Indran Tanabalan

A newly refurbished Crystal Palace was the scene of this year’s Balfour Beatty London Youth Games Karate competition. With its good facilities and central location, “The Palace” was an ideal venue for one of the most prestigious events on the Karate calendar.

History has shown that the East London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets have all had major success at the games, with these boroughs achieving winning streaks in previous years. 2009 would be another year following the form book.

Redbridge won the outright trophy for the boys’ competition; with Havering and Waltham Forest in 2^nd and 3^rd, while Havering took the girls’ competition comfortably over Redbridge; Richmond coming 3^rd.

"In view of the fact that the Olympics took place recently in China, over the next few months the focus of some of my next conditioning articles will shift to the Olympic martial arts (or combat sports) - namely Taekwondo, Judo, Boxing and Wrestling. The aim will be to draw your attention to certain key conditioning goals and practices affecting the Olympic arts which will also be of significance - or of benefit - to most martial artists." - Idai Makaya

Read more about his article which features Sensei Indy and Sensei Marie in the Press Room or buy the February 2009 issue of Martial Arts Illustrated