Yamaguchi Goju Kai Competition

On Sunday 20th February, two Yudansha squad members and their team of coaches and family, headed off to the Yamaguchi Goju Kai tournament in Grays, Essex. 

This competition was a junior kumite only tournament, and both kumite fighters; Tyrone Briscoe and Gina Boot were able to represent the club at this event. Gina made her debut for the first time at this competition, entering the girls 3^rd kyu above + 40Kg division against some very talented kumite fighters. 

Despite the long wait the pair stayed focused and by 3pm they were on the mat.

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.

Squad member Gina Boot who regularly trains in Romford and Dagenham dojo gets featured in Yellow Advertiser (11th March).

Reporting by Suzi Muston "A school girl has been selected to represent the UK to compete in top level karate competition against  a host of European countries. Gina Boot, 11, who belongs to the Kaizen Ryu Karate, in Romford, trains in a variety of disciplines, six days a week, to help her improve her performance. The Frances Bardsley pupil been enjoying the sport since she was just seven and passed her black belt grading last sunday. Gina said: 'I first started to do karate to help with my confidence, but now I have got better and better at it, I really enjoy it." - picture courtesy of Roy Tillett - article courtesy of Yellow Advertiser