SKL WINS 37 MEDALS AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Shotokan Karate London participated in the 13^th JKA National Karate Championships with 27 students taking part. With having just successfully completed grading examinations four weeks prior to the competition, we continued to train hard to improve different technical aspects in order to guarantee the best possible performance at the JKA Karate Championships. As a result of this collective effort, the our club SKL – Shotokan Karate London, managed to achieve a collection of 37 medals, which includes those from 7 team participations.The event organized by the Japan Karate Association England counted with 371 individual participants at this event from 40+ clubs. The event featured 58 categories for children and adults, at individual beginners, intermediate and advanced levels, as well as Kata and Kumite teams.
Overall, our 5^th participation in Championship became the most successful to date. In summary, we achieved an overall of 10 medals in Kumite (2 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze), 6 medals in Kata (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze), and in team kata (each of the teams consisting of 3 participants), two of our teams became national champions (6 gold), one achieved 2nd place (3 silver), and four achieved 3^rd place (12 bronze), which brings the total to 21 medals on the team performances only.
The highlight of the day for our club arrived when Sensei Antonio collected the “club 50 award” attributed by the association to clubs that achieved a good standard and contributed significantly to the growth of this English martial arts.  

“Its a thriving time for the club! We won 37 medals at the JKA England National Karate Championships. With this unprecedented achievement and the Club 50 award, SKL establishes itself as one of the top karate clubs in the country. ”
                SKL

SKL took part in 25 different categories out of 58 offered at the karate tournament!
Our 6 children participated in both the beginner and intermediate level in all possible categories for their age, which included individual kata and kumite as well as team kata. Although they all progressed far in the eliminations stage they did not make it to the finals, nevertheless they excelled in the mixed team kata category with our intermediate group: Sam L. (6^th Kyu), Jacqueline A. (6^th Kyu), and Gabriel B. (6^th Kyu), claiming gold medals, and our beginners team: Michael G. (7^th Kyu), Luca W. (7^th Kyu), and Crina B.(8^th Kyu), receiving the bronze.
We had 3 competitors in the participating at the adult female category: orange/red/yellow (9^th-7^th Kyu) category. Within this category Yasmin S. became national champion with the gold medal in individual kata, whilst Kencho O. claimed the silver medal for the club. For the individual kumite, Kencho O. snatched the gold medal supported by Yasmin S. and Chiara S. with joint 3^rd place.
For the 3 students competing at the male adults: orange/red/yellow (9^th-7^th Kyu) category, it was a fierceful category due to the high volume of participants.Within this category we managed to achieve an honourable 4^th place in individual kata by Andrew D. In individual kumite we managed to achieve a better result with a joint 3^rd place with Andrew D. and Josh P. sharing the bronze medals.

We had 3 students participating in the adult female intermediate level green/purple/purple-white (6^th-4^th Kyu). We can say with confidence that this was our most successful category. For the individual kata, Naomi T. became national champion followed by Katie H. with the silver medal. In what concerns the individual kumite, the girls managed to achieve a full podium, with gold for Dane S. , silver for Naomi T., and bronze for Katie H. 
In the same intermediate level green/purple/purple-white (6^th-4^th Kyu) our 3 male competitors also did very well. Alan E. won the silver for individual kata, and Takeshi M. claimed the bronze. In the individual kumite category, Takeshi  M. won silver and Daniel A. won the bronze.
At this event, the category of team kata adults for Kyu grades could integrate all range of colour belts up to 4^th kyu ( Purple and white belt). We managed to achieve a fantastic result with our first full podium within this category. Dane S., Katie H., and Alan  E.  became the national champion team. The silver medalist team consisted of Naomi T., Takeshi M., and Daniel A. The Bronze medals was attributed to Kencho  O., Yamin S., and Pedro V. achieved bronze.

The Brown and Black belt division of the Japan Karate Association is by far the most competitive of all and therefore the hardest category to achieve good results in. We had 9 participants within this category. The club managed to place 2 competitors in the semi-finals, Stephanie F. and Antonio T. ( club instructor) had progressed through the rounds to the best 8 (semi-finals) on individual kata in female and male categories respectively. The big effort in training was finally rewarded when, for the first time, the SKL team kata managed to achieve a place on the podium. Antonio T., Josh L., and Fabio P.,  were the bronze medalist team performing the Kata “Jion”. We also had a great performance from our other team kata group: Angela P., Amin G., and Stephanie F., that performed a good standard “Heian Nidan”. The SKL Kumite team: Antonio T., Katie C., and Fabio pinto achieved a joint 3^rd place ( bronze medal) . The other SKL participants: Terry P., and Robie L.,  all braved in their kumite and kata performances.