February 7th, 2012

HERE we are, February 2012 – and already so much to tell you about.

 Biggest news – Aaron Swales selected for the European Championships. This time he has secured an individual spot in the U-84kg event for the tournament.

 We stepped up his weight in September last year and it proved to be a wise move. After winning the British open, he has continued to impress England coach Willie Thomas and won his fights at selections to book his seat on the place for Tenerife in May.

 He’s already competed in France twice this year and will be in Holland in March.

 Liam Conroy is now getting his head down to some hard training. He made a few mistakes in his training last year and paid the price. But he will turn senior in May so knows he’s got to prepare better for tournaments this year.

 As I write this, there are less than four weeks to the Sensei Lee Smith course on March 3.

 We are holding the event in Sedgefield, central to all three North of England clubs. There are already about 60 students booked on for the course. That’s just our Ishinryu lot. Hopefully we will have some guests from elsewhere.

 It promises to be a great day and it’s great to support the club at these events. We hope it will be the start of an annual event – and there are more courses to come this year.

Some other great news….sensei Steve Baxter has been invited to return to Australia to teach on the October course for sensei Bruce Highland, alongside sensei Lee Smith. It’s testament to the success of his last trip. Well done from all.

 The Northern England regional squad sessions are going from strength to strength. There is a real squad mentality now and hopefully we can get a few more faces to the next one.

 This we we will be trying to raise some more funds for the club. So please feel free to offer ideas and parents we need your support.

 Till the next time.

 

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November 30, 2011

It’s only been just over a month since my last blog – but what an amazing few months its been.

Just after I wrote we got the news that Aaron Swales had been selected to represent the England team in the Grand Slam in Wales.

He went to Cardiff as part of the men’s team which went on to secure the crown without losing a single fight.

It was a clean sweep for England – with the women’s team also claiming the title.

It was a great result for the team and Aaron in preparation for selections for the European championships – the final one of which takes place in January.

Sensei Steve Baxter’s visit to the dojos of Melbourne under sensei Bruce Hyland was a resounding success.

The accolades from sensei Hyland after the visit where amazing.

We know how good Steve is and his ability truly shorn through in Australia.

What’s more – so successful was the trip that sensei Ticky Donovan saw fit to upgrade Steve to the grade of 3^rd Dan. Another fantastic honour, and one richly deserved.

 It was also to see sensei Jonathan Mottram upgraded to 5^th Dan. Also richly deserved.

 We are all so proud of Steve. But Steve is a dear, loyal friend of mine as well as a karate colleague and I could not have been more proud and overjoyed watching Steve receive the accolade and applause on the pre-grading course. I was as thrilled as he was.

 As we head in to December it has crowned off what has been an amazing year for East Durham Ishinryu. Here’s to 2012. There’s no stopping us now.

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October 12, 2011.

 IT’ S been a good few months since I last wrote and it’s been an eventful few months. June saw the British Championships in Sheffield and our East Durham duo of Aaron Swales and Liam Conroy continue on the medals train by picking up bronze in the male senior team event.

Ishinryu have made amazing achievements in recent times – and this medal in the men’s team was the first in this particular event for some years.

Even with a small squad – Ishinryu claimed seven gold, two silver and six bronze medals – a fantastic result.

The continued success prompted sensei Ticky Donovan to formerly appoint myself and sensei Jonathan Mottram as national squad coaches – an honour I am immensely proud of.

It was then on to the revised four-day summer course in Clacton. Attendees were unsure about the new format – but they need not of worried.

It was an action-packed weekend – with a highlight of the permanent introduction of sensei Greg Francis’ Fit2Fite session. Outstanding!

We’re all booked up for next year – and a few more members of the club have already signed on the dotted line. Hopefully we’ve got quite a little gathering at next year’s event.

The summer saw some disappointments also. Liam Conroy missed his chances in his individual events at the British championships and then carrying an injury blew his selections for the World Championships in Malaysia.

