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Special Course and Grading
Orkney is pleased to announce its autumn course and grading with Sensei Alan Simpson 5th Dan JKA.
This will be held on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th September 2007 in the Gymnasium at Kirkwall Grammar School. All students are encouraged to continue training over the summer in preparation for this event.
For further details please see Events Calendar. Application forms will be made available shortly. Please ask an instructor if you require further information.
Sensei Ohta Visit to Scotland 30 June 2007
The Carnegie Centre in Dunfermline was the venue for a visit to Scotland from Sensei Ohta 6th Dan JKA. Students from all over Scotland travelled to Dunfermline to take up the opportunity to train with this very popular instructor.
Orkney was represented by 10 members, Drew, Kenny, Keith, Magnus, Mike, Dan, Inga, Matt, Erland and Andy.
Sensei Ohta demonstrated his excellent teaching ability and technique. As well as his unique Kihon and Kumite drills Sensei Ohta also taught a number of Kata's over the two sessions with each one ending on an individual demonstration by Sensei Ohta.
The weekend was topped off by the discovery of a new Japanese restaurant on Union Street in Aberdeen, the restaurant is called Yokomama.
Sensei Okamoto, Sensei Nakahara, Sensei Sugiura and Sensei Ueki, being presented with 30 year old Highland Park Whisky at JKA HQ Tokyo.
Kata Meikyo
Japan 2007
Orkney instructors Drew, Andrew, Kenny and Keith will be travelling to Japan in the second week of April to participate in the 2007International Joint Training Camp at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo.
This trip has been made possible by the hard work of students and parents involved in the fund raising events over the last few months. Thanks to all who have assisited in the fund raising to make this trip happen. And thanks to everyone who has given so generously.
Fund Raising
A couple of pictures from our leg waxing showing the extreme pain endured during the process!
The fund raising continued on Saturday 10 February with a Jumble Sale at the Cavern in Kirkwall. Many thanks to all he helped out on the day, and to all those who donated their jumble to our cause. Thanks to all the ladies who made the home bakes - delicious, and to Vera Hay for her cheese
JKA Scotland National Championships
Results from this weekends tournamnet include a 3rd for Andrew Hamilton in the Mens Kata section. Drew Kennedy made it through to the quarter finals of the Mens Kata and Inga Antonio lost out in the quarter finals of the Ladies Kumite.
The level of competition is very high at these championships and with a record number of competitors Orkney can be very proud of the results.
Congratulations to all members of the Orkney Team who made the trip downto Grangemouth.
This weekend (17 December) sees the fourth annual JKA Scotland National Championships being held at Grangemeouth Sports Complex.
Orkney is proud to be represented by 10 strong team of students and instructors. The team is made up of Drew Kennedy, Andrew Hamilton, Sue Struthers, Dan Struthers, Inga Antonio, Andrew Reid, Matthew Bushell, Donald Morrison,Calvin Swanney and Erlend Allen.
Good luck to the whole team from all members of JKA Scotland(Orkney).
3rd Dan Success for Orkney Instructor
Congratulations to Drew Kennedy who was awarded his 3rd Dan at a recent course and grading at JKA Scotland Hombu Dojo.This comes after months of hard work.
The examination followed a weekend of training from Okamoto Sensei 8th Dan JKA Chief Instructor for Egypt, Ueki Sensei 8th Dan JKA Instructor JKA HQ and Ohta Sensei 6th Dan JKA England.
Drew is pictured with Craig Stewart, who at 21 is one of the youngest to be awarded 3rd Dan in JKA Scotland, was one of the two opponents that Drew fought in quick succession.
Orkney Championships
17 June 2006
Thank you to every one who supported this event. A great afternoon was had by all, and we look forward to next years event.
Congratulations to the following karateka
Under 10's Kata 1st - Reece Durward, 2nd - Orrin Fraser, Runners Up - Rebecca Tait and Magnus Manson
Under 10's Kumite 1st - Reece Durward, 2nd - Alfred Page, Runners Up - Rebecca Tait and Magnus Manson
Junior Kata 1st - Jasmine Madge, 2nd - Yan Shearer, Runners Up - Andrew Close and Melanie Smith
Junior Kumite 1st - Daniel Pickering, 2nd -J asmine Madge, Runners Up - Dale Bradford and Jenna Durward
Senior Kata 1st - Inga Antonio, 2nd - Matthew Bushell, Runners Up - Erlend Allen and Calvin Swanney
Senior Kumite 1st - Calvin Swanney, 2nd - Andrew Reid, Runners Up - Inga Antonio and Matthew Bushell
Black Belt Success for Instructors and Students
The Orkney branch of JKA Scotland has had several good reasons to celebrate over the past few months. At the end of last year Andrew Hamilton, Kenny Roy, and Mike Struthers travelled south to sit their respective black belt examinations. After the gruelling test which involved all components of karate � kihon (basic technique), kata (set forms), and kumite (fighting), and after an anxious wait, all three were relieved to find out they passed.
