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Competitions and Events

Becoming a WKU Official

Members can start their training to be an Official from 3rd kyu. Training consists of attending Referee's courses and participating at WKU Competitions and then working to progress up to Association Referee for Kata and Kumite.

On achieving Referee status, if Members wish, they can then progress onto National, European, and even World level. As this requires a lot of time and dedication, the WKU Referees Committee will give all the help possible should Members want to achieve this. Qualified Officials have to re-sit their Exams every two years to maintain their qualification and safeguard our high standards.

Breaking news: WKU International Referee to attend World University Karate Championships 2012

Western karate Union’s referee, Ivor Thomas, has been appointed as the International Referee to accompany the Great Britain delegation to the forthcoming World University Karate Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia,  12-15 July 2012. Congratulations to Ivor on this appointment. Ivor will … …more

REPORT – EKF Championships, Sheffield, Sunday 22nd April 2012

On Sunday 22nd April the EKF Championships were held in Sheffield. Although not everyone took home a medal, everyone who participated fought well. Congratulations to WKU’s Gary Doughty who passed his practical exam at the English Championships and has now … …more

Referee’s Course – Saturday 14 April 2012

Sensei George Grimes is hosting another Referee’s Course on Saturday 14 April 2012, from 12.30pm-3.30pm at Yate Leisure Centre, Kennedy Way, Yate, South Gloucestershire BS37 4DQ. WKU’s Ivor Thomas (EKF International Refereeing Panel) is kindly leading this course which covers … …more

Report – Ritchie Noblett Memorial Shield, 2012

The tournament went well. Good clean fights with WKU’s Gary Doughty and Nigel Langson refereeing and Mike O’Leary (Bushi Kai Wales), David McLeod and Rory Daniels (WKU) judging. Rob and Maxine Baker were working the table and everyone worked well … …more

Report – EKF Referees Course in Nottingham

Here is a short report from Ivor Thomas (pictured back row left) who attended an EKF Referees Course in Nottingham on the 24th March 2012. The course focused on theory for the new Kumite rules and Kata. DVDs were shown … …more

Report – British Universities and College Sports (BUCS) Championships, March 2012

Western Karate Union had just three member athletes in the University of the West of England Team at the 2012 British Universities Championships in Sheffield and all three achieved a medal. WKU’s Sarah Clark won Gold, Jamie Bowen, Silver and … …more

REPORT – WKU New Kumite Rules Course, 26th February 2012

A Referee’s course was held on Sunday 26th February at the Bristol Dojo. It was very well attended with squad members, coaches and instructors. Officials and instructors from other associations were also there, one notably Sensei George Grimes 8th Dan … …more

REPORT – Paris Open, January 2012

  WKU Referee Ivor thomas attended the Paris Open on the 13th-15th January 2012 with seven other members of the English Karate Refereeing Delegation, pictured above. This event took place at the at Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, and … …more

REPORT – WKU Invitational Event, Hutton Moor, Weston super Mare

WKU’s bi-annual Invitational Event, was held at Hutton Moor, Weston super Mare on Sunday 27th November 2011. Chief Referee and Judge, Ivor Thomas thanked the referees for all their hard work work on the Tatamis. Full attendance for the 9.00am briefing … …more

Gran Slam Referee and Judge

At November’s Grand Slam in Cardiff, along with Western Karate Union’s competing athletes, WKU’s Ivor Thomas was referee and judge for a number of the male and female matches between England, Scotland and Wales. Ivor is an EKF Elite Referee … …more