He’s working through it. He picked up a bronze at the British International in Glasgow – but was again disappointed with his overall performance. He knows he’s got to get his head down and put the work in. It’s up to him!!!

But the same tournament turned out a stunning performance for Aaron Swales. After disappointment at the European championships, Aaron has also been back to the drawing board.

He stepped up a weight for the tournament and the strength work he has been doing outside the dojo shorn through when he claimed the title in the U-84kg category in style.

Hopefully he can now carry that through and look towards bigger and better things with selections for next year’s Europeans around the corner.

September also saw a change of night for the club as it celebrated it’s 2^nd birthday. Training is now on Tuesday instead of Monday, which seems to have had a positive effect. We’ve got a few more new faces in the crowd and some of the parents have decided to have a go.

It’s very daunting for adults to come into karate at what be seen to be a late stage. But I’m a firm believer in age being no barrier in the art and those who have made the jump have made an amazing start and should be very proud of their achievements already.

As I write, sensei Steve Baxter is set to jet off on a 10,000 mile trip to Australia where he will teach in the dojos of Melbourne for sensei Bruce Highland.

He is also set for the weekend Gushaku, teaching alongside some other top instructors.

It will be an amazing experience for Steve. He’s been training hard and is ready for the challenge ahead. I know he will do East Durham and Ishinryu England proud.

 It is a true honour. We are all so proud of him and we wish him well. And I’m a bit jealous!!!!

As he heads off England karate is building up to it’s new programme of regional development, with the first squad session set for October 23.

Under the guidance of the new England coach Willie Thomas, I was again honoured to be selected to be a Northern England regional coach and I’m relishing the opportunity to be a part of honing karate talent for the future.

Looking back on the last six months it’s been very eventful. When you going at it 100mph you sometimes don’t stop to look back at all the club has achieved in such a short time. I’m proud of everyone involved.

Until next time

Oss – Ishin!

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March 17, 2011

IT’S now some 18 months since East Durham Ishinryu opened its doors and the club is going from strength to strength.

The ongoing competition success of its two top athletes, Aaron Swales and Liam Conroy, continues – with Aaron Swales’ inclusion in men’s team for the senior European Karate Championships in Switzerland in May the latest among many highlights.

As I write we are building up to the English Championships in Sheffield in April and hopefully more success for the club on the circuit.

But there have been many other highlights over the last few months to talk about outside of the competition arena.

Sensei Steve Baxter will head out to Australia in October to teach on a weekend course organised by Ishinryu’s sensei Bruce Highland.

Unfortunately I have to decline the offer due to other commitments – but hope to get to Oz in the near future. But it was an honour to be asked.

We continue to build relations with our sister clubs in the north, Sedgefield and Richmond, which was relaunched at the back end of last year. And this is very rewarding, with many students training at East Durham each week.

It’s great to see the ‘All of one Heart’ ethos of Ishinryu being able to flourish once more in the north.

And our relationship with our other sister clubs across the UK and globe also continues to blossom.

The strength of our junior class on a Monday is growing and growing – and the enthusiasm of those youngsters and their achievements is one of my biggest highlights since I opened the club. It truly is very rewarding and I would like to thank all the parents for their continued support.

Students are already signed up the summer course in Clacton in July which has a new four-day format this year and we are looking forward to another successful year once more.

Until next time.

Osss

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September 21, 2010

IT’S only been a short while since my last blog – but I have to report on what were a great British Championship for East Durham Ishinryu and the association as a whole.

We took just a small team up to Edinburgh – but came away with nine golds, five silver and five bronze – what an achievement.

Liam Conroy put some recent disappointments behind him to pull it back in the open weight and just missed out on gold in the final to Ryan Jay 3-2. It was a great performance.

All the signs were encouraging and Liam has to now structure his training to achieve the very best he can.

Aaron Swales was a little disappointed to come away without a medal, but had no complaints about the defeat in the fight off for bronze against Rory Daniels.

Again Aaron needs a little more self belief and he could achieve a lot more.

The lads both know what they’ve got to do and what they’ve got to work on.

