Congratulations to Jakub, Student of the Month at Soncho Karate Club! Jakub is known throughout the club for his supportive spirit, always ready to lend a helping hand. In fact, many of our members learned their very first kata from him! He trains with focus and determination, always gives his best, and is open to feedback with a genuine eagerness to improve. Jakub’s dedication and positive attitude make him a true inspiration to others. Well done, Jakub - keep up the fantast

Fittingly, this weekend marked exactly 7 years since they passed their first orange belt grading. Over the years, they’ve grown into two dedicated karateka who always give their best and never back down when things get tough. Now, they look forward to focusing on competitions and embracing the many experiences that lie ahead. Thank you to all who came to the HDKI GB Free Black and Brown Belt Course and Dan Grading with Simon Bligh Sensei & Paul Uren Sensei in Cheltenham. A re

This week’s focus was on competition kumite, starting with partner combinations before testing them with changing distance and dynamic movement. We practiced Shobu Ippon and Shobu Nihon rounds, with Chris and Natalie Sensei rotating as referees to sharpen up the terminology in real time. We also reviewed common warnings - stepping out of the area, lack of control, and lack of defence. The flags came out too for elimination and final kata rounds as we rehearsed for the upcomin