There was further success at the beginning of May, as Inga Antonio passed her 1st Dan grading at the JKA Scotland Headquarters under the auspices of Sensei Y. Osaka 7th Dan, a former world champion and world renowned instructor.
Students and instructors pictured with Sensei Osaka 7th Dan JKA following the recent course and grading in Dunfermiline
These successes are the result of many months of hard work, dedication and commitment, and sees the number of black belts training in Orkney reach 10, as the club continues to go from strength to strength.
Next in the club�s calendar is a sponsored barefoot walk on 27th May , from Kirkwall to Stromness, to raise funds for the Scottish squad travelling to Australia for the JKA World Cup. Club instructor Andrew Hamilton has been selected for the squad and will continue to attend squad training on the Mainland every month. Andrew would like to thank Northlink Ferries for their continued assistance in subsidising his travel.
The club also plans to hold what it hopes will be the first annual competition for its members at KGS on 17th June. Spectators are welcome and there will be an admission charge of �1.
Orkney's Black Belt Family
Mike Dan and Sue Struthers began training in shotokan karate after moving to Orkney from Australia. Having worked their way through the Kyu grades all three have now been awarded Shodan (1st Dan black belt) from the Japan Karate Association.
 To date Orkney has now produced 15 Shotokan karate black belts, 10 of these since 2001.
Congratulations to Drew, Andrew and Kenny who passed their G Level Instructors Licence examination in January 2006.
JKA Scotland Championships 2005
The JKA Scotland Championships were held on 18 Decmber at the Grangemouth Sports Complex. Andrew Hamilton represented Orkney at this event and came away with third place in the Mens Kata competition.
There was also success for two other Orkney students. Magnus Garson and Donald Mowat, who are both studying in Edinburgh, were part of a team represeting the Edinburgh Dojo. They came second in the Team Kata section of the competition.
Competition was very strong at this years event with over 400 competitors taking part in the various sections of the Championships.
Orkney Sports Awards 2005
Congratulations to Andrew Hamilton who was voted Orkney Sportsman of the Year 2005. He was one of three sportsmen short listed for the award.
Andrew recently took part inthe Scottish All Styles Grand Prix in Wishaw, where he won Silver in the kumite and Bronze in the kata. This meeting is made up of competitors from various styles. The competition rules are different to that for JKA events, but Andrew said it was a very enjoyable experience.
JKA Scotland Gasshuku 05
At the end of October a small group of Orkney karateka attend the JKA Scotland Gasshuku in Dunfermline. Instruction on the course came from Sensei Imamura 7th Dan JKA, Sensei Ohta 6th Dan JKA and Sensei Larsson 6th Dan JKA. Training was for 3 hours on Friday evening andSaturday morningand for 2 hours on Sunday morning.
The instruction concentrated on basic technique and partner work. The katas that werecovered on this course included Meikyo, Sochin, Jitte, Gankaku, Nijushiho and Kanku Sho.
All karateka who attended had a very enjoyable weekend, this include Andrew Hamilton, Kenny Roy, Mike Struthers, Dan Struthers, Sue Struthers, Magnus Garson and Inga Antonio.
JKA Instructors Course
On Sunday 25th September, Drew Kennedy, Andrew Hamilton, and Kenny Roy attended a special JKA Scotland instructors� course at the newly established Hombu (HQ) dojo on Dunfermline. The course was conducted by Sensei Y. Ohta, 6th Dan JKA, who had visited Orkney earlier in the month.
The morning class consisted of three hours of theory, and in the afternoon there was another three hours of practical work, all relating to the instructors� examination which will take place in January next year.
It was a long but thoroughly enjoyable day, with all three instructors picking up many points to take back to Orkney.
Next in the club�s calendar is the grading on 21st � 23rd October with Senseis Paul Giannandrea and Bert Stewart, both 4th Dan JKA.
Special JKA Course, Sensei Y. Ohta 6th Dan JKA
On Thursday 9th September, Orkney Shotokan Karate club played host to Sensei Y. Ohta, who holds a 6th Dan from the Japan Karate Association. The training event was the highlight of the club�s 23 year history- the first time there had ever been a Japanese instructor in Orkney. It could not have taken place without the continued support and commitment of all club members, which has seen karate in Orkney reach unprecedented levels in terms of standard and attendance.