Another highlight for Ishinryu was seeing sensei Jonathan Mottram picking up his 10^th British title. A fantastic achievement.

As he prepare for the World Championships next month it was a great boost. We wish him well with that and his forthcoming wedding!

Speaking of weddings, me and sensei Steve are heading off to Cyprus for sensei Lee Smith’s wedding. We wish sensei Mottram and Laura and sense Smith and his bride, also Laura all the very best from all at East Durham Ishinryu.

Some other good news – sensei Greg Francis is well on the way to a full recovery after his operation – we also wish him well.

And a welcome return to sense Donovan back from a trip to Sensei Bruce Hyland’s Ishinryu Australia.

Sensei Donovan was thrilled with the set up in Oz and with the progress and expansion that is made in Melbourne.

Exciting times ahead for Ishinryu!

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September 10, 2010

 WELL. It’s been a little while since I chatted to you all about the club – so what’s been happening.

Well we had an amazing summer course again down in Clacton with our members showing how the club is continuing to grow.

We once again got the chance to cement our relationships with our fellow Ishinru clubs, enjoys some great instruction, mixed with many karateka from other styles – and had a truly fantastic and memorable week.

I once again had the honour of teaching a couple of classes on the course. The pad-work sessions were optional and it is always so rewarding and humbling to see people coming to learn from me and sensei Tony Spinks.

It was great to see sensei Lee Smith get his 5^th Dan swarded by sensei Donovan – certainly thoroughly deserved.

 Heading into the school holidays, our athletes in the club still had the matter of England squad selections.

 A decision not to take a senior men’s team to the world championships saw Aaron Swales’ chances of achieving a place on the plane diminish.

But he would be the first to admit that his performances haven’t been great and he needs to improve a lot before he can take that next step. He’ll just have to keep working hard.

Liam Conroy is in the middle of selections for next year’s European championships. With one selection left he too has had some ups and down and will also have to up his game if he is to be in with a shout.

As I write this the pair are heading toward the British Championships and really need a great performance after some disappointments.

It’s a difficult time for English competitors. We need to up our game as a nation in order not be left behind by nations who are improving greatly.

Squad coaches have put in place stiff criteria they feel need to be fulfilled in athletes training and competing for standards to improve.

But here’s the catch 22. To be able to fulfil these criteria takes not only a lot of commitment – but also a lot of CASH!

And without governing body status from Sport England we don’t qualify for the grants on offer. The governing body seems unable to generate cash to support the athletes in what are undoubtedly difficult financial times.

We are already seeing some of our top medal contenders forced to drop out of selections due to cash shortfalls.

If this continues, pretty soon we will only be able to select from athletes who can afford to compete at a top level. This is just tragic and can only diminish our chances to compete with the world’s best. Something has to be done and has to be done fast.

To end on a more positive note. As reported on the website a short while ago, the club secured a small grant from Cash4Clubs.

And we have now been invited to the House of Commons for a special reception of winners to meet politicians and sporting stars. We are due there on October 14. So myself, sensei Steve, Aaron and Liam will be travelling to the capital for the event.

I might get a chance to express our plight to some of the powers that be. It can’t do any harm.

We are also building some great relationships with our sister clubs in Sedgefield and our new club in Catterick has opened its doors and is doing great. We welcome them on board.

That’s it for now. Hopefully I’ve got more good news to report next time. 

 Until then, Ishin!

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 May, 20, 2010

SO much has happened since my last blog.

At the end of April, Liam Conroy was crowned national champion. It was to be Liam’s final outing in the cadet 14-15yrs U-57kg category. So, after some disappointments at the start of the year he was keen to prove a point at Sheffield.

He gave a truly memorable performance and scored emphatic victories in the early rounds in before meeting European medallist Jake Kiernan in the final.

It was a first-class bout – with both fighters getting on the score board. But it was Liam who came out on top at the bell.

Some have suggested that there was some dubious refereeing decisions. But I was coaching in the corner and I can say he was simply better on the day and deserved the title.

