Huge thank you to everyone who part in our Club Championships. It was another tremendous success. Bigger and somehow, even better than last time.

It is just a shame that not everyone can win a medal but you all showed up with a positive attitude and gave us your best. That is all we can ask for. I hope you were delighted with your certificate and feel proud of yourself. If you didn’t win a medal, you are closer next time, because you’ll know what you can do better.

Again, the standard on display was just brilliant. Some of you were competing for the first time, some we remember from last time. Ours is a learning tournament where you should feel safe and comfortable to gain experience. You’ll improve each time. Remember we are all at different stages on our karate journey and some have had more time to practise than others. I hope you have seen plenty on the day to inspire you to train harder and become even better.

I like to take a little moment during the day to think about how far we have come as a Club. It’s important to appreciate the people who are still here, still improving and inspiring the next generation of superstars. I am talking about the Black Belts who started as young as 4/5/6 years old and are now big (moody) teenagers.

They could be sat at home or out with their mates like many of the people they started with. But instead they are here with us, most competing, some helping out in other roles but each and every one of you are showing all the upcoming youngsters EXACTLY how it’s done.

How to behave. How to win. How to lose. How to be a young adult to be proud of. The example you set is so, so important and we are blessed to have you here. You know you still LOVE it! - Ellis Pindoria Stott, Lola Fellone, Georgie Dyal, Jaime Pratley, Lori-Ann Moran, Gina Farrance, Ava Staton, Courteney Alty, Xander Matanle, Liam Dolan, Matty Affleck, Isaac Jepson, Lewis Thomas. Aaron Jefferson, Lola Girault, Grace Baron, Izzy Baron, Thomas Dolan, Lilly O’Donovan, Kirsten Wood, Charlotte Griffiths….. I could go on and on and I’m so sorry If I’ve missed anyone! Keep coming and inspiring the rest - we need you! I even saw some of you smile yesterday.

Mums and Dads, if you have any embarrassing podium pictures from when these lot were much younger, please send them in (info@redtigerkarateclub.co.uk) and we will make a news article of their lovely little angel faces! A then and now gallery! Or you can but them up side to side on our social media pages (Red Tiger Karate - Group Facebook page or Instagram). If you have little ones competing now, I urge you to take those pics and keep them for future.

There were some outstanding performances, but what we as a club value more than the karate - is the sportsmanship and spirit shown by all. The care for one another. The ‘leave it all on the mats’ spirit. One minute you are trying to knock each others heads off or out perform each other in Kata, the next - you are sat together having a laugh. It is a bit like senior class really! Thank you all for being a part of it, because it’s you that makes it happen. Some of the very best friendships have started with kicking and punching each other at karate! We even have groups of parents who have met at tournaments who regularly meet up with each other.

Competing teaches you to be resilient too. If things aren’t going your way, you have to dig in, gather the energy from somewhere and NEVER give up till it’s over. We saw a great example of this on our tatami, a competitor who got knocked down, but came back fighting. If you can develop resilience like that at karate, it will benefit you in life - I promise.

It was also lovely to see Zoey from our partner dojo Martial Arts East. Little Zoey once again travelled all the way from Norwich to take part and took home a well deserved Bronze medal for Kata. I hope you felt welcome and enjoyed yourself. She’s not afraid to take on the big Kata’s and we must applaud your bravery!

We couldn’t ask for a better group of parents and supporters either. You all played your part brilliantly and are so supportive. Praising the effort - not the result makes everyone a winner.

Being a sporting parent has it’s highs and lows. We definitely go through it with them which can be hard. But it is all worth it because events like this are beneficial in many ways. When they win, it builds confidence and links direct effort with reward. When they are disappointed, it builds character, instills determination and encourages perseverance.

We can’t all win at the first attempt, or even the second or third. But what we can do, is keep trying. Effort, determination and perseverance is within everyone’s power. Keep going and keep learning. Experience counts. We’ve all been there. Winners aren’t necessarily the best, they are people who carried on, learned from their mistakes and never gave up.

Before we reveal the results and the Dojo Championship Winners, the biggest THANKS must go to our Team. Our Instructors and team of officials who helped all day, (and some the day before) really are the heart and soul of the Club.

If we didn’t have a group of such dedicated, hard working and talented people around us, we would not be able to host events like this. They work you hard in classes, motivate you to have a go. Get you prepared for what to expect. Learn or revise the rules. Teach you the rules. Scorekeep, timekeep, judge and referee. Watch endless rounds of Kata and Kumite, share the joy of the winners, commiserate the disappointed, help the injured, set up and put away.

The list of their duties is endless and we are so appreciative. THANK YOU all. It couldn’t be done without you.

Paul Sensei and I often get a lot of the credit but it is true team effort. Massive respect to Mike Beckwith Sensei, Leesa Beckwith Sensei, Mike Baron Sensei, Jo Sysum Sensei, Gary Pratley Sensei and Rob Head Sensei who all stepped up when appointed as Tatami Managers and did a brilliant job.

The staff at the venue were great and a huge thank you to Team Grice for providing the refreshments and selling the merchandise. Thank you also to Michelle Baron for taking photos, very kind of you and we look forward to sharing them with you. She always manages to capture the atmosphere perfectly!

We do a little competition among the Instructors for who can motivate their team and win the most points. Instructors were awarded 1 point for each entrant. Then additional points are earned by their students. A gold medal is worth 3 points, a silver medal is worth 2 points and a bronze medal is worth 1 point.

The winning Sensei is Rob Head Sensei and his Stretford Dojos. Bragging rights this time going to the Manchester massive! Congratulations - We will crown the new King at Senior class tonight.

Between them they achieved the grand total of 66 points. Huge congratulations to Rob Sensei and his team at Stretford for all their medals.

June’s Champions Jon Sensei’s mighty Stockton Heath Dojo followed closely in second place with 49 points. Another strong performance from this exceptional team.

Mike & Grace Baron Sensei’s Standish Dojo earned 3rd place with 39 points, with Jo Sensei and Gary Sensei’s Darwen Dojo finishing just 1 point behind with 38 points.

Well done to you all!

Full results for Tatamis and Dojo Championships follows:

Dojo Championships Instructor Table