Wado Academy Karate Championships, Stroud Leisure Centre, July 2009



Karen Meek - Haykawa Cup Winner



Wado Ryu Karate Championships in Stroud, July 2009

     It was a successful trip to the recent Wado Academy Championships in Stroud recently with Budo Juku Karate students of both the junior and adults classes bringing home some silverware.
     Thirteen year old Jessica Hockey had to enter the boys Kumite (fighting) event due to the insufficient numbers in her own event. In this, her first ever contest she came first place obviously undeterred by the fact that she had to fight the boys. Team mate Connor Polley came a creditable joint third after closely losing to Jessica in the semi final.
     Beth Miller came second in the female Kata contest overcoming nerves in her first ever event to bring home a nice trophy.
     Fifteen year old Sophie Cole claimed first place in the female cadets Kumite and third place went to Naomi Saunter, also fighting in her first contest.
     Adam Guntripp, 15, reached the final after some good early round performances but after a good battle was beaten by Bristol's Ben Welch.
     Young brown belt Matthew Moares, 12, was in good form to win second place in both the Kata and Kumite events. He will be hoping for one place better next time.
     The senior events were dominated by Bridgwater's experienced fighters, Joe Bale and Karen Meek. Joe finished top of the pile in the men's individuals and Karen won both the Ladies Kumite and Kata. This earned her the distinction of winning the Hayakawa Cup, for outstanding efforts shown throughout the day in different disciplines.
     Joe and Karen then teamed up with 19 year old Gareth Bradshaw to win the senior mixed team event. All three fighters winning their fights in the final.
     Club Instructor Arthur Meek was delighted with the results and stressed how hard the individuals trained for these championships.
Other competitors not so lucky to win trophies but who made a gallant effort in their entries were Chloe Simpson, Adam Kellaway, Kurt Polley, Jacob Derbyshire, Aaron Brazier and Michael Moares.


Brown Belts
     Recent successful grades to 3rd kyu, brown belt, were Chloe Simpson, aged 10 and Jordan Harris, aged 12. Both Chloe and Jordan began their training several years ago in the under 7yrs class at the old Cranleigh Gardens dojo. They have matured into fine young senior grade karateka and club instructor Arthur Meek hopes they will be good future candidates for the senior class.

International Championships
     The team to represent Wado Academy England in the Wado Ryu International Karate Championships in Tokyo has been selected and two students from the Budo Juku club will be in the team. Karen Meek, no stranger to fighting in Internationals will be competing in the ladies team event, and Joe Bale will compete for the men's team as well as the under 70k individuals. Both Joe and Karen train in the Budo Juku Kickboxing club as well as the Karate club so are both well accustomed to the intensity of top level competiton.
     Joe Bale, 22, has also secured a place in Mekai University Karate club, just outside Tokyo, for three months training. His instructor will be Kamizuma Sensei, a former graduate of Nihon University Karate club, where Joe's father Arthur Meek trained for nine months back in 1981. Arthur said he is proud to see his son achieve many things that he himself accomplished in the martial arts. Arthur said it's like watching a re-run of his own life to watch Joe fight on the mats, step into the ring and now travel to Japan for an extended visit. Arthur emphasised that it will be no holiday for Joe, training up to six hours a day six days a week under very strict conditions.

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