The latest Black and Brown belt course was a huge success

The latest Black & Brown Belt training course held in Nottingham on Sunday 31st May was a huge success.

The venue was packed with Black & Brown Belt attendees from across England and Wales who enjoyed two hours tuition from Alan Campbell Sensei 6th Dan JKS, Head of JKS England who was, on this occasion, assisted by Ben Richardson Sensei 4th Dan JKS, Head of Can Do Martial Arts in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Before the training commenced a minutes silence was observed in memory of recently departed JKS England member Stephen McDermott. Our thoughts are with his family.

Training began with a warm up from JKS England squad member Jonathan Longden 2nd Dan from Red Tiger Karate club in Manchester.

The classes were then split between Black belts and Brown belts with Alan Sensei and Ben Sensei alternating. Ben Sensei introduced the basics of Jeet Kune Do, the art founded and popularised by Bruce Lee and Kali, one of the martial arts of the Philippines which to many attending were new concepts. It was interesting to see the cross-over in many techniques but also to see the different views in terms of philosophy between these systems and karate. It was very enjoyable. Ben Sensei has been studying these arts along with Shotokan karate for a number of years.

The highlight of Alan Sensei’s class was a focus on the kata Bassai Sho. An hour was spent with the dan grades, dissecting the kata, improving everyone’s performance of it and also focusing on the standardisation of it within all students towards the JKS way of performing it.
A very interesting and informative Black and Brown belt course.

Following the course was the second JKS England Dan grading of the year. Congratulations to the following successful candidates.

Shodan
Ynno Angeles – Walsall Karate Dojo
Leo Bateman - Walsall Karate Dojo
Jessica Biagioni - Leeds Karate Academy
Phillip Burton – Red Tiger Karate Club
Mark Fells - Grantham Shotokan Karate Club
Georgia Freer - Leeds Karate Academy
Chris  Grunwell – JKS Bradford
Joseph Guilford - Can Do Martial Arts
Sophie Mordey - Kensho Karate Club
Andrew Murr - Grantham Shotokan Karate Club
Ean Pabinguit - Walsall Karate Dojo
John  Skean - Leeds Karate Academy
Daniel Woodcock - Walsall karate Dojo

Nidan
Amber Bannister - Walsall karate Dojo
Sarah Howarth - Leeds Karate Academy