REMEMBER:There will be no classes during half-term on May 28 and 30. There will be the usual kumite class as normal on Thursday, May 30, at 7pm, for senior grades.

Instructors and students will be attending the annual summer course in June. Therefore, there will be no classes on Thursday, June 20.

During the summer holidays we will be operating just once a week. Details of those classes will follow.

NOTE: Please see club instructors should you require any further information.

It’s another gold for East Durham’s Bailey Baker as he continues on success trail.

Bailey took the honours at the USA Open in the Midlands at the weekend.

He smashed his way to the top place on the podium with a superb 9-1 victory – with a badly bruised foot.

The victory came the day after two tough training sessions with the Northern England Regional Squad.

It’s England squad training this weekend and the Four Nations championships are next on June 2.

Keep up the good work. Ishin.

Congratulations to all our students who passed their grading.

It was a pleasure to watch and there were some outstanding performances.

First class passes are rare and the club has never awarded any since it began almost four years ago.

However, there were three. Congratulations to Harrison Craig, Katie Gilhespy and Bradley Paul for their first class passes.

But now you have set a standard and have to match it next time!

Everyone did amazing. Well done to all. Keep working hard.

East Durham’s Bailey Baker smashed his way to a silver medal as Europe’s best competed in the Scottish International Karate Open.

The 15-year-old headed to the tournament at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium full of confidence after securing a bronze the previous week in the English Championships.

He didn’t disappoint – battling his way through to the final in the under 70kg, 14-15 years category.

But his Danish opponent proved too experienced and Bailey was forced to concede too many warnings for holdings and eventually lost the bout.

He was disappointed not to have won gold, but it was another step in the right direction.

Bailey said: “I was annoyed with myself for taking so many warnings. He was a really cagey fighter, and I felt myself doing a lot of chasing. Ultimately, he was a bit more experienced than me, and it showed in the end. I was happy to get a silver in an international event, but I was still a little disappointed. I know I’ve just got to keep working harder and harder.”

Bailey’s recent successes have been hitting the headlines in the local media and this week he appeared in three titles.

East Durham’s Bailey Baker bagged a well-earned bronze at the EKF English Karate championships.

Bailey was going up against the nations best at the championships at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge arena.

He was aiming for the medals after securing a place on the England A squad a few weeks ago and didn’t disappoint.

Bailey took a heavy kick in the face in his quarter-final bout in the 14-15yrs, U-70kg section.

Medics would not allow him to continue the bout, which saw his opponent disqualified – meaning he missed out on a semi-final place.

But he recovered enough for the fight off for bronze and shook off the injury to battle back for 3rd spot.

the result crowned off what was an amazing weekend for the small Ishinryu team which took 11 gold, four silver and seven bronze medals.

A fantastic performance. Ishin!

Bailey now has his sights set on the Scottish International Open in Glasgow this weekend.

Young Ekham Takhar took a well-earned bronze in his first outing in competition outside the club.

Ekham took third place in the U-9 kata and just missed out out on the medals in the U-9 kumite, going out in the quarter-final.

Bailey Baker meanwhile breezed through to claim gold in his section at the Hartlepool Wodokai Open.

Our other competitors, Callum Robson, Rebecca Lawton, Jack Baldam and Rachel Thompson also done amazingly well in their first competitions and all came close to the medals.

Well done to all. Ishin

Classes will continue throughout the Easter holidays.

Tuesday classes will run at normal time in the exercise hall of the Prescott Sports Centre at East Durham College.

There will be no Thursday 6-7pm class.

Thursday kumite class will take place as normal, from 7-8pm, for those already invited.

Classes will return to normal on Tuesday, April 16.

The club grading will place on Tuesday, April 16. Those grading will be told in advance, and classes will run as normal on that night.

East Durham’s Bailey Baker has bagged a place on the England ‘A’ squad.

Bailey earned his place after a string of recent competition successes and squad trials in front of national coach Willie Thomas.

He will now bid for selection for major events, including the forthcoming world junior championships later this year, in the cadet, 14-15yrs, U-57kg category.

Bailey has worked extremely hard for his place and we are all very proud of him at East Durham Ishinryu.

But the hard work really starts now!!!. Ishin!

Don’t miss it! The sensei Lee Smith course is just a few weeks away.

Sensei Lee will once again travel to the north-east from Woodlane Ishinryu for the course on Friday, March 1.

Joining him Weill be sensei Tony Spinks from Woodlane and of course senseis Gavin Foster and Steve Baxter.

The course takes place at the Prescott Sports Centre at East Durham College.

Please see instructors for course forms.

East Durham’s Aaron Swales and Bailey Baker have been selected to represent the Northern England squad for the first regional clash.

Aaron will be part of a five-man team to face the midlands and the southern squads, while Bailey is part of a five-strong junior and cadet male team for the event.

It is yet another honour for the club. The event will take place in Lincoln on January 12.

Well done lads. Ishin!