17
10. STEPH THORNDICK -53KG
11. PHILIPPA MORRIS -53KG
12. NATALIE CHARLTON -59KG*
13. KATE KARWACINSKI -59KG
14. HANNAH BAKER +59KG
15. WHITNEY ROSE +59KG*
FEMALES UNDER 21’S
16. CARLA BURKITT -53KG
17. NICOLE HALSALL -60KG*
18. REISHA HULL -60KG
19. RIO SMITH +60KG
MALE CADET 14 TO 15
20. JACOB KIERNAN -52KG
21. ROBERT CAMP -52KG
22. THOMAS HICKMAN -57KG
23. JEROME BROWN -57KG
24. HARLEY DEL-RIO -63KG
25. DAVID COOPE -70KG*
26. JAKE LANGLEY -70KG
27. ZACHARY SCOTT +70KG
MALE JUNIOR 16 TO 17
28. GARRICK EASTWOOD -55KG
29. RYAN JAY -55KG
30. JAY KIRTON -61KG
31. BENJAMINE COWARD -61KG
32. JORDAN THOMAS -68KG
33. STEPHEN KARWACINSKI -68KG
34. GAVIN BAILEY -68KG
35. ALEX SELL -76KG
36. MICHAEL BURKE -76KG
37. RYAN LAMBERT +76KG
38. JOSHUA GAGON +76KG
39. SAULE DEL-RIO +76KG
MALE UNDER 21’S
40. PERRY DEE -68KG
41. ROSS MATHIEU -68KG
42. GARETH HAINS -78KG
43. LEE HEATH -78KG
44. STEVEN HEATH -78KG
45. CHEYNE PHILLIPS +78KG
46. MICHAEL CAMPBELL +78KG
The KATA ‘A’ Squad
FEMALE CADET 14 – 15
47. REBECCA BIRCH - KATA
48. NURJEHAN SHAIKH - KATA
49. AIMEE SELL - KATA
FEMALE JUNIOR 16 – 17
50. EMMA LUCRAFT - KATA
51. RACHEL NEWEY - KATA
MALE CADET 14 – 15
52. JACK NEWEY - KATA
53. MITCHELL ROBERTS - KATA
54. DOMINIQUE WYNESS - KATA
55. CHRIS KARWACINSKI - KATA
MALE JUNIOR 16 – 17
56. ALEX GARDNER - KATA
57. JACK DIXON - KATA
( * Subject to fitness test )
Young Stars of BWK
In this section, over the months, we hope to introduce our viewers to some of the little stars of Karate, who
would not normally be highlighted or mentioned in our usual ‘tabloids’.
Brother and sister Jodie and Sam Robathan are members
of the Kyokai Karate Club, which is the Honbu
Dojo of the British Wadokai, and I feel they deserve a
big mention due to their loyal and dedicated service
to the Honbu. You may not see them at many tournaments,
but their standard is very high, and would certainly
make an impression at any event.
They train exceptionally hard, and are very technically
conscientious about their Wado Karate. I am sure
they will make a good impression in the months to
come, and I am sure they will be more than ready,
for their Yudan challenges in 2010. I wish them both
well!
Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi.
England Trials (posted 12th June)
Fallon Rayman, 1st Dan, from Kyokai Honbu British Wadokai Karate has been selected to attend the final closed England Trials with a view to gaining her badge and representing her country at the WKF Junior World Championships in Morocco this coming November.
The age level was lowered last year from 16 to 14 allowing 13 year old to trial providing they
will be 14 by the day of the competition.
Fallon is current English Champion for Kumite and her competition success for 2009 is very impressive and listed below.
We all wish her the very best of luck for the closed trials at the end of the month.
June 26th, Clacton; Ticky Donovan Annual Summer Course Student of the Week.
June 25th, Clacton; Ticky Donovan Annual Summer Course Kumite GOLD.
June 23rd, Clacton; Ticky Donovan Annual Summer Course Fun Run GOLD.
June 14th, Somerset; BWK-Hazlegrove Traditional Kata Competition Kata SILVER.
May 17th, Tolworth; EKK Kumite GOLD.
May 10th, Reading; AMA Southern Regional Kumite GOLD.
April 19th, West Midlands; EKF Midlands Regional Kumite BRONZE, EKF Midlands Regional Kumite SILVER.
March 22nd, Sheffield; EKF National Kumite SILVER.
March 21st, Sheffield; EKF National Kumite GOLD.
March 15th, Horsham, Sussex; British
Wadokai Karate-do Federation Team Kata BRONZE, British Wadokai Karate-do Federation
Junior Pairs Kata GOLD & British Wadokai Karate-do Federation Individual Kata GOLD.
