Congratulations to all the wonderful students who were put forward by their Instructors to attend the Student of the Year Awards 2024.

Each person was selected by their Sensei for going above and beyond this year. We can all regularly attend lessons and make steady progression but these students have not only had excellent attendance, they have also impressed their Instructor with attitude and effort. Week in, week out these students give us their very best and we appreciate it.

Not every student has immense talent, but what all of these students have in common is a love for karate and utmost dedication to their class and our Club. Money cannot buy discipline, determination or dedication, this is built from within and these students have spent 2024 in their building era putting in the hours and the graft! Each and every one sets a positive example to others and are all great ambassadors of our Club. Their trophies are well deserved and they should all be proud of this achievement.

The karate portion of the seminar was hard work but thoroughly enjoyable and we finished of with some fun team games towards the end. It was one of our favourite seminars we have ever done. I think it is safe to say that we all enjoyed training together and doing what we love practising the most - karate!

We also rewarded our fabulous Instructor Team with trophies for outstanding commitment to their students and our Club. We appreciate each and every one of them. We couldn’t run this Club without them. Without our team, we have no club. Thank you all!

We must also thanks the parents, guardians and partners for their commitment and support too. Without you enabling your loved ones to attend our classes they would not be able to achieve anything. You are the most important people on the journey and our most successful students usually have a great support system to back them, push them and keep them motivated. T H A N K Y O U so much!

There were an extra four trophies awarded on the day. Congratulations to the following students who were chosen to receive extra awards:

Instructors Choice Award: Arthur Purdy from the Holcombe Brook Dojo

Joe Rutter on the Left and Arthur Purdy on the Right

Arthur was chosen by our Instructor team winning the most votes to receive this prestigious Award. He has had a great year and made continuous improvement. He trains hard every single week and attends the Holcombe Brook Dojo, Tottington Dojo and Squad Class. He is a particularly gifted Kata athlete and has really worked hard this year to improve the performance and power of his Katas. He has graded to his 1st Dan Black Belt and recorded some of the highest marks on the day. Arthur has had a brilliant year and is an absolute pleasure to teach. He is very coachable meaning he listens, tries to correct what you ask him to and retains that information in future lessons. Once it’s corrected, he’ll work hard to put it right and it stays corrected. Perfect! He is a kind and courteous class member and has been training since a very young age. Mike and Leesa Sensei are enormously proud of him as are the rest of us. Arthur is a lovely lad and everyone loves him! A great choice team and well done Arthur!

Future Superstar: Joe Rutter from the Horwich Dojo

What a student Joe Rutter is. He is one of the most consistently EXCELLENT students we have ever had. I can actually remember his first grading and I thought, wow, I will remember this name. He is so sharp and focused, strong and athletic and like Arthur, he is completely coachable. He has also graded to Shodan this year and done everything possible to improve and attend extra events. This commitment and hard work resulted in excellent marks at his grading and has culminated in him collecting this award. We are hugely excited by his immense talent and we have no doubt that he will continue to improve further and become even better. His potential is extraordinary and Sensei Paul has rightly recognised this and rewarded it. The talent is there but so is the work ethic. The determination to succeed and brilliant parents to back you all the way. I know that Daryl Sensei, Darren Sensei and Callum Sensei are all immensely proud of you and won’t be surprised one bit that you have got this award after the year you have had. Joe has inspirational karate and his an excellent role model to all. Well done Joe, keep up the outstanding work.

Total Dedication: William Cristoforo from the Darwen Dojo

This one has been a long time coming. I know that William has been on that top ten shortlist for the last few years. William is an exceptional student and an exceptional person. He has been training with us since he was tiny and is such a pleasure to teach. He is always smiling, so polite and always there. He is helpful and giving with his karate. He is one our longest serving Cadet Leaders and we as a Club are blessed to have him training with us and helping us bring on the next set of superstars. I am positive that Jo Sensei and Gary Sensei are extremely proud of Williams achievements and the wonderful young man he is becoming. He is a true martial artist. Spirited in battle but remains completely humble. His Katas are absolutely beautiful and this year he has really started to fulfill his potential. His Nidan grading was outstanding. His parents are so supportive and Anthony is such a great karate student himself, their relationship really is special. You thoroughly deserve this award, you have been patient and seen many others you train alongside win all the accolades whilst doing the same amount of work. You have always been supportive and pleased for others, and finally it is your turn. We are so proud of you William, never change becuase we think the world of you!

