10.30am start at the Bristol Dojo, School Road, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 3BB.
This course is for referees, table officials, coaches, instructors and squad members.

Download the New Kumite Rules Course flyer here.

Well done to Western Karate Union’s Rachel Taylor who represented WKU at the kyu grade English Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield on Sunday 22 January 2012 and gained a bronze medal.

The score in the semi final was one point each at the end of the contest and Rachel only lost by majority flags. As usual she fought bravely and continued to show improvement in her Kumite and can be encouraged by the fact that she lost to an England international.

WKU referee Ivor Thomas, pictured 5th from left, promoted to EKF Kata Judge "B" at the Paris open.

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 was the first International Tournament using the new Kumite Rules which were passed in Malaysia at the Cadet & Junior World Karate Championships in October last year – so this was quite an experience for all.

Ivor reports from the championships:

Friday 13th January – Arrived at the Holiday Inn hotel at 10pm only to find that our rooms were double booked so we had to move to another hotel. Once we were settled in we headed out for a late evening meal.

Saturday 14th January – Start of the competition with 62 nations and nearly 800 competitors – it was going to be a long day.

The competition started at 9am with Male and Female Kata. I was used for 15 matches which included some repercharge finals and then onto the Kumite under the New Rules. Again I was used as a corner judge on many occasions including a semi final and a repercharge final. At 10.30pm the day was over and we went out for another late meal. As I said…a long day!

Sunday 15th January – 9am Start. This was Team Kata where I was used to judge the female semi-final. Then, continuing with Kumite where, once again, I was used as a corner judge. During the two days I was selected as the Match Supervisor (previously known as Kansa) on numerous occasions This role does now carry a lot more responsibility under the new rules with a lot more invovlement than before. 5pm saw the end of the Championships.

Overall the weekend was very rewarding (and tiring) with a vast amount of knowledge and experience gained on the new Kumite rules at such a high level which will be passed onto WKU officials, coaches and athletes. Dale Gamble, the EKF (English) Chief Referee informed me that due to the amount of Kata Judging done over the weekend and the fact that I was selected to judge at such a high level by World Officials, I would be promoted to EKF Kata Judge “B”.

Saturday 14th will be training outdoors, 10.00am start at Old Reds Rugby Ground, Scotland Lane, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5LU.

Sunday 15th will be the Dan Grading starting 10.00am at the Bristol Karate Club dojo, Holy Nativity Church Hall, School Road, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 3BB.

Any enquiries to Dave Wheatley on 01275 474139 or Alan Flook on 01179 779029.