Author: Dave Roberts

Sensei Andy Sherry 9th Dan and Chief Instructor to the KUGB will be at the club on Monday 24 February 2020 for what promises to be a fantastic evening of karate.
These sessions are open to all members and visitors.
6pm-7pm Beginners | Juniors | Intermediates
7pm – 8:30pm Intermediates | Seniors

Please make every effort to attend. You will not be disappointed. If you have not trained with Sensei Sherry before, this is a fantastic opportunity to train with your Chief Instructor and Grading Examiner.

The first training session of 2020 will be Monday 6th January 6pm – 7pm for beginners/intermediates and 7pm – 8:30pm for intermediates/advanced students. Look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. Have a very merry Christmas.

Handbridge Shotokan Karate Club is offering a free taster session for adults interested in taking up karate. The chief instructor is Sensei Mike O’Connor 7th Dan. He is one of only four 7th Dans in the KUGB and has been training for over 50 years. Mike is assisted by Sensei Dave Roberts 3rd Dan.
If you are interested, please contact Sensei Mike O’Connor on 01244 319303 or Sensei Dave Roberts on 07841 710989. Alternatively, you can just turn up on the night. Classes are 6pm-7pm every Monday and Thursday. Loose clothing such as jogging pants and tee shirts should be worn.

Congratulations to the following students who successfully graded under Sensei Sherry on 31 October 2019. Everyone put in a very strong and spirited performance and all Handbridge students gained a full pass:-

9th Kyu – Orange Belt
Stefanie Mitze-Unlüer

Jason Chen

Kimberley Chen

6th Kyu – Green Belt

Jake Nieri

5th Kyu – Purple Belt

Sarah Reynolds

Lydia Stent

A big thank you to our guests from Ataru and Red Triangle for attending and congratulations to Wayne Williams from Ataru on grading to 2nd Kyu, temporary.

This was another excellent session from Sensei Sherry working on detail, speed and kime. Make sure you all take note of Sensei’s comments and take these into your next sessions.
New katas to learn now so a lot of concentration will be necessary!!

All,

Please do your utmost to attend the grading session on Thu 31 Oct even if you are not grading. There will be one training session for all starting at 6pm sharp and finishing around 7:15pm. 

The grading will follow from 7:15 onwards. 

Prices will be usual club prices i.e. £4 juniors, students and unemployed, £5 seniors. Usual family discounts will apply. 

Members from other KUGB clubs are encouraged to attend. 

Let’s make this a session to remember. 

Sensei Andy Sherry 9th Dan and Chief Instructor to the KUGB will be visiting Handbridge dojo on Thursday 31 Oct 2019.
There will be one training session for all grades commencing 6pm sharp until approx. 7:15pm. The Kyu grading will follow directly after the training session. The cost to grade is £10 which goes directly to Sensei Sherry. Training costs will be normal prices.
Please ensure you arrive at least 20mins before training starts and have your licences and record book ready so you can be booked in.
Any KUGB members from other clubs are very welcome to attend.

Not only is Karate a great activity that keeps students physically active, but it also instills a sense of achievement as you work your way up through the coloured belts and on to black belt. Even if you have no previous experience in Karate, it is a great physical activity for children and adults from age 5 upwards. Our Chief Instructor, Sensei Andy Sherry 9^thDan, has been training for over 60 years and, at 76 years old in 2019, is still as passionate and able as he was many years ago.

• Total body workout: Karate is a high-aerobic workout that uses every muscle group in the body. Stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, balance and strength will all improve through Karate.
• Healthy lifestyle: Due to the total-body nature of a Karate workout, hundreds of calories are burned during every session.
• Self-confidence: The greatest benefit usually reported by Karate students is greater self-confidence, especially in youngsters and those on the spectrum. Students become more comfortable in all situations.
• Improved cardiovascular health: The only real way to improve the status of the cardiovascular system is by participating in activities that stress the heart, such as Karate.
• Weight loss: A one hour session of moderate intensity Karate can burn up to many hundreds of calories.
• Improved reflexes: By participating in Karate, you not only improve your reflexes while performing the activity, but actually experience faster reaction times during all activities of your life. This is very important in a number of daily activities, such as driving.
• Teaches great morals and values: Karate wisdom has it that after consistent practice, one becomes less impulsive and aggressive towards others.
• Muscle tone: Regular Karate practice can greatly improve the amount of muscle mass you have in your body. The higher your muscle mass, the higher your metabolic demands will be, and subsequently the more calories you will burn each day, thereby helping prevent obesity and promote weight loss. High levels of muscle mass also lead to increased agility, thereby preventing falls as you age.
• Better mood: Researchers have found that participating in a regular exercise routine is one of the best ways to improve your mood. Performing Karate is not only a good way to relieve stress and frustration, but may actually help to make you happier. The endorphins released by physical activity appear to be active in your body for as many as four hours after exercise.

Grading is a system whereby students can monitor their progress by undergoing examinations to progress to the next belt. KUGB Karateka will be eligible to grade providing they have fulfilled all technical requirements, hold a current KUGB licence and record book and have permission to grade from their senior club instructor, Sensei Michael O’Connor, 7^thDan.

All HSKC gradings are held at Queens Park High School, Handbridge by the KUGB Chief Instructor, Sensei Andy Sherry 9^thDan.

Students must train on average twice per week at a KUGB dojo, with an approved KUGB instructor.

Students who have demonstrated the required standard are awarded a coloured belt to denote their grade. Coloured Belt grades are known as Kyu grades and range from 9^thKyu – White Belt to 1^stKyu – Brown Belt with two white stripes. Students training at least twice per week and achieving the necessary level, may grade every 3 months up to 1^stKyu.

Once 1^stKyu is achieved, students must wait a further 6 months before being eligible to take Shodan (first level Black Belt). You should consult the senior club instructors to see if you are ready to grade. Not all students progress at the same rate, so it is important to grade only when you are ready. It is not uncommon for students to miss a grade.

Irrespective of skill or confidence levels, all students must have completed at least 26 hours training since their last grading in order to qualify for the next grading (16 hours in order to take their first grading).

Novices may grade after two months of training.

There must be a minimum of three monthly intervals between each grading from 9th Kyu to 1st Kyu.

It is possible for exceptional students to be graded directly to 8th Kyu, but this is at the discretion of the grading examiner.

A student may receive a ‘Temporary’ grade, which means that they are not quite up to the required standard. They will however wear the same coloured belt and train on the same syllabus as if they were a full grade.

Students who fail a Kyu grading may re-take their examination after three months.

The examiner may ask to see some or all of the Kihon, Kata and Kumite listed in the KUGB Syllabus. Candidates may be required to demonstrate material from previous gradings to ensure overall development – a brown belt for example may be asked to perform a Heian Kata.

Allowance will be made for candidates who are unable to perform certain techniques due to physical or other restrictions.

It must be emphasised that the KUGB Syllabus is intended as a guideline to prepare students for their gradings and that the most important factor is the examinee’s quality of performance.