Outstanding Improvement: Mitchell Little from the Handforth Dojo

Mitchell Little has been training consistently with his brother Marley for many years, both have been making steady progress and are commited students. Throughout 2024 Mitchell has really stepped the foot on the gas and gone up quite a few gears! His kumite is exceptional. He makes it look effortless and he has worked tirelessly to perfect his scoring techniques. He is a true competitor and shows desire to win right to the end. Mitchell and Marley are always practising and take part in extra lessons with Paul Sensei and Rob Sensei, even getting up before 7am at the weekend to do so. That is dedication, that is what it takes to become a serial winner and a champion. That is what it takes to make outstanding improvement. He proved at his last grading that he is not just a fighter. He has strong kihon and excellent Katas too. He is a great all-rounder. His athletic endurance is on point too. We are so pleased with the improvement Mitchell has made this year and we are excited to see what 2025 has in store for him. If he continues training the way he does, I am sure he will enjoy continued success. Well done to Marley on his trophy and Bobby for always supporting the lads and being such an encouraging karate parent.

Here is a full list of all the students nominated by our Instructor team to train at the seminar and collect awards, well done to you all:

Adam Cooper, Adam Egerton, Alana Whittle, Albert Barrett, Alfie Sandilands, Alice Kittaer, Alistair Choy, Amaya Taylor, Amelia Rose Wright, Angel Fung, Anthony Cristoforo, Arthur Purdy, Ava McGowan, Becky Mangnall, Ben Finney, Ben Hackett, Ben McDermott, Brendan Conyard, Caitlin Lowe, Callula Curtis, Cameron Stilwell, Carlo Steen, Caroline Paxton, Catherine Johnson, Charley McDonagh, Charlie Moore, Charlie Wells, Chin Ming Coy, Christopher Paxton, Clark Shah, Courteney Alty, Daniel Price, David Booth, Dexter Wolstencroft, Eliza Waseem, Ella Tattersall, Ellis Pang, Emily Moore, Esme Smith, Ethan Everett, Evelyn Booth, Ezra Smith, Finnegan Brookes, George Ince, Georgia Ryder, Greg Burton, Greg Yates, Harry Hunter Walsh, Harry Proctor, Harry Stabler, Hattie Crompton, Helen Finney, Holly Percival, Holly Robinson, Isaac Finney, Isabella Fernandes, Jack McNulty, Jacob Bucknall Ryder, Jake Quinn, Jake Sands, Jake Stapleton, James Bottomley, James Kelly, James Powell, James Rigby, Jayden Clarke, Jayden Harris, Jim Fairclough, Joe Rutter, Jonathan Lam, Joseph Corlett, Josiah Curtis, Kelsey Parker Graham, Kevin Rajapaste, Ki Yiu So, Kyle Porter, Lara Abdalla, Lauren Everett, Lauren McDermott, Leia Whyte, Leo Fairclough, Liam Dolan, Logan Guilfoyle, Logan Hill Critchley, Lois Cowley, Lola Girault, Loui D'Attorre, Lucas Egerton, Lucas Paxton, Lucas Shackleton, Luke Jepson, Maria Dimopoulou, Mason McGowan, Matilda Chuter, Michael McGowan, Mike Simcoe, Mitchell Little, Nate Williams, Nell Hasler, Neve Anderton, Ocean Leung, Olivia Shone, Ollie French, Oscar Addis, Oscar Thomson, Percy Crompton, Richard Sheldon Jnr, Roman James-Lewis, Ryan Smith, Samantha Lawrie, Sarah Evans, Shae Marbell, Sophia Rose Walling, Srinithya Raji, Stanley Cook, Tzachi Kittaer, William Cristoforo, Zainab Aswat, Zarah Aswat and Zena Clarke.

Mike Beckwith Sensei took photos on the day and captured some brilliant moments. Here is a small selection, to access the full album we will put a link on our Red Tiger Karate Facebook Group and you can have a look. Thank you Mike Sensei, you are a star!