I’ve had some proud moments in karate, but seeing one of your students become a national champion is something quite special. I was very proud indeed.

Liam now has to work even harder as he steps up to junior level and the tougher 16-17yrs category.

The end of the month also saw Brogan Turner become April’s Student of the Month. Brogan has been with us since we opened our our club at East Durham in September and has always impressed with her dedication and attitude to her karate. It was a well deserved honour.

Aaron Swales, our senior international, jetted off to Greece for the European Karate Championships.

However, he failed to make the starting line up and with the England team going out in the first round in the battle for bronze – he didn’t get a fight.

He returned hugely disappointed – but learnt so much in pre-train with the squad and from the coaches and now he’s got his head down again and is determined to get some consistent performances to make sure he leaves selectors in little doubt.

He’s still got a lot of hard work ahead of him – but he’s come so far in the last nine months and I’m sure with determination he can achieve his goals.

Me, sensei Steve Baxter, Paul Conroy, Liam and Aaron will be heading off for the week-long annual Ticky Donovan (OBE) Summer Course on the south-east coast at the end of June.

We are absolutely buzzing and are sure it’s going to be another fantastic course.

Hopefully some of our students will come along next year to make it even better.

Before then, there’s a little matter of a club grading on June 21. So keep training hard – we’re watching!

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March 28, 2010.

First off, congratulations to Charlotte Jackson who passed her 8^th kyu at the club grading on March 22 and Amy Atkinson who was awarded a red stripe on her belt.

Amy missed the last grading through sickness and Charlotte was in hospital for the whole of the previous day of the grading through illness. Both girls did amazingly well. Keep up the good work.

Our 1,000 press-up challenge went amazingly well and all the sponsor money is about in now.

We managed to land a sponsorship deal for Aaron Swales for £1,000 from 0800-REPAIR service and we have Ishinryu’s own Michael Day to thank for that who owns a franchise with the firm.

All the contributions and fundraising efforts are much appreciated by the club and by those who benefit. The costs of competing at a high level in karate can be staggering as at the moment it all self funded.

Hopefully this will change in the near future, but for now we will help our athletes in any way we can.

Our two internationals are still working hard.

It’s just six week to the senior European Championships in Greece and Aaron Swales’ training is really kicking up a gear now.

He’s had a few setbacks in recent competitions, not quite fulfilling his potential. It’s all about mental strength now for Aaron – but he’s still just 22 and is learning all the time.

It’s going to be a tough few weeks – but I’m sure he’s up to it.

Liam Conroy too has had a setback through a knee tendon injury. He’s getting physio, but is a little frustrated at not being able to train and compete. He’s hoping to be fit for the English championships in Sheffield on April 25.

But he’s only 15 and we’re certainly not going to rush him back. He’s got a long career ahead of him if he chooses, so it’s not worth risking serious injury.

Anyone who has trained in karate will know that setbacks and struggles come with the territory.

Whether you’re first grading, a kick you can’t master or an international tournament – we all have to face our demons in some way at some time in karate. But it’s about how you approach those setbacks and problems and how you overcome them that make you stronger.

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February 2, 2010

WHAT a month!

Aaron Swales competed in his first international as a senior and fought well – narrowly losing out in his second fight in the tournament in Wasquahel, France.

The Dutch Open is next in his sights at the start of March – but before then he is facing further England squad training and possible selections. It’s knuckling down time for him and Liam Conroy who have got a lot of training to do for what is a big tournament year.

On that note – one of the big aims for East Durham Ishinryu this year is a fundraising drive to assist our athletes in the pursuit of excellence.

Competing and training costs a lot of money – all of which is self funded. We are determined at the club that money will not be an obstacle for any of its members in achieving their dreams. I am also acutely aware of the costs implications for all our members for equipment costs on top of training.

At the start of this year we, as a club, were looking to get a tracksuit to give each of our members an identity when we go anywhere and a further sense of belonging.

One of the fundraising aims was also to get enough cash to try to pay for those tracksuits for the founder members. But we were stunned when the family of one of our young karateka, Georgio Catleugh, came forward and offered to sponsor our tracksuits to the tune of £1,000.

