This was our last Brown and Black Belt Course of 2022 and what a way to go out!

Our largest attendance yet with over 90 RTK Students and Instructors taking part at the Kearsley Academy. We certainly ended 2022 in style because everyone was well and truly put through their paces and there wasn’t a dry forehead or gi in the house! They were all goosed. I suppose that’s what happens when Callum Miles Sensei is part of the teaching team. Keep up with that energy if you can!

After a short warm up and a challenging fitness section we split into two groups. The brown belts, 2nd Kyu’s and 1st Kyu’s were grouped together to begin grading practise for both brown and black belts. They went through all the combinations, up and down, up and down, up and down with Sensei Paul. The group then practised their Katas and Jiyu Ippon kumite with Rachael Sensei.

We had a small but mighty group of brown belts and 2nd Kyu’s who had enrolled for grading. These were examined by Paul Wolstencroft Sensei, Leesa Beckwith Sensei, Karen Anderson Sensei and Lee Edwards Sensei whilst the remaining brown belts went through Kata - Junro Shodan with Callum Sensei.

We are delighted to report that the Kyu grading candidates all passed with flying colours.

Congratulations to all our new 2nd Kyu’s - Salvatore Tognarelli, Logan Hill-Critchley, Anton Sandilands and Isaac Shakos. Sounds like you all put on excellent performances especially Salvatore who was awarded very high marks in all areas. We look forward to seeing you all progress as you approach your Black Belt, keep up the great work - you are almost there.

Huge well done to our new 1st Kyu’s - Dexter Earley, Jane Murison, Lydia Palmer, Iris and Joseph Corlett, Luke Wilson and Holly Kendall. Another group with enormous talent and all scored consistently high marks across the board. We do hope that you continue to train hard towards achieving your black belt in 2023. Set that goal now and make it your year!

Our Black Belts were treated to a Kata Marathon as many prepared to take very senior Dan grades. They then covered a couple of kumite drills and finished off with a few rounds of sparring.

These B and B Courses offer not only the chance to focus on improving your advanced karate, you often get the opportunity to work with or spar senior grades. Stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself to your limits is the only way to discover what you are truly capable of. If you train the same way, with the same people, week in, week out, guess what? You’ll get the same results. If you steel yourself to take on new challenges and work with those further on in their karate journey, guess what? You’ll learn from them and get better. We were all beginners at some point and we’ve all travelled the same path.

With that said, we had a wonderful group of youngsters who have reached the end of the Kyu Grade path and will now join the Dan Grade path, where you become a beginner all over again! With so much still to learn about karate and yourself, the karate journey is never-ending.

For those who passed, we congratulate you on a job well done. We are so pleased for you and proud that you represent our club at this level. To you I say this - CARRY ON. Nothing changes for you. The only thing that changes is the way others view you. Now, some of you get to wear a black belt in class, or have achieved Nidan, Sandan or Gondan. These levels command respect and you have earned this over many years of training and dedication. Wear your belt with pride and know that you have achieved something that very few people ever could. Think of all of the people you trained with when you first started, I bet there are very few left still doing it. You are unique, it doesn't make you better than anyone else. It symbolises a student who began their karate journey many years ago, worked extremely hard week in, week out and never gave up.

With senior grades comes big responsibility:

Responsibility to ALWAYS try hard.

Responsibility to show up and set an example.

Responsibility to inspire others the way you have been inspired.

Responsibility to continue to develop and keep learning.

Responsibility to stay fit, healthy and strong. Look after your body.

Responsibility to remain humble and respectful. A peaceful warrior who will fight as a last resort.

Responsibility to fulfil your potential.

Continue to set new goals and train with purpose. Did you know we practise the 26 Shotokan Kata plus 5 Junro's. You have learned 8 if you are at Shodan level. There is so much still to do. You can begin to pass your knowledge onto others by beginning to teach. You can start testing yourself through competition. The opportunities are right here and available to all.

Not one person went home having failed the full grading. There were just two students who were asked to come back and retake one particular section. Think about it in terms of scoring 66% in a test. You didn’t do badly at all. In fact, you did VERY WELL. We cannot fault the effort and we must respect the courage you showed to try.

Do what you need to do and come back full of confidence next time around. You’ve already spent so many 7 years working hard at your karate, what’s another few weeks of specific kata or kumite training? Carry on, you have come too far to give it all up now. 

I also just want to take some time to thank all of the instructors who have continued to teach and motivate you. We are so lucky as Karate Instructors that we get to see you grow up and fulfil your potential. Your teacher at School changes each year, we get to take you from beginner with zero knowledge or skills to highly skilled, physically and mentally strong Black Belts and beyond.

