News

Wednesday 15 May saw the Annual Royal Navy vs the Royal Marines Championships take place at HMS Temerare in Portsmouth.

This year, a few selected Washinkai referees and judges officiated.  Unfortunately, this year many servicemen were deployed which meant both the Karate and Taekwondo competitors were limited.  However, high standards were evident with the chosen few who could compete.

I would like to thank Shaz Shahid 6th Dan, Neil Benton 6th Dan, Chris Wateridge 5th Dan, Mike Beasley 5th Dan for helping the event run smoothly in both kata and kumite.

The Washinkai Cup and Trophy, which were scheduled to take place on this day, has been postponed to make it an Autumn event.  This enabled the Canons Karate Club to host a general course on Sunday 12 May at the Canons Leisure Centre.  Students of all grades and ages attended.  A range of Washinkai Karate techniques were covered.

Credit must go to Annette Turpin 6th Dan for hosting and organising the course.

This well attended course attracted Clubs from Tadworth, SMKC and Canons Mitcham.

On Saturday 4 May 2019, Shihan Chris Thompson, 9th Dan, Chief Instructor of Washinkai, led the first course to be held at our Dover Club. It is over 20 years since the last course was held in Dover. The course was hosted by Sensei Pete Saunders. The Club Instructors at present are Sensei Calum Mendham 4th Dan and Sensei Pete Saunders 2nd Dan.

Sensei Neville Smith 7th Dan, started the Dover Clubs in the 1980s and is still the Chief Instructor for the Club, as well as all the other Washinkai Clubs in Kent.

This was the second occasion that Andy Newman, 5th Dan, hosted the Washinkai Yudansha at his dojo in Medstead, Hampshire.

Shihan Thompson covered the history of the formation of Washinkai in depth. He discussed how in 1975, the Founder of Wado-Ryu, Hironori Ohtsuka, attended class at which Shihan Thompson was teaching. At this time, Ohtsuka explained in depth his philosophy of why karate was so beneficial for people to study.