North Kent Kazen Kai Karate
Get Fit, Get Confident, Get Healthy

Hi everyone, there is a second post this month. Please read carefully.

Because of holidays and absences, I have decided to delay the summer day out till September. I will let everyone know of the new date for the bowling trip!

Sunday Session

Due to the difficulties that I am having with the numbers and differing abilities in the Sunday session, I have decided to make some changes. Also, because I have to split the class up, I dont get to watch everyone in as much detail as I would like. SO – There will now be TWO separate sessions on a Sunday. I think that all the changes we make going forward are positive ones and I hope that you agree;

11am – 12pm – All Juniors (age 14 and under)

12pm – 1pm – All seniors plus all juniors who are above green strip belt.

As I said when I spoke to you all today – I will be very flexible with the above parameters, as I understand that the changes may mean that some partners, brothers, sisters etc may get split up or it may be difficult for parents to pick up children…if this is the case, then please speak to me, as I am always flexible to working things to suit you best.

Again, as discussed today – any seniors can train for BOTH sessions if they so wish, but please be aware that the first session will be ONLY basic karate techniques. Of course this doesn’t mean that you can’t still learn a lot, but it just means that when you go to the session, you will KNOW that this is beginner level karate and the second session will be more advanced techniques. If you do wish to train in BOTH sessions, the cost of the session will increase but to still just £5 for the two hours, which is still the best around. Anyone training for just one hour, the cost will not change. Of course, those of you paying me monthly fees – there will be no changes.

Again, I must reiterate – those of you that do not want to be split from your friends, if you talk to me first, we can make some arrangements. But I would definitely like all beginners and juniors to train in AT LEAST the first session.

I hope that is all very clear. Any questions, you all know how to get hold of me.

Drinks for Senior North Kent Karate Members

As most of you will know, we are having a training session and drinks for all senior North Kent Karate members, THIS FRIDAY! The training session will be at the Acacia Gym (formerly the Glaxo Welcome Gym), Dartford.  Please click here to see a map. The session is FREE, courtesy of my friend Mark, who is a personal trainer at the gym.

The gym is located just off the one-way system, at the bottom of East Hill. Just take the first left as soon as you enter the one-way system, directly opposite the church, about 25 meters before the KFC (I bet you all know where the KFC is!). There is plenty of parking on site. Those of you that know the gym, we will be in “the Studio” building, which is the small separate building, situated by the gym staff car park. Please give me a call if you get lost. Training will begin at 8pm finishing at 9pm, there are showers on site. I hope to walk into the town for about 9.30pm.

Those of you that would like to have a good few drinks and don’t have a lift, please speak to me! Don’t drive unless you have to! There will be plenty of people getting cabs home, so there will almost certainly be space for you. Those of you that live in Greenhithe, Swanscombe, Northfleet, Gravesend – there will be cabs going that way. So please dont feel the need to drive unless you have to, it would be nice for us to all let our hair down after a tough session (which it will be!). You dont have to stay out late with us, but it would be really nice to see you all for at least a couple of drinks in the local pubs. For the training session, please bring a bottle of water.

September Grading date

The September grading will be Sunday 19th September. I have confirmed this with Swanscombe Leisure Centre, as this will be the venue. The grading will start at 10am finishing at 11am.

Thats it! Any questions or problems, as always – please get in touch. You all have my number.

Regards,

Saj

Share on Facebook

Hi everyone! As always, please read this months post carefully, it is all of great importance.

As most of you will be aware, we have gone across to Sensei Simon Kidd’s Kazen Kai Karate. You should have all read your newsletter and for those few that are still returning from your holidays, I will give out the newsletter in your next session. Just so you know, Sensei Donovan and I have remained on good terms – we are still invited to his annual summer course and to any training sessions that he organises in future, there are no hard feelings between the two parties.

Moving forward – Kazen Kai karate is very similar to Ishinryu. Sensei Kidd was Ishinryu for many years from its inception until he began his own association in 2001, so please do not worry; you will not have to suddenly learn a completely new syllabus. The next few months will be transitional and the thing that will be changed which will have the greatest effect on you – will be the half belt grading system, which is for juniors only. I can assure you, it is a very positive change and it will only serve to improve your karate further. Again, please read the newsletter, it will give you a better understanding. Alternatively, you can always speak with me regarding any questions you may have.