Then you end up bigger than us! Our job is to make you better than us. Each generation of students better than the last. Throughout our shared experience, a mutual respect and friendship is developed between Sensei and Student that can last a lifetime.  We have the most rewarding job in the World.

RTK are lucky to have such a wonderful team of Sensei’s who care so much about their students and do a fabulous job.

Thanks to the examiners Paul Sensei, Rob Sensei, Leesa Sensei, Callum Sensei, Karen Sensei and Lee Sensei for sharing their expertise and Helen Dolan Sensei for all your help and hard work behind the scenes. Also to John Dolan Sensei for being our first aid man! We all got there in the end eh.

Congratulations to the following students who dared to be great. We enjoyed watching each and every one of you. You showed us everything we wanted to see; indomitable spirit, an excellent standard and laser focus. After many years of dedication, we always say a few words about each person and what makes them so special to us.

Grace Wilson - Shodan 1st Dan Black Belt - PASS

Grace has always been an exceptionally talented young lady. Right from the very beginning, we knew she was special and that she was going to achieve great things if she could stick at it. Just look at her now, absolutely incredible in every way. Her Kihon was exceptional, her katas were super sharp and she was so brave in the kumite. The confidence just radiates from this young lady and that is because she knew she had put the work in. She has trained non-stop since the day she started, several times a week, every week. Katie deserves a mention because she has provided Grace and Luke with every opportunity possible to become this brilliant. The dedication, the perseverance, training almost daily during lockdown, everything Grace has done led to this day, where she simply blew us away with her karate. I cannot tell you what a lovely little girl she is too, not an ounce of big headedness, she is polite, helpful and wonderful with our other students. What a role model and fabulous Cadet Leader. We are delighted that Grace is a black belt and I hope that she will continue to inspire others in her classes and keep training hard, because the sky is the limit for Grace. She is that good. Well done.

Noah Cubbin - Shodan 1st Dan Black Belt - PASS

I was so pleased to see Noah’s name on the grading list because I know he has been training with us for so many years. He has also been really dedicated from the start with very supportive parents. I could not believe the improvement he has made between 1st Kyu and black belt. He has always been a bit shy and lacking in confidence but at his grading he was simply amazing. Really sharp, focused and determined to show us how good he has become. We could tell he was a little nervous but quickly overcame those nerves and smashed it. I loved his sparring, he was calm and controlled and was landing carefully placed head kicks for fun. Another fantastic Black Belt for the Little Lever class and Sensei Callum and Sensei Mark. This area really does produce the TALENT. Congratulations Noah and we hope that you will continue to train and set a great example to other kids in your class, because you are proof of what can be achieved with effort, persistence and determination.

Daniel Price - Retake Kata

Daniel put in an excellent performance at his grading. He is a very committed karateka and always trains hard. He scored highly in both the kihon and the kata sections and impressed the panel with his technique and how well he can move. He did struggle a little in the sparring section but knowing Daniel he will work on whatever he is asked to and be back better than ever. He took the disappointment well and should be so proud that he passed 2/3rds of the grading. He is a fantastic Cadet Leader and a great help to Karen Sensei. He remains a fantastic role model to all of our students and we have no doubts that he has everything it takes to complete his grading with focused effort in the next couple months. Chin up, you have every reason to be proud of yourself.

Loui D’Attorre - Shodan 1st Dan Black Belt - PASS

What a student and what a grading. Loui is a phenomenal talent and it has been an absolute pleasure to play a part in his journey to Black Belt. Very early on, we knew he had a natural gift. Sometimes students come along and they have a quality to their karate that you just can’t teach. He learns so quickly and performs everything so well, it looks effortless and classy. He quite rightly has tested himself outside the club in an effort find out how good he really is and has managed to medal at almost every comp he’s been to, despite being a Kyu grade whilst most his age are already Dan grades. He is brave and determined when out on the mats. His Katas are extremely good but it is his kumite where he really excels. Loui has timing and controls distance expertly, he knows just how far away he needs to be so that he can attack when he wants to and will instantly counter and punish you, should you break into his distance. We thought we would really test him and bring him up against Sam Jackson Sensei and he actually did really well, coming straight out with a chudan mawashi. He also showed his toughness and durability in that bout. Massive respect to you Loui, some would have frozen - you showed your spirit. Well done. What I want to say to you Loui is that you are such an inspirational student in our class and you have no idea how good you are. You are great with our juniors, always patient and helpful and we really do hope you continue to set goals and stay motivated because we NEED students like you in our Club. You’re a brilliant role model and we are proud of your conduct both in and out of the Club. Never change.

