News from 2020
Leeds Shotokan Karate Club Kyu Grading
13 Dec 2020
Leeds Shotokan Karate Club managed to hold the eagerly anticipated and long awaited first grading of the year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic the grading, originally scheduled for March, was cancelled on more than one occasion much to the frustration of the students who had worked so hard online and in the dojo.
Sensei Garry Harford 8th Dan visited the dojo on Sunday 13th December to asses our kyu grades for their next belt.
In order to comply with all COVID regulations the grading was a little different to what we are used to. Unfortunately there was no session beforehand and each grading group was very small.
Despite the challenges faced all of the students rose to the occasion with some excellent performances. Particular praise must go to Stravroula Angoura and John Timperley who have made vast improvements this year and are now at a fantastically high standard for their grade.
Sensei Ryan would like to take the opportunity now to thank everyone from near and far who have supported the club through this difficult year. Your commitment and dedication whilst having very little to work towards has been inspiring. It is this level of application and drive for self-improvement which is part of the very foundation of Karate.
1st Kyu – Alison Sherridan
2nd Kyu – John Pinder
2nd Kyu – Lukas Hylton
2nd Kyu – Maya Sharma
3rd Kyu – Mustafa Younes
3rd Kyu – Elsie Pinder
3rd Kyu – Serena Matyas Sari
5th Kyu – John Timperley
7th Kyu – Stravroula Angoura
9th Kyu – Keith Morton
9th Kyu – Torrin Morton
9th Kyu – Adella Morton
9th Kyu – James Trentini
We are back in the dojo
We are back in the dojo
WE ARE BACK!!!! - Leeds Shotokan dojo's to reopen.
03 Aug 2020
*******WE ARE BACK********
We are delighted to announce that after 4 months of online classes Leeds Shotokan are getting back to the dojo! Things will be a little different so that we can keep everyone safe.
Head over to our documentation section and read the rules you will have to follow so that we can return to the dojo safely. Click Here.
To be able to book a class please create an account on
www.leedsshotokan.co.uk (click log in in the top right to sign up)
Or follow this link to download our new mobile app, you should be able to sign up there.
You can book single sessions through the app but if you want to book for more than one person you will need to use the website.
For the time being if you normally pay by standing order this won’t be available. This is to ensure we know ahead of time exactly who will be attending sessions, and how many people will be there.
We cannot wait to see you!
Leeds Shotokan Karate Club Moves Online!
07 Apr 2020
As many of you know, due to the ongoing global coronavirus situation Leeds Shotokan have been forced to close our doors indefinitley.
The good news is that we are now streaming live Karate classes directly into your living room! Staying active is brilliant to help with keeping a healthy body, and a healthy mind.
We're doing all we can to help stay inside and stay active! What better way to do it that by learning a Martial Art.
We know that we are all fighting this battle together, so here's the best part, the classes are completely free!
Email us on leedsshotokan@gmail.com or fill in the contact form below and we'll send you all the details!
Stay safe everyone.
KUGB National Kyu Grade Championships
15 March 2020
Leeds Shotokan Karate Club student Liam Chawner was in action at the KUGB Kyu Grade Championships in Prestatyn, Wales.
Despite being our only competitor at the event Liam performed brilliantly on his way to a Gold medal in the Kumite and a Bronze Medal in the Kata event.
Liam has consistently been a leading example amongst the club Kyu grades. He very rarely misses a class and will always train with great spirit, determination and a fighting attitude.
Congratulations to Liam on an exceptional performance!
1st - Liam Chawner - Male Kumite
3rd - Liam Chawner - Male Kata
AMA National Open Championships
1 Mar 2020
On 1st of March 2020 Leeds Shotokan Karate Club took a small squad of senior competitors to compete in the AMA National Open Championships. The competition was a chance to compete against international competitors from many different styles of Karate.
The standard of competition was very high with World and European all styles champions competing across a range of categories so it offerend LSKC students a change to challenge themselves against high calibre, and unknown opponents.
Ethan Armstrong continued his winning ways despite being in a tremendously difficult category. He took gold in the Mens u85kg section.
Sensei Caroline McGrath fought exceptionally well on her way to a silver medal in the Ladies +65kg category.
Nathan Brady was entered into the Mens Open Weigh Shobbu Ippon section and performed brilliantly, fighting with great spirit and determination to claim the silver medal.
The mens team fought in the rotation category and saw Luciano Zanuni, Jade Stapleton Smith, Nathan Brady and ethan Armstrong competing. Unfortunately Luciano suffered an injury to his shoulder and could not continue to complete. The other three gentlemen put in a stellar performance to claim the bronze Medal.