I will answer the main question that will be on everyone’s lips – Will it cost us any more money? No. Absolutely not. Those of you that have bought badges, I will cover the cost of the new badges myself. Those of you that have bought Ishinryu insurance and are fully licensed, Sensei Kidd will take your details across to his database and have you immediately covered against injury. Those of you that have paid for syllabuses, Sensei Kidd has kindly offered to replace them with the Kazen Kai ones – FREE of charge.

I look forward to a great future for North Kent Karate, the new changes implemented will make us better, stronger and help for better growth towards the back end of the year. We already have 10 students training on a Monday night each week (the new session) and I am already looking for a decent venue to open up a Thursday night session. We grow with each month that passes and I am very excited to see what 2011 brings. To give you an idea of our growth, in the last grading, there were 8 people taking part. At this Sunday’s grading, there are 22!! Yes, TWENTY TWO! Again, I can’t give enough praise to Sensei Jim, David, Des, Shani, Stuart and anyone else that has helped to coach. The club can not function and grow without your help. I am indebted to your dedication to our club. THANK YOU!

Sunday’s Grading – Swanscombe Leisure Centre

As mentioned above, this Sunday’s grading is a massive one. The biggest we have ever had. Therefore, to help me, I can not reiterate enough – DO NOT BE LATE. I would advise to leave home early in case of traffic. When you arrive, do not sit about – get yourself warmed up and focused on the task ahead. Prove yourself worthy of the next belt and take the day seriously – then you will certainly pass. Attitude on the day is key to being a well-rounded karateka (a student of karate). We will be watching all of you closely. For the day – please bring your license with you, your grading fee and a drink. Do not forget your license!

Any questions, please give me a call.

See you at the next session,

Regards,

Saj

Share on Facebook

Hi everyone!

A smaller post than usual today, because of the recent release of the club newsletter. I just want to go over a couple of the points I made in that letter…

Changes To Wednesday’s Session

As those of you who received the recent newsletter will know – there is a new session opening up on Wednesday eve, from 7.30 to 8.30pm. This is because of the large numbers we have for the earlier session, the need to teach a few of you in smaller groups and also because many people have asked for longer sessions, in your surveys. If you would like to train for two hours, the session will cost just £5 for juniors and £6 for seniors. Alternatively, you still have the choice of “either or” and if you choose to do this, the price will not change – just £3 for juniors and £4 for seniors.

Those of you that pay me monthly fees, there will be no change in price.

More Trophies For NKK!

Eight members of the club recently took part in the week-long Ticky Donovan Summer course, in which we once again made a great account of ourselves. Ticky Donovan 9th Dan OBE was extremely impressed with our standards. North Kent Karate is still one of the best around and thanks to everyone for your efforts in the week. For details and names of the trophy winners, please see the newsletter.

Club Grading

The next club grading will take place on Sunday 15th of August and I have also taken the decision to have another grading in September (date to be announced) for those of you who are on holidays during the school break. Please see newsletter for more details.

Club Day Out

After looking at the results from your surveys, I have decided that we are going to go bowling for the clubs first day out! I have set the date at Sunday the 29th of August. Please let me know if you cannot make this date. See newsletter for more details.

The Eddie Gillespie 5th Dan, Annual Winter Course

Sensei Eddie Gillespie’s annual winter course is a fantastic weekend of karate and fun for all! I would like everyone who is available, to try and make the weekend. For those of you that need notice to take time off work, the date has been set for November 12th-14th. We will set off on the Friday, returning on the Sunday eve. Please see the newsletter for more details.

Thats it for July, as always, if you do have any questions, please come and speak with me.

regards,

Saj

Share on Facebook

Hi everyone!

Sorry I am late on the June post, but things have been very busy for me recently and I have only just had time to sit down and compose something. The following post is extremely important, so please read it carefully.

The competition was a great success and we were one of the best clubs on the day – again! The following people won medals at the International London Karate Open, at the Excel Centre.

Shani Ratnayake – GOLD female black belt KATA

David Knight – BRONZE male Black belt over 75kgs KUMITE

Ben Greenland – GOLD under 4ft 10 boys KUMITE

Lauren Clements – BRONZE under 5ft 3 girls KUMITE

Meg Davies – BRONZE under 5ft 3 girls KATA

Terry Taylor – BRONZE mixed senior KATA

Leanne Freeman – BRONZE mixed senior up to 1st kyu KATA

Well done to all of you! You continue to represent the club well and win medals at a very high standard. We are all proud of you.

