JKG Karate

Another important date for the diary…

Our next BSKA Dan Grading will take place on:

📅 Sunday 8th November 2026
📍 The Karate Dojo Ripon

For anyone working towards their next Dan grade, get the date saved.

Further details and applications will follow.

🥇 🥇 🥈🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉

We were invited by Norwich Karate Academy to compete in their club competition and took a squad of 6 ranging from our younger lower grades to some senior grade adults.

The competition was very well run, fair and professional throughout.

Operating on a round robin system all competitors had a minimum of 3 matches per event with many having 4.

The results for JKG Karate are as follows:

🥇Ethan Kops - Kata
🥇Ethan Kops - Kumite
🥈Tyler Valentine - Kata
🥉Tyler Valentine - Kumite
🥉Alfie Hayward - Kumite
🥉Paul Fanner - Kata
🥉Esha Sunil- Kata
🥉Jay Thomas - Kumite

The squad all represented the club exceptionally and have no doubt all grown from the experience.

Thanks to the parents, friends and supporters who made the journey to Norwich today and thanks to Matthew Yardy and all of NKA for the invite. 🥋🥋🥋

Good luck to Nat Hearn competing in the Male Kata event at the WKF Series A event in Guadalajara, Mexico 🇲🇽 today

Please be reminded that the next two Thursday classes are cancelled (16th July and 23rd July) due to a seminar I’m teaching in Poland this week and then a family holiday next week.

All other classes are on as normal and you are welcome to make these missed sessions up at the other classes at any time over the next month.

Congratulations to our new Dan grades 🎉

The extremely hot conditions today in the dojo made for a good test of spirit and tenacity as well as technique.

Our last black belt (Dan) grading held at the dojo was over 3 years ago so we had a larger than usual number of karateka attempting their examinations.

As always we have a guest examiner come in to make sure the grading is fair and unbiased.

Sensei Colin Smith 6th Dan BSKA Examiner sat on the panel to offer his guidance and experience.

Not only does this take away any risk of bias it also steps up the level of pressure.

The successful candidates today are as follows:

Shodan (1st Dan) 🥋

Rachael Wilkins
Alfie Hayward
Thomas Frost

Nidan (2nd Dan)🥋

Aaron Whitehouse

Sandan (3rd Dan) 🥋

Helen Marsh
Paul Fanner
Nat Hearn

Congratulations to you all and be proud that you have earned your grade.

We are proud to uphold a high standard required to reach (and even attempt) the black belt.
This as a result comes with more pressure and more stressful gradings but the byproduct of that is the assurance that you have truly earned the pass.

Good luck to those taking Dan / black belt gradings today.

Reminder that the 11:15 session is only for those grading, all grades training is at 10:15-11:00 for today only.

T shirt and shorts is fine for training tonight in this heat. (Tuesday 23rd June)

The session will be at a reduced intensity with plenty of opportunities for drink breaks.

Black Belt Grading

Next weekend we have our black belt grading examinations. (27th June)

This Saturday (20th June) there will be 45 minutes of free time in the dojo after classes for free practice.

The timetable for Saturday 27th June will be as follows:

🥋 09:30-10:00: SEND Karate
🥋 10:15-11:00: All grades training

🥋 11:30-12:15 (approx): Closed training session for those grading only

🥋 12:15-13:30: Grading examinations

Please only attempt the grading if you are fully prepared. There will be an opportunity later in the year for those not ready or who are unsuccessful on this occasion.

☀️☀️☀️

While the weather is hot you're welcome to wear shorts and t-shirts to train in, also make sure to bring water to drink during the sessions.

Don't forget your usual equipment (sparring mitts, shin pads, mouth guard etc).