A week full of progress at Soncho Karate Club

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 upcoming competitions.

While our white belts and lower kyu grades worked on Kihon Kata and Gohon Kumite, the senior grades focused on Chinte kata.

This Saturday, Elif taught the full Shodan syllabus and Yingtai led Heian Yondan in the all grades class! They both did a fantastic job, answering plenty of questions (even a few tricky ones from Natalie Sensei).

This weekend, exactly 7 years ago, Elif and Yingtai passed their very first orange belt grading. We’ve had the privilege of watching them grow from day one, guide them, challenge them, fight them, support them, listen to them, and share plenty of laughter along the way.

Their journey hasn’t been an easy one, they’ve experienced the highs and lows of karate, but those challenges have shaped them into the karateka they are today. They’ve always taken feedback on board, and since their last mock grading with Julie and John Senseis earlier this year, we’ve worked incredibly hard to prepare them, everyone in the club chipped in and helped in many ways!

Tomorrow, they’ll step up to the grading and we wish them both the very best of luck. Go and smash it!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Soncho Karate Club