Liam Conway - Shodan 1st Dan Black Belt - PASS

Liam has been training in our Club from such a young age and has grown into an absolutely lovely young man. Always polite and trains really hard every time we see him. The improvement he has made over the last couple of years is immeasurable. We have had some brilliant students through the doors of the Stoneclough class and Liam is the latest in a long line of talent that has developed here. Liam proved that the black belts from Stoneclough just get better and better. He excelled in all areas, scoring highly in Kihon, Kata and Kumite. He landed some excellent techniques and has learned to be patient rather than just flying in. If we can add some feints and work on your movement, we will have a ridiculously talented kumite fighter on our hands. All credit to Liam who isn’t afraid of stepping out of his comfort zone in order to improve. He is already working with others a little further along in order to get where he wants to be and fullfil his enormous potential. We are excited by your talent Liam and are all certain that there is much more to come from you. You could be one of the best!

Isabella Lawrie - Shodan 1st Dan Black Belt - PASS

What a superstar Bella is. She is another student who has shown great promise from the very beginning. It is always exciting when you meet a really focused young student with bags of potential. A real hard worker, dedicated and enthusiastic. It is easy to see why she has made it to black belt at such a young age. She worked tirelessly throughout the course and was eager to correct anything she was asked to. Bella is clearly an intelligent young lady with a great work ethic. Her kihon on the day was sharp and strong. She gained high marks for her Katas, they were explosive where they needed to be but also flowed beautifully. We made her spar Lori-Ann who was going for her Sandan and is a highly experienced and decorated competitor. Isabella remained calm and disciplined and landed a few good techniques. I am pleased she got this opportunity to spar somebody who will inspire her as Bella inspires others. She is an excellent cadet leader and is helping to motivate the next generation of Altrincham and Handforth superstars. An outstanding grading Bella, we hope that you will continue to honour your gift as you have everything it takes to achieve great things with your Karate.

Gary Mahood - Nidan

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Denton/Dukinfield and Reddish class LEGEND Gary Mahood is now a NIDAN. Gary is such a lovely man, we love having him our Club. He is such a laugh in the class. He is one of our longest serving members in the entire club starting back in 2007? I think? And grading to Shodan in 2014. It has been a long old road to his Nidan but persist he did and now he’s done it. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone look so relieved to hear Sensei Paul say the words ‘Pass Nidan’ and probably never will again. It must be a massive weight that has been lifted off his shoulders. He did very well in the combinations despite having to perform them on his own. The Kata section has always been his nemesis and it almost got the better of him again. He took his second chance with both hands and then all that was left was the small matter of kumite. Gary is always game for a fight so he survived this section pretty well despite having to fight Greg Burton, Gary Sensei and Mike Sensei. He got off a few good techniques and proved he can handle himself. We are over the moon for you Gary, you really deserve this and I am so glad you finally found the confidence to give it a second go. That’s real character and you have earned the respect of everyone. Well done - Sandan next Gary - come on!

Gary Pratley - Sandan

We are absolutely made up for Gary Pratley Sensei who is loved and respected both inside and outside this Club more than he will know. You’ll have to go a long way to find anyone more dedicated than Gary Sensei who trains so hard and so often. He gives it 100% each and everytime he trains, you will NEVER hear an excuse come out of his mouth. He is at Karate most nights and loves his Saturday morning teaching class. He has guided some incredibly talented students over the years including his own son Jaime and will never comprehend the positive impact he has had on so many lives. He expects the best from his students because he only accepts the best from himself. He has a very powerful style of karate and his choice of Kata suited him perfectly. He smashed his second Kata and was 100% positive going forward in his Kumite. There was no way he was getting an element only pass this time. He made CERTAIN of that. I don’t know whether it was because he felt more comfortable with a home crowd but you really were so much better than last time. More confident and more able to show off. It shows what you can do when you finally believe in yourself. You are an inspiration to others in so many ways. Keep being you!

Lily Girault - Sandan 1st Dan Black Belt - Retake Kata

Lily Sensei showed tremendous courage in attempting her grading. We are a relatively young club without many senior dan grades, so for her to put herself out there and go for Sandan commands the respect of us all. She was absolutely fearless in the kumite and we really enjoyed watching her fight. She was so comfortable as always in a pair of mitts and pads, is great going forward and quickly punishes the mistakes of her opponents. She is highly resected among the Instructor team and always a tough challenge to spar with. It just wasn’t her day with the Katas I’m afraid. Sometimes, the pressure of the occasion creeps up and can overwhelm even the best prepared. We are with you and know you will be kicking yourself, but don’t. You know exactly what we are expecting to see next time and you will do it, because you are a strong resilient character who we all admire and respect. Well done.