George and Alison Catleugh, who own Geordie’s Pizzeria in Horden, offered the cash as part of their determination to make sure there are activities for youngsters and organisations to help them grown and develop and to keep them off the streets.

I was just stunned by the gesture. They couldn’t have been any more generous. All the students are just thrilled.

The tracksuits are already on order. I just can’t thank them enough for their generosity. Hopefully me may be able to secure other sponsors, besides are own fundraising efforts.

Daniel Hockaday scooped the student of the month trophy – but it was a hard chose. Everyone is improving so much and the spirit and determination is superb. We’re just going from strength to strength.

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JANUARY 3, 2010

Here we are 2010 and already more success for East Durham Ishinryu.

Aaron Swales has just secured his place on the senior England A squad and I can’t say how proud I am.

It’s another England international for East Durham Ishinryu – but more importantly, I’m proud of Aaron after all his hard work and dedication over the last few months.

I’m just bulging with pride for him and for Liam Conroy who did the same at cadet level just before the end of year.

Classes are set to get underway for this year and I can’t wait to speak to all the students about our success – and I’m sure they will feel as proud as me.

But the hard work really starts now. Both Aaron and Liam have very busy competition years ahead of them and they’ve got to get their heads down and get stuck into their training – and I’m sure they will.

They’ve got a taste of it now and I’m sure they’ll want even more.

We’ve started 2010 with a bang and here’s to you all and more success to come.

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December 17, 2009

Welcome to another blog, probably the final one for 2009 – and what a first three months it’s been!

As I’m writing this, East Durham Ishinryu has five new 8^th kyus after the first club grading and a stack of other youngsters who showed their skills to earn themselves a stripe on their belt.

We’ve had some senior grades join the ranks. Paul Conroy and his son Liam and Aaron Swales, two karateka I have had the privilege to work with over the past couple of years and who have grown and developed during that time.

As I write this, Liam Conroy has earned his yellow jersey after being selected for the England A-squad and Aaron Swales has also been invited onto the senior England A-squad.

It is a massive achievement for the club and the association – which now has a string of senior and junior internationals in the ranks.

Liam and Aaron have had a lot to deal with over the last couple of months, but have dealt with everything that has come their way with a great deal of maturity and have done their shouting on the mat.

Me and sensei Stephen have pointed them in the right direction, but it is down to the hard work they have both put in.

They both have a big year ahead of them on the competition circuit. I wish them both well as now, with everything behind them, they can continue to grow and develop their karate.

Their efforts and achievements should be an inspiration to other members of East Durham Ishinryu. Every student in the club has made an excellent start and I’m really proud of how they have applied themselves in these early months and the achievements they too have made.

With a well-earned rest the club will re-open its doors on January 4 and I must say I can’t wait until the new year. There’s no stopping us now.

As for Liam and Aaron – no rest for you – selections and training on January 3. Happy Christmas!

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NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Welcome to another blog. As East Durham Ishinryu continues to grow, changes are already afoot.

It has become necessary for the club to move to a better venue and as of November 16, East Durham College will be our new home.

It’s a great venue, especially the dance studio for the Monday night session – and I’m sure the students will fell the benefits of training in a more appropriate setting.

Change is inevitable. It night not always seem to be for the better – but it is important to embrace change and adapt to continue to develop and grow.

The students at the club are learning at a great rate of knots and the enthusiasm and effort has to be applauded.

Younger people adapt easier to change – but the older students have grabbed on to the new experiences with vigour. It is a pleasure to teach them.

I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying teaching these students and I’m sure East Durham Ishinryu will go on to become a force to be reckoned with.

As I write this some of our young Ishinryu students from our sister clubs elsewhere in the UK are currently in Morocco ahead of the European Junior Championships.

We wish them all our luck and best wishes and hope they bring back some medals.

We have some fantastic young talent in Ishinryu and there is no reason why, in the future, East Durham students can’t follow the same path with dedication and hard work.