Sensei Ohta first came to the UK in 1982 as a personal assistant to the late Sensei K. Enoeda, 9th Dan JKA. Currently, he is the Chief Instructor of JKA Scotland and JKA England and is sought after worldwide- being recognised as one of the finest technical exponents of Shotokan karate alive today.
The first class was from 1730- 1900 and was designed to accommodate all grades. In this class Sensei Ohta emphasised the use of correct basic technique, compression and expansion of the body, and the correct application of power through use of the stomach and hips.
There was then a short break where Sensei Ohta signed autographs and had pictures taken with the students.
The second class took place from 1915 - 2045, and involved all students over 6th kyu (green belt). This class concentrated on kata (prearranged sets of movements) ranging from intermediate to advanced. By the end of the three hours training all the senior students were exhausted but elated at having trained with someone of Sensei Ohta�s reputation, and witnessed first hand the speed, fluidity, and focus of his technique. Sensei Ohta was complimentary about the standard of karate in Orkney and mentioned that he could see that a strong emphasis was placed on basic training, the building blocks of karate.
The rest of the year will also see a busy challenging time for the club. Next week Andrew Hamilton will travel to the all styles� Grand Prix in Glasgow where he will compete in the kata and kumite (fighting) sections. Next is a training course and grading for all eligible club students on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of October; and the week after Mike Struthers, Kenny Roy and Andrew Hamilton will travel to Dunfermline to sit their respective Dan (black belt) examinations. In December, Kenny and Andrew will again travel south to compete in the National Championships where Andrew will defend the Kata and Kumite titles he won last year, and Kenny will try and improve on his second round Kata performance and his quarter final round Kumite performance.
Orkney Shotokan Karate has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has many ambitions for the future. We hope to increase our membership base, and would take this opportunity to invite anybody interested in karate to come along regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. We also aim to send more students on courses and gradings south, and give them the opportunity to compete in national and international competitions. Finally, Orkney Shotokan Karate hopes to establish a purpose built karate facility in Kirkwall and are on the look out for any suitable building for long term lease or possible purchase. Please direct any enquiries to Kenny Roy, club secretary. Phone no 731233
JKA Scotland Championships 2004
Orkney had two representatives at the Championships on 4 Dec 2004. Andrew Hamilton and Kenny Roy made the trip down to Dunfermline to compete in the Kata and Kumite competitions.
It was a very successful day for Andrew, who in a year where he has represented Scotland at the European Championships and the World Cup, came out on top winning both the Kata and Kumite events. In the final of the Kata the competitor chooses which Kata they wish to perform, Andrew chose Gojushiho Sho. He was also presented with the award for Best Overall Competitor 2004. A superb all round performance and a fine achievement, as nobody has won both titles since 1997.
Kenny, who has never competed at any level, was able to get through to the second round of the Kata and fought well to make it to the quarterfinals of the Kumite where he met Andrew. A good fight was had, with Andrew, who was on top form, going on to win. Kenny was also pleased to be involved as a judge in the preliminary rounds of the junior and colour grades Kumite.
It was a long day with lengthy periods between events making this not only a physical challenge but a mental one also.
2004 was very exciting for Andrew, he represented Scotland at both the JKA European Championships in Yugoslavia and at the JKA World Cup in Tokyo, Japan.
Unfortunately the squad failed to progress very far at the European Championships in April, but Andrew said it was a great learning experience to see the top karate students in Europe.
The trip to the JKA World Cup in Tokyo, Japan in September, however was a different story. The squad fought bravely in the Team Kumite (sparring) but were eventually beaten by a strong Canadian team.
Andrew faired much better in the mens Kata competion where he reached the quarter finals of the tournament, where he was narrowly defeated by a former world champion. Some of the Kata that Andrew performed in the event included Heian Godan, Tekki Shodan and Kanku Dai. Andrew was part of a 13 strong squad representing JKA Scotland.
Andrew will continue attending squad training sessions each month at the Hombu Dojo, Dunfermline in the hope of being selected for the European Championships which take place in Norway in April 2005.
Black Belt Success
Sue and Dan Struthers passed their Karate 1st Dan Black Belt examinations at a JKA Scotland training and grading weekend in Grangemouth, on 27th March 2005. Dan, at 16, is one of the youngest karate students to achieve this in Orkney, while Sue is only the second female to be awarded Shodan.
The training course comprised instruction from Sensei Jim Wood 6th Dan JKA, and Sensei Bura 7th Dan JKA, from Denmark. It was a long day for Sue and Dan, with the course starting late morning but the grading not until 7.30pm, but they managed to stay fresh and contain the nerves.
Its been a long road to Black Belt for Dan, who first started Karate at the age of 6 in Australia. Congratulations to both from all Orkney karateka To date Orkney has now produced 14 Shotokan karate black belts, 9 of these since 2001.
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