2022 Yearly Overview
January
Student of the Month: Evan Shone
February
Student of the Month: Vinnie Henderson
Dylan Gibson, Gemma Gibson and Denny Shy were all reselected onto the KUGB England Squad for 2022. Dylan was selected onto the Kata Squad for his eleventh year, Gemma onto the Kumite Squad for her ninth year and Kata Squad for the fourth time, and Denny onto the Kata Squad for his fourth year.
Our England Squad members represented their country in the first KUGB Grand Slam of the year. Congratulations to Gemma who placed 1st in Kata and 3rd in Kumite, Denny who placed 1st in Kata, and Dylan who placed 3rd in Kata.
March
Student of the Month: Ethan Carmichael
Sophie Gordon passed her Shodan (1st Dan) and Jessica Peel, Beverley Reason and Nick Sandeman passed her Nidan (2nd Dan) in Cowdenbeath.
April
Student of the Month: Aedán Caldwell
Members of the club competed in the KUGB Shotokan Cup. Congratulations to Charlotte Reason who placed 3rd in Kumite and Denny Shy who placed 4th in Kata.
We held a grading at the club with Sensei Frank Brennan, 8th Dan. Congratulations to everyone who graded to their next belt.
Dylan Gibson passed his Yondan (4th Dan) grading in Grantham.
Ehsan Baniyghoob achieved his KUGB Instructor Qualification, Alethea Caldwell achieved her KUGB Assistant Instructor Qualification and Zoe Young achieved her KUGB Bronze Young Leaders Award.
May
Student of the Month: Isla Irving-Walton
Members of the club competed in the Liverpool Youth Championships. Well done to Charlotte Reason who placed 2nd in both Kata and Kumite!
Members of the club competed in the Sunderland Karate Championships. Well done to Emmie-Ann who placed 2nd in Kumite, Kelly who placed 2nd in Kata, Dylan who placed 3rd in Kata, Gemma who placed 3rd in Kata, Joel who placed 3rd in Kumite, Sophie who placed 3rd in Kumite, Callum who placed 3rd in Kumite, Dylan, Gemma and Evie who placed 3rd in Team Kata, and Evie who placed 4th in Kata.
June
Student of the Month: Finn Baxter
Members from the club took part in our 14th Annual Karate on the Beach at Blyth Beach.
July
Student of the month - Melody Diang.
Members from the club competed in the KUGB National Championships in Nottingham. Congratulations to Denny who placed 3rd in Kata and Charlotte who placed 3rd in Kumite. Also congratulations to Sensei Trish who received her Long Standing Members Award for 30 Years Membership of the KUGB.
August
Students of the month: Emmie-Ann Henderson & Alex Irving-Walton.
Denny Shy has been selected to represent KUGB England at the WSKA World Shotokan Karate-Do Association World Championships in Liverpool next month.
Members from our club took part in our summer holiday competition where they entered photos of themselves on holiday or at home, practising their favourite karate moves.
September
Student of the month - Rylee Diang.
Denny Shy represented KUGB England at the WSKA World Shotokan Karate-Do Association World Championships in Liverpool, where he won gold in both Cadet Male Individual Kata & Junior Male Team Kata, making him a double World Champion! Charlotte Reason was lucky enough to be chosen to be a mascot for the Championships.
Our summer holiday competition was judged by Sensei Frank Brennan, 8th Dan - the winner was Charlotte Reason practising yoko geri at Lake Derwentwater, and Liam Moody was the runner up, practising oi tsuki at Clearwater, Florida.
We held a grading at the club with Sensei Garry Harford, 8th Dan - congratulations to everyone who achieved their next belt.
with senior club instructors Sensei Jill Kelly 6th Dan and Sensei Trish Bruce 6th Dan
September student of the month
with senior club instructors Sensei Jill Kelly 6th Dan and Sensei Trish Bruce 6th Dan
Student of the month - October
Qualified KUGB Judge
Student of the month - October
KUGB Northern Region Championships 2022
October
Student of the month October - Luke Miller.
Members of our club competed at the KUGB Northern Region Championships. Well done to everyone! The club had some great results:
Denny Shy - 2nd - Male Dan Grade Kata
Matthew Moody - 3rd Boys Kumite over 5ft 5
Dylan Gibson - 4th - Male Dan Grade Kata
Dylan, Gemma, Evie - 4th Adult Team Kata
Also, huge congratulations to Dylan Gibson who has qualified as a KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) Judge in Tamworth with Sensei Jimmy Brennan, 8th Dan and Sensei Rob Welsh, 7th Dan.
Dylan, Gemma and Denny represented KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) England at the Grand Slam this month against Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Denny won the Junior Male Kata, Gemma was 4th in the Senior Female Kata and Dylan reached the Semi-Finals in the Senior Male Kata.
Denny Shy has been selected to represent England in the ESKA European Shotokan Karate-Do Association Championships in Switzerland
November
Student of the month - Thomas Blackburn.
Well done to Denny Shy who competed in the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) National Youth and Student Championships, winning both the Youth and Students Male Kata Categories winning a double gold!
Members of our club trained at the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) free Black and Brown Belt course in Sunderland this month. The day also saw two of our members successfully pass their gradings with Sensei Frank Brennan 8th Dan, and Sensei Jimmy Brennan 8th Dan..........
Krysia Pollard passed Nidan (2nd Dan)
Alethea Caldwell passed Shodan (1st Dan)
Thomas Blackburn
Denny Shy
Shodan
Thomas Blackburn
December
KUGB Bronze Young Leader
ESKAs
2022 Best Attendance
KUGB Bronze Young Leader
Liam Moody received his KUGB Bronze Young Leaders award. Well done Liam!
Denny Shy competed in the ESKA European Shotokan Karate-Do Association Championships in Switzerland, and reached semi-finals in his individual kata category and getting a bronze medal as part of the Junior Team Kata.
Well done to Evie Ackroyd who qualified as a KUGB Instructor this month. She was presented her certificate at the club grading by Sensei Frank Brennan 8th Dan. Sensei Brennan also presented certificates to Krysia Pollard (Nidan), and Dylan Gibson (assessor's qualification).
Well done to our members who graded with Sensei Frank Brennan at out last grading of 2022.
The Christmas awards evening saw several members being presented with trophies...
Most Improved Junior - Ethan Carmichael
Best Overall Junior -Vinnie Henderson
Most Improved Senior - Jessica Peel
Best Overall Senior - Denny Shy
Jake Coultas was awarded Best Attendance.