Note from your webmaster:
Every year I attend the club events and I am always greatly impressed by the standards of behaviour and sportsmanship shown by the children. This year is no exception. In the past, I have chosen photographs to highlight the best of the children’s performances. This year, I have given precedence to photos that have some visual impact, and are reasonably well framed and in focus. This means that sometimes children are seen looking a little awkward, or in transition between one stance and another. I believe this is a useful illustration of the journey in karate, always guided by the self- realisation that we are not perfect, and always striving to improve. To view the slideshow, click the link above. Click here to return to the UEKF site.
uekf Kata and Kumite Competition 2006
It always starts with a bow.
Practice area- last minute polishing.
Children from different schools...
...opponents on the mat, friends off...
...waiting.
True sportsmanship.
Still best friends.
Younger children...
...concentrate on the hands...
...or the feet.
Older children...
...can control everything at the same time...
...and change direction.
Then there is power...
...and focus...
...and technical difficulty.
The officials are watching...
...can they be ignored?
Zanshin...
...the awareness of an opponent.
Bunkai...
...what is this for?
What is he doing?
Clarity of technique...
...concentration even at the start.
There is only one position that is correct...
...to place an opponent...
...right where you want them.
The front hand may be striking...
...forwards or to the side...
The back hand is ready...
to strike or pull the opponent in.
Now do it as a team.
This year’s competition was non-contact.
The format required children to perform...
...clean techniques.
 
 
At the same time, they had to observe..
...their opponents and copy them.
The format allowed mixed competition.
Judges rewarded techniques...
which would be effective in senior competitions.
No contact doesn’t mean no pressure.
Children learn control and range.
A look of concentration
From the same fight- a roundhouse...
...followed by...
a kick in reply.
 
 
A moment of levitation.
Step...
...kick.
Kicks are targeted...
... to the head...
...or the torso.
Are these tournament rules realistic?
Senseis Alex and Caroline demonstrating...
...opposite punch and roundhouse kick.
New this year: winners demonstrate their katas.
The mat is suddenly a big space...
which these children fill.
 
 
This is not a dance solo; it’s a fight.
Senseis Alex and Richard...
demonstrating Seisan kata.
Bassai Dai kata...
 
 
...these are the stances we all work towards.
Beginner kata
 
 
Yellow belt kata
 
 
Older yellow belt kata
 
 
Beginner kumite
 
 
Yellow belt kumite
 
 
Older yellow belt kumite
 
 
Green belt kata
 
 
Green belt kumite
 
 
Purple belt kata
 
 
Purple belt kumite
 
 
Older purple belt kata
 
 
Older purple belt kumite
 
 
Blue belt kata
 
 
Blue belt kumite
 
 
Brown belt kata
 
 
Brown belt kumite
 
 
Green belt team kata
 
 
Blue belt team kata
 
 
Brown belt team kata
 
 
Schools
Sportsmanship award
 
 
Godolphin & Latimer
 
 
Ursuline
DCPS