Club News
AMA International Open
Martyn (left) represented Tower Shukokai at the Ponds Forge Centre, Sheffield on Sunday 28th Feb. Hoping to retain the Masters kumite title he won in 2009 he was unlucky this year. His quarter final opponent was Davood Bahramian of Iran (whom he beat in the 2009 final). Davood went on to win in an all-Iran final, and Martyn lost out in the repechage to take 5th place overall. (Thanks to Richard Swann for the photo)
Tower Shukokai is Back Home
On Thursday 18th Feb we held our first session in the large studio at the new Darwen Leisure Centre.
Click the image below to view a slideshow
Andy Tate is Back
In response to popular demand, we are pleased to announce the return of Andy Tate, on Sunday 16th May 2010 at 11.30 AM. Venue again is Edgworth School, fee again £25. This time, as requested we will have a 4-5 hour seminar dedicated to edged weapons. Book your place now with Andy or Martyn. Watch out for more details or click for a seminar synopsis.
Kangeiko 2010 received wide local coverage. It has been reported in the following:
LancashireTelegraph
Lancashire Telegraph Online
BBC Northwest
Kangeiko 2010
A great event this year. Perfect weather (dry, sunny and no wind), and warmer (!?) than last year (just below zero Celcius, compared with last year's -5). Kata, kihon, kumite, padwork and ippon waza. The mountain bikers thought we were a bit madder than them, and a bunch of walkers saw us in white and thought we were Druids! Connor on his toboggan seemed to have a death wish, and nearly took out several innocent passers-by. Plenty of cameras- all of which survived the cold- so lots of pics (click right). See you next year!!!
Lots of participants complaining of dodgy toes!
Particular thanks to Livia for most of the pics.
Shinza results December 5th 2009
See "Grading Results" page
Just Arrived!
"Tower Shukokai" embroidered
sew-on / iron-on gi patch.
See Andy or Martyn
for yours.
Charles Gidley 7th Dan Shotokan hosted a 2 hour seminar in Oldham on Armistice Day, which Andy & Martyn attended. Lots of interesting footwork applications, and an introduction to kata "Suchi". Click here for some pics.
Manchester-Blackpool News. The NXP team have beaten their £10000 target with a total of
£10,305.74
On Sunday July 12th 09 Martyn once again cycled the 60 miles from Manchester to Blackpool for the Christie Hospital. This year his wife, Sue and younger daughter, Imogen joined him. Thanks to everyone who sponsored them. Martyn himself raised £100 towards the £10000 target.
Multi Style Seminar, Leigh
Martyn, Andy and Ian had a great time on October 18th at a full afternoon's training with Iain Abernethy (Wado), Terry Pottage (Shito), Tony Christian (Goju), and Wayne Otto (Uechi). Look for pics in the tab, left. Full write-up here and in the martial arts press soon.
Left: Tony Christian wields a knife whilst Andy Allwood & his training partner Richard Pavsic look on
Self Defence Seminar
We all enjoyed former Special Forces operative, Andy Tate's 5 hour seminar on self protection on 20th September at Edgworth Dojo. For an overview of the course content, click HERE. See tab, left, for photos.
There had been a technical hitch with the Video Page.
That is now resolved.
Also, we have posted new footage of the Andy Tate seminar on a dedicated sub page. Thanks to Richard and Quillam for their contributions.
7th Oct 09 New video footage posted courtesy of Richard
Tower Shukokai Karate Demonstration at Edgworth Family DayThanks to Katie, Ian, James, James, Lewis, Sam, Alex and Chris for taking part in an excellent display. Pics posted in the "Edgworth Demo" tab. Thanks to Imogen for the photos, and to Richard for videoing the event, (and loaning the chairs).
Big Bad Mouse
If you missed it, read the Review here
Club Tournament a Great Success
Tower Shukokai karate club held its second club championships for juniors on Sunday March 29th at Edgworth School. Competitors aged from 6 years old to 11 competed in kumite (sparring, for points) and kata (pre-arranged form) events. For many this was to be their first experience of competition but all competitors excelled themselves both in terms of skill, and sportsmanship. There were no injuries and all bouts were completed with good grace and camaraderie, win or lose.
In the kata event, Joint third went to Connor Pritchard and Jamie Currie. The final was between 7 year old Declan Sisson and 11 year old Ryan McFarlane. Declan showed maturity beyond his years and diminutive size with an assured performance of the basic kata Shihozuki in the final, but maturity won the day and Ryan took his first medal of the day.
The smallest boys fought first in the kumite event, with Thomas Duggan and Lewis Campbell-Smith taking bronze. The final matched the tiny six ye
ar old Tom Currie against - to him at least - the Goliath, Declan Sisson. In a spirited bout young Tom eventually won through with some spectacular head kicks, winning the applause of the crowd,and the first prize trophy. Declan went away with his second runner up medal of the tournament. 
The middle sized boys were on next. With some very skilful kumite all round it was a great shame to see anyone eliminated. Connor Pritchard of Hoddlesden took his second bronze of the event, sharing the third place podium with Nick Collinson, who on Saturday was in two minds as to whether to enter at all. The final matched James Dady against James Foggo. In a see saw match which saw the size and strength of Foggo meet the agility and versatility of Dady, it was to be James Dady's day as he lifted the champion's trophy.
The last category of the afternoon was the older boys. Noteworthy in the eliminations was novice Lydon Hulley who narrowly lost to the experienced Chris King in the quarter final. Sam Armstrong and Ben Comer shared bronze and the audience were treated to a classy final between King and Ryan McFarlane, looking for his second gold. Chris seemed to up his game in response to the occasion and eventually took the bout -and the title- with some impressive kicking.
Officiating were Andy Allwood, Nick Heatlie-Jackson and Martyn Skipper. At the control table, scoring and administrating were Phoebe Morgan, and Olivia and Imogen Skipper who helped the day run smoothly. The club would also like to thank Headmaster Stewart Plowes for the use of the school premises.
Tower Shukokai is Darwen's oldest established karate club, having been founded in 1987 by Andy Allwood.
Andy and Martyn teach on Mondays and Saturdays at Edgworth School, and at Darwen Vale on Fridays.
For more info visit www.towershukokai.co.uk
Another Medal for Martyn
Darwen Karate instructor Martyn Skipper is in the medals again. 4th dan Skipper of Tower Shukokai karate Club took bronze in the veterans' kumite (fighting) event at the English Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield on Sunday 22nd March.
The Blacksnape resident, pictured with his bronze medal said, "To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. I won gold in an international at the same venue last month, and thought I was in with a good chance". Nevertheless, he continued "to be on the podium at the national championships can't be all bad."
Martyn has taken silver and bronze in the same event in previous years. The gold still eludes him, but he keeps on training.
Tower Shukokai is Darwen's oldest established karate club, having been founded in 1987 by Andy Allwood.
Andy and Martyn teach on Mondays and Saturdays at Edgworth School, and at Darwen Vale on Fridays.
For more info visit www.towershukokai.co.uk