Gold - Ethan Armstron - Mens u85kg Kumite
Silver - Sensei Caroline McGrath - Ladies +65kg Kumite
Silver - Nathan Brady - Mens Shobbu Ippon Kumite
Bronz - Leeds Shotokan - Mens Team Rotation Kumite
Leeds Shotokan KUGB
Leeds Shotokan KUGB
Leeds Shotokan KUGB
Leeds Shotokan KUGB
KUGB Grand Slam
22 Feb 2020
Leeds Shotokan Karate Club Students were in action this weekend but this time flying the flag for KUGB England at the KUGB Grand Slam event.
The Grand Slam is a prestigious event which sees the squads of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pitted against each other in Kata and Kumite events.
With Liberty Vernon still ruled out due to injury, Leeds Shotokan had seven students competing for their country, and they did not disappoint.
Kishan Sharma, competing for England for the very first time fought exceptionally well on his way to a bronze medal in the boys under 16 Kumite event.
In the Senior Kumite events both Ethan Armstrong and Sensei Caroline McGrath once again displayed their impeccable consistency at this level with Ethan claiming the Bronze medal, and Caroline the Silver.
In the boys under 21 Kumite, Leeds Shotokan had a remarkable four fighters in the draw. The Junior Kumite has always been an incredibly challenging category, with many young men determined, and capable of winning the title.
Leeds Shotokan were unlucky to have all four fighters on the same side of the draw, meaning that there were many Leeds vs Leeds bouts throughout the day.
Nathan Brady and Tushan Joseph both fought valiantly before being outpointed by Luciano Zanuni as he made his way to the Semi Final where he met his familiar foe and teammate Jade Stapleton-Smith.
Luci was victorious on this occasion and advanced to the final, with Jade settling for a hard-earned Bronze. In the final Luciano put on an incredibly disciplined performance to claim the title in his first time competing in this age
category.
🥇 Luciano Zanuni - Male Junior Kumite
🥇 Senior Male Team Kumite (Ethan Armstrong, Luciano Zanuni)
🥇 Senior Ladies Team Kumite ( Caroline McGrath)
🥇 Junior Male Team Kumite (Luciano Zanuni, Jade Stapleton-Smith)
🥈 Caroline McGrath - Senior Ladies Kumite
🥉 Ethan Armstrong - Senior Male Kumite
🥉 Jade Stapleton Smith - Male Junior Kumite
🥉 Kishan Sharma - Boys Kumite
FEKO National Open Championships
9 Feb 2020
4 of Leeds Shotokan Karate Clubs most senior competitors made the short trip over to Ponds Forge, Sheffield to compete in the FEKO National Open Championships.
The competition offered the chance to compete against athletes from different styles and associations, as well as compete under different rule sets. Given that Leeds Shotokan only entered 4 competitors to compete against many National Associations its was always going to be challenging day. That being said, we were not let down as all 4 brough home medals with Ethan Armstrong and Jade Stapleton-Smith both being crowned champions of their events.
The Senior team narrowly missed out losing a close battle in the final to a world championship winning Karate England team.
Luciano Zanuni and Sensei Caroline McGrath both claimed bronze medals in their individual events.
Congratulations guys.
Gold - Ethan Armstrong - Men’s u85 Kumite
Gold - Jade Stapleton-Smith - Men’s u75 Kumite
Silver - Senior men’s team Kumite
Bronze - Sensei Caroline McGrath - Ladies Shobbu Ippon Kumite
Bronze - Sensei Caroline McGrath - Ladies Shobbu Sanbon Kumite
Bronze - Luciano Zanuni - Men’s u85 Kumite
KUGB England Squad Selection
26 Jan 2020
After a well deserved Christmas break Leeds Shotokan's elite competitors headed down to Burton as they faced the KUGB England Kumite Squad selection process.
This year was a little strange as it was the first selection since Sensei Ryan Tucker took the decision to retire from competition after many years on the International scene.
Despite the change of location the selection, and subsequent training session were as gruelling as ever. With everyone given one chance to impress Sensei Andy Sherry. All of Leeds Shotokan's students who were trying out for the squad showed terrific heart, determination and skill as they were all selected onto this years squad. We would like to extend a massive congratulations to Kishan Sharma who was selected to the squad for the very first time!
Gaining selection to the squad is an incredibly prestigious honour, but it also a big commitment. Succesfull squad members must trainvery hard throughout the year. They must attend several squad sessions throughout the year, compete in the KUGB Grandslam Events, as well as the usual competition calendar. If they perform well throughout the year there is a chance that they could be selected for the European Championships in Moscow at the end of November!
We wish our squad memebers all the very best for another successful year!
Leeds Shotokan - KUGB England Kumite Squad
Sensei Caroline McGrath
Ethan Armstrong
Nathan Brady
Tushan Joseph
Luciano Zanuni
Jade Stapleton-Smith
Kishan Sharma
Liberty Vernon