February 28th, Ponds Forge, Sheffield; AMA
International Kumite BRONZE - open weight, AMA International Kumite GOLD - under 40 kgs
January 18th, Cheslyn Hay; English Wado
Federation Invitational Team Kata GOLD,
English Wado Federation Invitational Pairs Kata SILVER, English Wado Federation Invitational Individual Kata GOLD.
BWK Squad News (posted 4th June)
BWK Squad Members will be selected from all BWK Clubs who are in attendance of the British Wadokai Squad Training Sessions. However, their regular presence at Squad Sessions, and personal results within the tournament circuit, will be the only criteria to confirm ‘Elite Squad’ status.
For further details of BWK Squad and Elite Squad Sessions, please refer to the BWK Date Section.
43 Years in Martial-arts (posted 1st May)
Gary Swift was born in Leigham Terrace, Plymouth, Devon, in 1956. He started his martial-arts training at the early age of 10 at his junior school at Laira Green. His first taste of martial-arts was learning the popular systems, at that time, of Ju-jutsu and Judo.
After a move to Prince Rock Senior School he was also introduced to the skills of Thai-boxing (known then as Kickboxing) by one of his gym teachers.
Upon his arrival to the South of England in 1972, from Liskeard, he started Wado-ryu Karate in Guildford and Bisley (Surrey), under
his most influential Instructor Mick Rapley (6th Dan), in 1974 (affiliated to the United Kingdom Karate Federation (later to be known as the United Kingdom Karate-do Wadokai)). Sensei Mick Rapley was one of the first Wado-ka to ever obtain his Black-belt grade in this country.
Regular instructors at this time also included Suzuki Tatsuo Hanshi, Maeda Tadayuki Sensei, Shiomitsu Hanshi and Kobayashi Katsumi Sensei.
From this day onwards he studied numerous other forms of Karate, as well as Shorinji-kempo, Muay-Thai, Malaysian Taekwondo (Thoi-kuen-do), Korean HoSin-sul Hapkido, various weapons systems, and a variety of other Japanese, Korean, and Chinese martial-
arts.
Today he is holder of numerous titles and ranks in martial-arts including 7th Dan in Wado-ryu Karate, 2nd Dan in Korean HoSinsul Hapkido, and 1st Dan in Malaysian Taekwondo. He has over 33 years teaching experience and over 43 years (including international) training experience.
He is the Founder/President of the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWa est. 1982), and Chief Instructor to British Wadokai Karate (foundations est. 1976). British Wadokai Karate was formally called Domei Kokusai Wadokai (DKW) until being re-named in May 2007.
He is also recognised and registered within the English Karate Federation (EKF).
Gary Swift Kyoshi has also had the honour of training and being graded under Ohtsuka Hironori Meijin 10th Dan (founder of
Wado-ryu) in 1976. Wado instructors include/d: Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan Hanshi, Katsumi Kobayashi, Masafumi Shiomitsu 8th Dan
Hanshi, Yoshi Shinohara 8th Dan Shihan, Tadayuki Maeda, Kuniaki Sakagami 7th Dan, Masahiro Yanagawa 8th Dan, Kengo Sugiura
8th Dan, Toru Arakawa 9th Dan, Shingo Ohgami 7th Dan, Koji Okumachi 7th Dan, Katsumi Hakoishi 8th
Dan, Mizuho Ashihara 8th Dan. Other instructors have also included the famous: Tomiyama Keiji 10th Dan Shihan (Shito-ryu), Hoi Hean Thow 7th Dan (Thoi-kuen-do, Tong-long, Bo-jutsu, Escrima), Dr. Julian S Lim 8th Dan (Hapkido, HoSin-sul).
His return to Plymouth, in July 2004, has allowed him to open up a new branch within British Wadokai
(BWK), representing the Southwest, as the British Wadokai Honbu. Southwest clubs now include the
towns of Plymouth (Devon), Sparkford (Somerset), Bruton (Somerset), and Yeovil (Somerset).
During the closing ceremony of the 2007 WadoEXL Gary was awarded the 'prestigious' commemorative
award for the 'Promotion and Preservation of Wadokai and Wado-ryu Karate', an honour he will always be proud of.
Kyu Promotions within BWK (posted 1st May)
Congratulations to George Cocks, of Hakutsuru Karate
Club (Cranleigh), for passing his 9th Kyu grade
on the 27th March 2009 under Ian Hunter 6th Dan.
Well Done for achieving your first step on the ladder!
