Max, as most people will have known him, lost his fight for life on the 13th April 2012. Max was a character, a legend and a legend that lived for karate. Even a couple of weeks before his passing he turned up at the Bristol Dojo to be there with old friends.

I would have met Max at school many years ago; he was a year bar one day younger than I am, we both attended St Thomas More School in Stotbury Road, Bristol, that too is no longer there. Alan, and the others at the Bristol club ,will go back far more than me, though I expect it would still be some 20 years that I have known Max. I class myself as lucky, as many others will, to have had him in our lives. I have been fed his mum’s fish stew and also can claim to be the proud recipient of one of his carved walking sticks, that was in return for a bottle of white rum brought back from Antigua!

Many of us will remember helping at his Bristol University club. Often to referee when he put on a tournament, or just to support his courses that he held. More often than not, his phone would go, and I would end up taking the lesson – I expect to the relief of the students, as Max certainly put them through their paces. Max was there at most of the Bristol outdoor courses and you would expect to see him “lighting up” during the breaks!

At the church it was so plain to see how many people Max had an impact upon, standing room only and many outside in the rain. Lloyd “The Colonel” Russell was magic, he captured the different sides of Max in every way thinkable, and I mean every way. Max’s sisters and friends had many tales to tell, perhaps it was a rare feeling to be laughing for most of the time at a funeral but that is what Max would have wanted. The joy was carried on at the graveside, the minibus serving some strange “blackcurrant” juice and a very strong sweet smell that may have come from the flowers!

Max was laid to rest in the West Indian traditional way, his friends covering him in his place of rest, back alongside the mum he did often speak of to me.

Thank you Max for being just you.
Kevin

Suzanne worked tirelessly to keep the EKGB on the straight and narrow and whilst taking the lead it was the best governing body that I have known.

Our thoughts go out to Margaret her mum and Andy her brother, also to others of her family.

She will be missed by many.

Kevin

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 travel with the GB team who will benefit greatly from his knowledge and experience.

WKU’s Ivor Thomas was a Tatami Manager over the two very busy days and was used for a number of Kata and Kumite finals.

The results for WKU are as follows:
Ladies Team (Sarah, Chontell, Laura) Bronze
Mens Team (Darren, Shaun, Anatoliy, Steve, Lee, Paul, Ali) Gold
Individuals
Sarah Clark – Gold
Rachel Taylor – Silver
Steve Heath – Gold
Lee Heath – Bronze
Darren Haynes – Bronze
Paul James – Bronze
Shaun Langson – Bronze
Anatoliy Gorshkov – Silver

Once again a massive well done to everyone who took part. More photos from the event can be found here in the gallery.

WKU’s Ivor Thomas (EKF International Refereeing Panel) is kindly leading this course which covers kumite theory and practical.

Once again, the course was a great success with over 40 attending and Bristol, Clevedon, Esporta, Portishead and Shinwa being represented by their members.

A guest instructor was Phil Woodfield from Stratton HKK; Phil was also taking his EKF coaching certificate and my own view of his coaching was that it was first class.

Everyone seemed to have gained something from the day, and we look forward to putting another course on in about three months time.