Kaizen Cup Spring Qualifier 2010

Well done to all the squad members who competed at the Kaizen Cup on home turf at the Dagenham Park Leisure Centre on 28th March.

Both squad teams didn't disappoint and took away a total of 27 medals (5 Golds, 13 Silvers, 9 Bronzes)! Both groups have been meeting and training regularly since the beginning of the year. Their hard work and commitment has really paid off and kick started the season with a massive haul of medals.

For many of the new squad team 'Kaizen', this was their first competition. Marcio Sa Peixoto battled hard in his first competition to win bronze in kata (prearranged forms) and a bronze in team kumite (point fighting) with his classmate James Duran, who also earned a bronze in kata. Lauren McAllister beat many favourites to get silver in kumite. School teacher Famida Mahomed overcame trepidation to win bronze in kata and silver in kumite in her first contest. Jasmine David has been training since she was quite young and is now an assistant instructor but she is also a tournament novice. However, she fought hard and achieved a bronze for kata (prearranged forms) as well as entering in team events alongside Emmie & Vicky from Dagenham dojo and did well to achieve a silver in team kata.

Tournament veterans Jack McAllister, Vicky Phillips and Emmie Brown again demonstrated their consistency and quality. Jack, who is almost 17, entered against the men as well as his own division and scooped 2 bronzes in kata and a silver in men's kumite. Vicky won silver in women's kumite and gold in kata while team captain Emmie Brown achieved silver in women's kata and gold in kumite. The trio also entered in team events alongside friends from other dojos in the same club and fought hard to achieve silvers in team kata and team kumite.

Yudansha members Molly Ullah and Tyrone Briscoe got a silver each for kata and a silver (Molly) and gold (Tyrone) for kumite. The pair also entered in team events alongside Gina Boot from Romford and fought hard to achieve silvers in team kata and team kumite. Gina also entered in individual events, and got a bronze for kata and a gold for kumite. Finally, junior team captain Bella Ursell impressed by getting a silver in team kumite.

"The kids really enjoy their training and their success at competition further bolsters their self esteem. It's clear that karate really has made a difference in their lives. I've certainly seen the changes in myself" commented Vicky.

I would like to recognise the outstanding performance of a couple of students who are not in the squad but fought and competed extremely well on the day. Ciara Coyle (6yrs old) battled hard in her first competition to win silver in kata (prearranged forms) and a bronze in kumite (point fighting) while her classmate Shakeel Ullah, also 6yrs old, earned a gold in kumite and a team bronze in kumite; this was also his first contest.

Members of the team Kaizen are now gearing up and training hard for the Malympex UK Open in May, whilst members of the Yudansha team are back in training in preparation for the JKF World Championships in Japan this summer and in the FSKA World Championship in Poland in September.