Happy Birthday (posted 6th April)
It is the birthday of OUR Founder & Chief Instructor Sensei Gary Swift today
and I think that's important to celebrate and am taking an Executive decision to include it in our calandar :-). Happy Birthday from EVERYONE at BWK. Please send all your awful jokes and best wishes to garyswift@wadokai.co.uk
EKF Honorary Chief Technical Director (posted 4th March)
At the EKF Board meeting of Sunday 22nd February 2008, Ticky Donovan OBE was appointed as Honorary Chief Technical Director
to the English Karate Federation.
The proposition, made by Mick Billman, was to recognise the contribution that Ticky has made
to English Karate over the last 40+ years. The appointment will mean that Ticky will attend board meetings, sit on the new EKF
Technical Grading Panel, and act in an advisory capacity on any other Technical matters that may require his input.
The proposition was accepted unanimously by all Board members present, plus Chris Thompson, who seconded the motion, and
Les Cutting who had both given the proposition the thumbs-up by telephone.
British Wadokai Licence Increase (posted 4th March)
Due to soaring costs with Affiliations, Memberships, and Insurances being increased by
up to a 1/3rd within the last 2 years, British Wadokai are forced to increase the cost of
the Licence to £30 (last increase was October 2007). Price increases, in 2008, were carried
by the licence renewals (due to renewals not requiring the Licence Book). However,
now the renewal charges have come under fire as the costs have exceeded forecast expectations.
The new increase will be expected to be implemented in April 2009.
Gary Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi
British Wadokai Yudan Registrations 1978-2008 (posted 27th Jan)
We have published the BWK Dan grades that have been registered with us between 1978-2008. They can now be found in the 'About British Wadokai' section or by clicking here.
ANNUS GROTIOUS (posted 3rd Jan)
As we near the end of 2008 I can only say that I can look forward to 2009 with much more insight and positive-ness
from the experiences from 2008. British Wadokai has been through some dramatic political changes during this year,
and through the recent political changes that occurred we feel that we have strengthened our loyalties and commitment
to the English Karate Federation ever more.
We have found that we can no longer encourage ties to the many of the larger Wado Organisations due to the political
unrest within them, which has also dragged our own organisation into some negative limelight. Personally, I have undergone
some extreme negative stress due to lies told about me that have placed me in some very uncomfortable positions.
Additionally, it has put me into a position where I mistrust many of the ‘hierarchy’ in the Wado world.
“Believe nothing in what you hear, and only half in what you see.” Very profound, especially after I have placed so
much trust, honesty and loyalty into something that cannot return the same favour.
British Wadokai can not and will not be dragged into a political melting pot ever again. We shall not be used as political
pawns, or have our credibility in question again – we shall remain far away from those who wish to include us within
their motives. Our honesty and integrity will see us through while others fight amongst themselves for political gain
and favour – after all, it is their own foundations that are being compromised in the end.
British Wadokai will be once again the standard that others will look up to.
We have found many friends within the world of Wado, and we shall always support them as friends. However, on the
other note, we have also been forced into a situation where we have fallen on ground of those who consider us their
enemies, and we have been severely hurt by those experiences. We do learn from our experiences, both good and
bad, and must move forward in the direction that this will take us. We consider ourselves above those who spend their
lives bickering and stabbing at each other, and we have learned that although we do not consider ourselves enemies
to anyone, there are those out there who consider us their enemies (Jealousy perhaps? Who knows?).
We have no egos, necessity for political gain, corruption, and any of the other negative elements that are determined
to bring so much Wado into disrepute – we shall remain, unchallenged because we shall remain distant from it all.
We do not need them as we can, and will, stand alone as we have the support of the best because through the English
Karate Federation (EKF) we have the World Karate Federation (WKF) and everything else we would need being a British
Organisation of Wado Karate.
Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi.
SEMKA Yudan Promotions (posted 3rd Jan)
Congratulations to the following successful applicants: 1st Dan; David Oakley Practical 83.5% Written 84%,
Steve Coles, Practical 83% &
Written 90%, Lindsay Oldham
Practical 85% & Written 98%.
2nd Dan; Bradley Russell
Practical 83.9% & Written 82%.
Yudan Examination Panel consisted
of Gary E Swift (7th
Dan) Kyoshi (British Wadokai
Chief Instructor), Paul Elliott
(6th Dan) Renshi (British
Wadokai Southern Registrations
Officer), and Michael Rapley
6th Dan (British Wadokai
Chief Referee).
Well done to all those who
passed!
Website updates! (posted 3rd Jan)
It's that time of year again! We have updated our website with what we hope you'll agree are several improvements.
The biggest addition are the Technical Images and Videos sections which contain hundreds of photos and dozens of videos to aid your training.