CLUB TRACKSUITS (not compulsory to wear) Sensei Eddie Gillespie 5th Dan and chief instructor of North East Ishinryu (our sister club), has brought in club track suits! He has bought them in bulk, which means that we can have the first batch off him for just £20!! I think all of you will agree that £20 for a full tracksuit is amazing. You would be lucky to get a t-shirt for that price! Once he has sold the first batch, they will go up to the normal price of £40-£45. Of course, this is optional – you do not have to have one. But those of you that do will have to put your order in with me before NEXT WEDNESDAY 23rd at the very latest, as I am seeing Sensei Eddie to collect the ordered tracksuits On Saturday 26th next week. Sorry for the short notice, but I only received a phone call from him this morning. Please call me or text me immediately on 07903513104 and get your low priced tracksuit early, to avoid missing out on this one-off opportunity. I already have put in an order for 10 tracksuits - they are going fast!

THE TICKY DONOVAN SUMMER COURSE – Just so that you are aware, all the black belts are away on a week long karate training course, from Sunday 27th June returning on Sunday 4th. As you can imagine, finding cover will not be easy, but you will almost certainly have an instructor for the lessons, but if any lessons need to be cancelled, I will let you all know.

That’s it for this post! I just want to end it on a massive thank you to all that supported me at the karate demo at the Craylands Lane fete on Saturday. I think the club looked fantastic.

THANK YOU!

regards,

Saj

Share on Facebook

Hi everyone,

These last few months have been busy ones at the club, with our dojos seeing great growth and as such I have decided to expand into the local town of Gravesend. The new session is every Monday from 6-7pm at Old Gravesendians Association, Bronte View, Gravesend, DA12 1PX. Click here for a map It is right next to Old Gravesendians Rugby Football Club, next to the bowling green. I would like to see as many of you there as possible for the first session, which starts on Monday 24th May. Those of you with cars, it is about a ten minute drive from Swanscombe. Those of you without cars and needing a regular lift to the training session, as always – please speak to me as I will arrange a lift for you.

The recent grading was a successful one, with no less than SIX first class passes – well done to Emma, Lauren, Taimir, Rob, Kris and Ben in this achievement. Also, congratulations must go out to everyone else that passed their next belt and to Callum who was double graded to orange belt! Well done Callum. Thank you as always to David and Des for your help on the grading day.

Training this Sunday (16th) is cancelled.

Competition fees – Those of you competing on the 30th MUST hand me your fees next week at the latest. I have already entered the club into the competition and paid the fees myself. I have outlined the amounts owing below, please give me a call or talk to me at the next lesson if you have any problems paying or if you believe that I have made an error below.

Des Regan – over 75kg Kumite, Champions Cup Kumite, Senior Team Kumite –  Owing £35

Richard Miller – under 75kg Kumite, Champions Cup Kumite, Senior Team Kumite – Owing £35

Meg Davis – Under 5ft 3 girls Kumite, Junior Team Kumite, Individual Kata – Owing £35

Ryan Covill – Under 5ft 3 boys kumite, Individual Kata – PAID

Callum Bridel – Under 4ft 10 boys kumite, Junior Team Kumite, Individual Kata – PAID

Ben Greenland – Under 4ft 10 boys Kumite, Junior Team Kumite, Individual Kata – PAID

Stuart Owen – Under 75kg Mens Kumite, Champions Cup, Senior Team Kumite – £35

Lauren Clements – Under 5ft 3 girls Kumite, Individual Kata – PAID

Shani Ratnayake – Women’s Kata – £15

Rob Riley –  Individual Kata – £15

Kris Hiscock – Individual Kata – £15

Phil Bull – Individual Kata – £15

Leanne Freeman – Women’s Kata – PAID

Terry Taylor – Male Kata, Veteran’s Kata – PAID

If anyone else would like to compete, please speak to me at the next training session and I will enter you into the competition. No matter how bad you think you are, competing is all about gaining experience, so if you want to compete you must speak with me immediately. Those of you that want to come along and watch on the day, please speak to me as there will be plenty of spare seats available.

That is all for now. As always, any questions – please speak to me.

Thanks,

Saj

Share on Facebook