July - A Month of Skill Refinement and Triumphs in Training at Soncho Karate Club

July was bursting with energy, and it was an absolute thrill to witness the growth and dedication of Soncho Karate Club members! With everyone focused on the same fundamental techniques at their varying levels, every participant received tailored attention. The enthusiasm on the dojo floor was contagious. Here are some of the highlights and triumphs we experienced.

Progress Among Beginners

Our beginners made impressive strides in July, they are tackling challenges head-on and showing an eagerness to learn, which has resulted in a noticeable boost in their confidence. A big shout out to Rhys, Aaron and Kaya who are all growing stronger and more confident every session and Charlie who has earned his belt tags in recognition of his development. Well done all!

Kyu Grading at Soncho Karate Club

Our Kyu grades trained with exceptional intensity, culminating in impressive performances during their gradings. All of the candidates passed their belt tests, reflecting their hard work and growth. A special congratulations went to Zoë, who received the Best Grading Award from Natalie Sensei. Zoë's dedication and performance truly stood out!

Support for Future Aspirants

While grading was a major focus, those not testing received additional support to prepare for future opportunities and personal development. We also held a couple of private sessions for our 1st Dan and 1st Kyu candidates, dedicated entirely to refining their Jiu Ippon Kumite. All our brown belts showed great effort and made solid progress in understanding the purpose of this form of kumite, particularly how compression and expansion contribute to its dynamic yet controlled nature.

Senior grades revisited Chinte kata and Empi, honing in on key details and recent insights from Scott Sensei, including some thoughtful bunkai applications.

Natalie Sensei worked extensively on Jiu Ippon Kumite with Elif

Techniques and Combinations

We also worked extensively on long-range attacking combinations and different variations of mawashi geri and much of the session was dedicated to refining control and precision, before progressing to the spinning ura mawashi geri, using the spinning momentum to deliver an effective kick.

Special Recognition

We must highlight the amazing talent of little Charlie, who has been impressive in his spinning kicks. For a white belt, his technique and control really stood out! Charlie's achievement serves as a reminder that every practitioner, at any level, has unlimited potential. His focus and commitment embody the spirit of martial arts training that we strive to ignite in everyone at our dojo.

Last week in July, we shifted our focus to training with traditional wooden weapons.

Rather than concentrating on offensive techniques, the emphasis was on defence. Using the Jo staff and bokken, we explored various attack scenarios and developed strategies to control the attacker effectively.

The Jo staff was also incorporated into kata practice, adding complexity to defensive movements and disarming techniques. We worked from multiple angles, drawing on our Shotokan karate background and blending principles from different martial arts to enrich our approach.

A key lesson we learned is that a weapon isn’t dangerous on its own—it’s the person using it and their intentions that matter. Our aim is to avoid conflict when we can, or handle it calmly and with control if we must.