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October 8^th, 2009

Welcome to another blog.

East Durham Ishinryu is now in its third week and going from strength to strength.

Students seem to be really enjoying training.

As it’s a first class in a fledgling club we are catering for all age ranges and abilities and it’s often difficult to get the right balance during the training to make sure everyone is catered for.

We’ve got some great characters already in the club and I can honestly say I’ve been very impressed by each and every one of the students and how they have applied themselves during the sessions.

I can already see some talent emerging. Some of you students may choose to pit your skills in the competition karate circuit in the future.

As I’m writing this the English Karate Federation (EKF), of which east Durham Ishinryu is a member, is applying Sport England funding.

In the recent past the EKFerning body has been led to believe that because it isn’t recognised as a governing body by Sport England, then it cannot qualify for funding. This however does not now appear to be the case and this application has now been put forward by the EKF board.

Because of this lack of funding, competitors have had to secure their own financial backing to allow them to compete for their nation in the international arena – something which undoubtedly affects our chances to improve as a competition karate nation, especially in the current global financial crisis.

Hopefully this will now be resolved in the near future and funding will soon be in place for current and future athletes, hopefully one or two from East Durham Ishinryu.

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 September 15, 2009

A GREAT start for East Durham Ishinryu.

Some 22 students came through the door for the first try-out session at Peterlee Leisure Centre.

I was really pleased about the response and the attitude of everyone who joined in.

There were kids as young as six and adults – well we won’t give away ages!!!!!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience and promised to back for more.

I’ll be getting camera out next time for new members when the classes start for real next Monday, from 6-7pm and Thursday, from 5.30-6.30pm.

I’m hoping East Durham Ishinryu will follow the tradition of excellence of all out sister clubs up and down the land and across the globe. I’m sure east Durham folk have got the talent to achieve great things in karate.

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September 8^th, 2009

WHAT a fantastic result!!!!!!!

We only had a small team at the British for a number of reasons. But they say good things come in small bundles and that was certainly the case this time around.

It was also predominantly a young team and the youngsters really stepped up to the mark taking 11 medals, three gold, four, silver and four bronze.

I was proud to be there with them and to coach them. They did Ishinryu and themselves very proud.

A special mention for Liam Conroy, who just missed out of the medals. The doctor pulled him out due to an asthma attack as he was 6-2 up in the fight off for bronze.

He was so disappointed and we were so disappointed for him.

But he’s just 15 and he’s a determined young lad and I’m sure he’ll get his rewards. Keep plugging away son.

Michael Day showed the old ‘uns have still got something to offer after going out in the quarter finals of the men’s heavyweight after a brave effort.

He wants us all to make a come back and enter the team event. We’re thinking about it!!!!!!!!!!

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Welcome to my first blog – hopefully the first of many.

East Durham Ishinryu will open its doors on September 14 and I can’t express how much I’m looking forward to getting the club up and running.

During my years in karate I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many places, have some wonderful experiences, meet some fantastic people and help coach and mentor some students to achieve great things in their chosen arena.

Through karate, I’ve had the privilege to represent my country, win national titles, and European medals.

More recently, in 2008 I was awarded my 3^rd Dan after a grading under sensei Ticky Donovan 8^th Dan OBE.

And this year I was given the opportunity to teach on Sensei’s Summer Course – probably the proudest moment in my karate career.

I have helped mentor, coach and teach many students over the years and the experience this summer and recent coaching experiences inspired me to want to open East Durham Ishinryu.

Karate can teach you so many things and can have such a positive affect on all aspects of your life. It is part of my life and in many respects a way of life.

I hope the students who become part of East Durham Ishinryu will be able to experience and achieve what I have and more through karate.

And I hope that my I can do the art justice through my teaching to allow them to achieve all they can.

• At the time of writing it’s just a few days before the British Championships in Edinburgh. The Ishinryu contingent is smaller than usual this time around. But the there is real quality within the ranks. Hopefully we can pick up some medals. To all competitors. Do yourselves proud and do us proud.