Greg Burton - Sandan 3rd Dan Black Belt - PASS

‘Happy’ Greg Burton along with his Brother Phil and Mum Bernie Sensei are some of our longest serving students. He has been delighted to be training since about 2008! Jokes aside, he has always been one of the hardest workers in the room who would one day become incredible at karate. One of our best to do it. He’s grown up to become such a strong and powerful karateka who (like Loui) manages to make it look effortless. He is 100% class and loves to fight. His movement is incredible, as is his timing and decision making in the moment. You won’t find anyone more calm and composed in a kumite situation than Greg, he gives nothing away. Totally focused on dismantling the opponent. He is a formidable challenge for all of us and to keep him improving we have been finding challenges for him outside the Club. He’s had a tremendous year of competing and is the AMA Male National Kumite Champion. I could talk about his kumite all day but what we didn’t expect on the day was how good his Katas were. He has finally decided he wants them to be better and has really put his mind to it. They were actually excellent I have to say. I really enjoyed your Jion and your Empi. Both looked very sharp and strong and well practised. We love having Team Burton in our Club, you are all fantastic. Congratulations Greg on your hard earned and well deserved Sandan. Massive respect to you for doing it at such a young age. I’m sure you’ll continue to develop and go further with your karate because you are amazing. Well done.

Christopher Dempsey - 3rd Dan Black Belt - PASS

Don’t we all absolutely love Chris Dempsey! He’s been training since the age of 10 and I remember one of previous Sensei’s Nichola Rose saying we’ve got this lad and he’s amazing, he wants to be an Instructor etc. She was right, he was and still is absolutely brilliant. He was so nervous for his grading and throughout the course leading up to it. But once he came up and started his Katas, he proved why he is one of the very best. His choice Kata suited his karate perfectly. Strong and explosive and then we decided we would challenge him with the more lengthy Kata - Kankudai, which he absolutely smashed until he added an extra oizuki. 2nd time round though was perfect. He showed that he can remain calm under pressure. He began strong with his kumite and then everyone’s nightmare happened - he got caught. Happens to the best of us, there is no doubt about that. Once he regained his composure he was back up and willing to try again. Full credit to you Chris for your resilience and quite frankly your bravery and you gave it a right good go against Mike Sensei, well done. There is no quit in you young man and that is why you deserve the grade you have. You are an inspirational fella who can and will get better and better. Let’s set some more goals and perhaps become that Instructor little 10 year old Chris always wanted to be!

Lori-Ann Moran - Sandan 3rd Dan Black Belt - PASS

Awwww our Lovely Little Lanny is now a Sandan - we are absolutely over the moon for you! You so deserve this. After over 11 years of non-stop training almost everyday before going off to Uni, you are an incredibly inspirational karateka. It is such a shame that there weren’t more young or teenage girls who could watch you and see what can be achieved with dedication and perseverance. You just get better and better. Even with ongoing health issues you don’t let anything stop you or hold you back. The spirit and the fire is still there, burning as bright as ever. You have achieved so much over the years, National titles, EKF medals, training morning and evening in Japan twice yet you still have the desire to do more. You certainly earned my respect over there, training day and night and not complaining or wanting to rest even once. You’ve done it all and won it all, Student of the Year, countless awards, four hundred and forty thousand certificates with a little heart on the ‘i’. We are so proud of you and were honoured to be watching you grade again. Your Katas were actually quite beautiful to watch, with your Junro Yondan scoring even higher than your Gankaku. Then your sparring is always incredible. You are calm, you keep it classy, you never hurt anyone but you are still fierce. You are the total package, a complete karateka and we are so lucky that you train with us and have remained loyal all these years. It has been a pleasure to watch you grow up become such a wonderful young woman both in and out of the dojo. I am so glad Grace and Isabella could watch what a strong young female you are. P.S. We love you Julie too! She couldn’t have done any of it without you! 10/10 Mum skills. I bet there’s never been a karate parent who has done more miles in their car or on aeroplanes supporting their child doing what they love the most. You are a diamond!

