Master Ogasahara passes away

Sohan Eiji Ogasahara, 9th Dan, head instructor of the JAPAN KENSHUKAI KARATE ASSOCIATION passed away earlier this week at the age of 76. This is a great loss to the whole karate world, and the lineage of Shitoryu. Master Ogasahara was a direct student of the founder of Shitoryu Karate – Kenwa Mabuni. Ogasahara Sensei has nurtured many great exponents of the Shitoryu style, most notably Hidetoshi Nakahashi and Sei Iwasa.

Siu Loong express the condolences to his near friends and family.

Facebook Group

Siu Loong members are encouraged to join the recently set up Facebook Group.  It is a forum set-up by Scottish WUKO Karate-ka.  The idea is that members can discuss ideas and share Karate related media. This group is open to anyone regardless of affiliation and is set-up purely to promote Karate of all styles and backgrounds.

It can be found by clicking here.

WUKO World Cup 2010 Report

The squad flew out to compete in the WUKO World Cup in Nice, France on Friday 9th April. The squad sent to represent Siu Loong was as follows:

Grant Wyper – Male Kata
David Woods – Male Kata/Kumite
Julie McGavigan – Female Kumite

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Medal Results:
David Woods – BRONZE – Kumite Shobu Ippon

David took to the mat for his first fight in the last 16 of the Male Shobu Ippon Kumite division. After dominating the fight for the get-go, the referees seemed unwilling to award a score. In a strange twist of fate the score was awarded after the whistle meaning the judges were forced to make a decision or an extension (new match) would take place. Due to the clear dominance in the match, David was awarded the fight as all judges flagged him as the winner.

In the quarter finals, David faced a tougher opponent who looked dangerous with kicking techniques. David held his distance well and controlled the fight, gaining the upper hand early on by getting an early score to lead 1-0. After this David controlled the fight for a large spell, with his French opponent unable to utilise his legs. David wrapped the match up with a crisp gyaku-tsuki to advance to the semi-final.

A tough Italian opponent proved troublesome in the semi-final. David held off well but the Italian managed to score to take the lead. David was very unlucky not to wrap the match up with an Ippon after turning his opponent, only to come within inches of a score to the back with a gyaku-tsuki. After this, a fantastic jodan-geri sealed the fight off. His opponent then went onto win gold in the final.

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Other Results:
Grant Wyper – Kata Final (7th Place)
David Woods – Kata Final (8th Place)
David Woods – Quarter Final Kumite Shobu Sanbon
Julie McGavigan – Quarter Final Kumite Shobu Sanbon
Julie McGavigan – Quarter Final Kumite Shobu Ippon

Congratulations to the squad on their performance. Well done to David for his admirable performance to pick up Bronze at the WUKO World Cup!

WUKO World Karate Championships for Clubs 2010

Siu Loong Karate-do will send a squad to compete in the WUKO World Championships for Clubs, which is to be held in Nice, France.  The event will take place from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th April 2010.  The squad consists of Aidan Feeney, David Woods, Grant Wyper and Julie McGavigan. 

Aidan will compete in the Childrens and Cadets categories, as well as making the step up to join both David and Grant in the team Kata event.  Grant will compete in individual Kata and referee at the event.  David is set to compete in both Kata and Kumite and Julie will compete in Kumite.

Good luck to the squad!

WUKO World Karate Championships for Clubs 2010

The WUKO World Karate Championships for Clubs 2010 will be hosted in Nice, France.  This championship is the first of its kind for WUKO and will take place from 09-11th April 2010. 

Siu Loong intend to send a squad to this competition so anyone wishing to compete or sponsor the squad, please contact one of the Siu Loong instructors for further information or eligibility for this Championships.

WUKO Technical Stage I

NKA Scotland will be hosting the WUKO technical stage for Shitoryu. This event will be a weekend course which will take place on 5/6th September 2009. Master Sei Iwasa (7th dan) will travel to Scotland to teach students of NKA Scotland. This course is open to ALL Karate-ka, regardless of association. Further details of this stage will be posted when they become available.

Please distribute this information to anyone you think would be interested in attending.

WUKO European Championships for Children, Cadets and Juniors

Members of Siu Loong Shitoryu Karate represented the National Karate Association squad in the WUKO European Championships for Children, Cadets and Juniors in Imperia, Italy. Aidan Feeney aged 12 and Kirstyanne McColl aged 14 were the competitors coached by NKA squad coach David Woods. David coached both Aidan and Kirstyanne to pick up two bronze medals each and also helped coach another association student to a bronze medal to confirm the NKA’s greatest medal haul of five at a WUKO European event.

Aidan got bronze in his Kata event. Kirstyanne also got bronze in Kata with her picking another bronze up in her second Kata event. Kirstyanne was unfortunate to be eliminated by an Italian competitor in Kumite after a fine performance. In Kumite Aidan got his second bronze, emulating his feat last year of negotiating through three rounds before falling victim of an Italian competitor in the semifinals. Overall the NKA picked up five bronze medals. Club instructor Grant Wyper represented the NKA as a Kata Judge. He was promoted to Kata Referee by the WUKO Referees Commission and his highlight was being chosen as Senior Referee for the Juniors 18-20 years Kata finals.

The club would like to thank all those sponsors whose contributions have sent the competitors, squad coach and referee to the Championships. Without the sponsors or the time and effort from the NKA instructors, this feat would not have been possible.