News

News - Out and about in the World of GKR

2001-2, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

JANUARY - UPDATE 2

Details of three Special Classes are now available from your Dojo Sensei. On January 26, there will be an "Australia Day" Open Senior Class, held at Para Hills High School. Time for this class is from 6.30 - 8.30pm. The Class will be followed by a BBQ and Face Painting. Normal Class fee applies, PTF accepted. On Saturday 30th will be the "Super Training" Special Class, held at Enfield High School. It will consist of three, 1 hour sessions. The first, at 9am is "Self Defence", followed by "Refine your Grade Kata" at 10am, with the final session at 11am being "Learn your Next Kata". Elevate your karate to the next level by completing all 3-workshops and be in the running to be assessed for the February Grading. Training Fee is $9 per session or only $15 for all three sessions! PTF does not apply. PRE PAY THROUGH YOUR INSTRUCTOR TO SECURE YOUR SPOT! Those with a Champion Super Pass have FREE entry to this event, plus the Australia Family Day session and BBQ! A second Summer Beach Training Session will be held on Saturday 13th February at Semaphore South Beach, commencing at 8am. Normal Training Fees apply, PTF not applicable. Fun for all the family!!! BYO Lunch and drinks for a get together afterwards. All Classes can be pre-paid via the forms on the Information Sheets available from your Sensei.

JANUARY - UPDATE 1

Happy New Year to all GKR Instructors and Students. January usually sees smaller than normal classes so it is a great opportunity for students to work closer with their Instructors. Please note that modified session times apply at the following Dojo's in January - Angle Vale (Friday 6.00 - 7.30pm), Ingle Farm (5.45 - 6.45pm, 7.00 - 8.00pm), Allenby Gardens (Tues 7.00 - 8.30pm, Thursday 6.00 - 7.00pm), Mawson Lakes (7.00 - 8.30pm), Taperoo (10.15 - 11.15am), Golden Grove (7.30 - 8.30pm) and Athelstone (Monday 7.15 - 8.45pm, NO Friday class). Don't forget the "Back to School" Seminar at the end of the month and the Special Class on Australia Day Tuesday 26th January.

GKR State Tournament Team tryouts will be held on Sunday February 7th and 14th at Adelaide High School, West Terrace, Adelaide, commencing at 6pm. Normal Class Fees apply and Pre-paid Training is not applicable for Tournament Team Training. The Tournament Team had a great year in 2009, with record performances at both the 5th GKR World Cup and NAS National Championships. Sensei Robin Copini has stood down as Head Coach for personal reasons and the three years under his and Jeremy's leadership has seen stunning progress in performances at both GKR and NAS National Tournaments. Sensei Jeremy Thompson has been appointed Head Coach for 2010 and looks forward to continuing the great success from the past three years. For further information, ask your Dojo Sensei for a Flyer or contact either State Team Regional Manager Sensei James Gray or State Team Coach Sensei Jeremy Thompson. Read about 2009 Tournaments in either Tournament Revue or the Tournament Team Page.

Been a busy time over the past month on the personal side for a number of GKR students with two Engagements and three Weddings. Both Robin Copini and Sara Roach along with Russell McQuade and Jackie Probert announced their Engagements in December. January is Wedding Month with Christine Probert & James O'Callaghan, Clive Wetton & Heidi Boller and Tamsin Stanton & long time partner Matthew Ing tying the knot. Tamsin had an especially hot outside ceremony but celebrated after in a cool Winery Cellar setting. Several Karate friends were in attendance to help with celebrations. Congratulations to all couples.

With only 12 days notice, four of the Junior members of the Tournament Team competed in a JKF Junior Tournament at Mount Gambier on Sunday 3rd. Held by the Goju Ryu Karate do Shingokan Club, Shihan Geoff Rohde took the opportunity of a visit for Dan Gradings from his head of style Hanshi Sensei Shinji Fushimi (8th Dan), accompanied by Shihan Tomoyoshi Endo (5th dan), to hold a Junior Tournament with the emphasis on learning and establishing friendly relationships between the various competing Clubs. A few frantic calls confirmed permission to compete, competitors confirmed and accommodation arranged. We travelled down on the Saturday and had a relaxing afternoon before going out for tea in the evening. A visit to Umperston Sink Hole in the evening to spot Possums in the floodlit garden setting followed and then off to bed. Off to the Dojo on the Sunday morning ready for the day. Our four competitors prepared for the day with Lucille sternly instructing Jason not to talk too much and concentrate. The Tournament was run under modified AKF rules. Kata was judged first in two divisions by a five member panel of Judges, including Daniel Tregenza. In the Under 10 Division, Jasmine Harford was a bit too experienced for her fellow competitors and took out the event with a polished Bassai-dai. Jasmine was presented with her medal by Hanshi Fushimi. In Sparring, Jasmine was again too experienced for her competitors and took out the Kumite medal as well. The 11 and over Kata had 15 competitors. All competitors performed a Kata and the 7 highest scoring competitors then performed a second Kata to determine the final places. All three of our competitors, Daniel Andrew, Lucille Lott and Jason Spiteri made the final after their first Kata. As the highest scorer in the first round, Daniel went first, Lucille fifth and Jason seventh. Time for medal presentations and it was Daniel still in first place with another well performed Bassai-dai, but a change from Sepei to a very strong Seiunchin saw Jason move up to second place. Lucille performed well both times with her Bassai dai but remained out of the medals. 11 and over Sparring was in two divisions. Each competitors had two bouts with the win/loss and points differential determining the competitors for 1st and 2nd, and a three way for third place. Jason competed first in the 3rd kyu and above division. Jason sparred well but his older and taller opponents took out the places. The same format was followed in the 4th kyu amd below section. Daniel and Lucille competed strongly in their first two bouts and both made the final for first and second place, a great effort. Daniel proved a little too strong for Lucille in the final but it was a great effort by them both, in a large and keenly contested contest. The final event for the day was the Open Kumite, and both Daniel and Lucille competed strongly. Lucille won one and lost one bout but Daniel made the bout for third place, but unfortunately twisted his ankle, damaging foot ligaments and was unable to take his place to finish fourth. Jeremy was one of the Judges for the Kumite, and it took him a while to remember the AKF flagging system properly but did well. After the bow out, the group took the opportunity for a group shot with the Host and Japanese visitors before the long drive back to Adelaide. It was a tiring weekend for all but the experience gained was well worth the trip plus the opportunity to meet and participate with other Karate students from other Clubs and the Japanese visitors.

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