Sam Jackson - Sandan 3rd Dan Black Belt - PASS
I have so much to say about Sam Jackson (now Sensei Sam!) and so little room to write. Starting this Club was (and still is) hard work, it’s long hours, day and night, doing all the boring paperwork when all you want to do is practise Karate and then someone like Sam steps through your dojo doors. And you remember exactly why this is the best job in the world. He was then and still is BORN TO DO IT. I never stopped going on about him then and still don’t now. If we had to pick a GOAT out of all the students we’ve ever had in the history of this Club, Sam has to be up there. He’s won everything there is to win here and done incredibly outside of the club. I think Sam may also have four hundred and forty thousand certificates with Master Jackson on too! After after that performance for Sandan, for me - number 1. Anyone who watched the grading can see why. Those Katas….. Wow. The Unsu that he used to relentlessly practise and perfect has now come to life as he has become a 21 year old powerhouse. The control of that Gankaku. INCREDIBLE. The yoko’s, the tobi maegeri, the turn - all PERFECT. There is no secret to his success, all I can tell you is that Sam worked his butt off at every lesson. Three/four times a week, every week. He took advantage of every opportunity to better himself. He took part in every event, he’d come along and help at gradings. He’d turn up early and practise before class and help anyone who needed him. He was always and still is - the perfect student. I am so happy he now works along side us passing on his extraordinary skills and bringing through a load of mini-Sams! His kumite was always good but he was small and as a result didn’t always get the medals. But look at him now, massive! I like that he can switch between being ferocious and gentle depending on who his partner is. His kicking ability is exceptional and once he lets those legs go, it’s game over. The timing seems to have come all of a sudden aswell. He seems to know what you are going to do then cuts you dead with a gyzami or a gyak. Lastly, I want to just say how humble Sam is. He is the most laid-back relaxed character you’ll ever meet. So talented, so brilliant at what he does, yet he’s got no idea. Never change Master Jackson. We must mention Kerry, Mark and Charlotte who for years and years drove Sam up and down the motorway just so he could come and train. You share in his success and have been there throughout it all. Thank you guys too.

Mike Beckwith - Godan 5th Dan Black Belt - PASS

Mike Beckwith Sensei 5th Dan Black Belt - sounds great doesn’t it? The Master rank. I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Mike Sensei. He has diligently studied karate for over 25 years. Some reach this level simply because they never quit. Mike Sensei has reached this level because he deserves it and he can do it all. We could have called out any Kata and he would have been able to do it, or break it down and then teach it. He has acquired expert knowledge over a prolonged period of training. Karate is a huge part of his life and he dedicated thousands of hours of training and teaching to it. There has been personal and financial sacrifices made as he has collected this knowledge including travelling to and training in Japan. Not many Karateka can fulfill this dream and Mike Sensei is lucky to have been one of them. He’s been there and seen how it is done in the homeland so that he can make sure we are delivering the right karate and standards to our members. This is a man who fully deserves everything he has because he has EARNED it.

He did brilliantly at the grading. He chose a Kata that suited his Karate very well as he is powerful. He then did a strong sochin which flowed nicely and suited his stances. He looked great in the kumite and has really improved, his movement was good he was throwing feints and cutting angles, making it difficult for his opponents to get into any sort of rhythm. He landed some great combinations and body mawashi’s. I think I might have even seen a jodan mawashi!!!! Always good to see one of those if you’ve still got them up your sleeve, now we know!!!!

I think we all have a Mike Beckwith Sensei Story from a time where he has influenced our lives for the better. For Paul Sensei it was his green belt grading, where he came over and introduced himself, shook his hand and wished him good luck. For me it was when I was a beginner and he covered the class I was training in, he told me he thought I work hard and then promptly flattened me in a game of bulldog. Then at my first ever tournament he came over, put me at ease and wished me good luck. Then gave me a good mark for Kata even though it was probably awful! I was 11. People never forget the kindness of this man and the positive impact both he and Leesa Sensei leave on their lives. I’ve never met a person who has a bad word to say about Saint Mike!

I also remember watching him do a grading or it might have just been a seminar when I was 15 and a very nasty Regional Manager with no control whatsoever put a real beating on him. He gave as good as he got though. Mike Sensei can absolutely have it when he wants to! He was knackared, he’d done a 3 hour session, stood there with his nose broken, gi wet through, blood all over but you know what, he never for a single second even thought about giving up. He was ready in haikodachi, totally focused for whoever was next. Fast forward a year or 25 and thankfully we don’t have to put up with this kind of bad behaviour and together Mike Sensei has helped us build a professionally run Club that we can all be incredibly proud of. He is as passionate and enthusiastic now as he was back then. He still greets beginners with that cheeky little grin. He still encourages absolutely everyone and puts them at ease with his laid back and calming aura.

That is a Black Belt and that is a Sensei. Someone to look up to and admire. He is a true gentleman both in and out of the dojo. A family man, a loving father and husband who takes the pots back to the kitchen when you make him a brew. Leesa Sensei has him very well trained.

Not one of us would be where we are today without Mike Sensei. He is the captain that steadies the ship. The glue that holds us together. The one we go to when we have big decisions to make and want reassurance. We are so lucky to have him and Leesa Sensei in our Club. Well done :-)