Kyu Gradings – March 2023

Group photo of Intermediate grades March 2023 grading

    Over the weekends of the 11th and 18th March 2023 Birmingham & Weoley Castle Shotokan Karate along with our sister club Kenshin Shotokan Karate Club in Stetchford held the Kyu Grading examinations for March 2023. As usual we had students of all ages, grades and abilities testing themselves to continue their karate journey and hopefully advance in grade. We were very pleased with the effort everybody put in to give their best in what any of us who have graded know is a very stressful situation. So as instructors we would like to say well done to everybody who took their grading and congratulations to all those who passed.… Read the rest

    Kyu & Dan Gradings November 2022

    BWCSK / Kenskin SKC Group Photo

    As we reach the end of another year it has again come time for the final set of Kyu & Dan Gradings at Bornville College. This year the previous September and December gradings were combined into a single grading in November 2022 to allow more time after the summer holidays for students to prepare and cater for grading examiners availability. The gradings in November 2022 were again run over two consecutive Saturdays with the first week for red belts and below and the second for yellow belt and above. For these gradings we were joined by our sister club Kenshin Shotokan Karate Club based in Stechford (formerly headed by the late Sensei Franklyn Doras 6th Dan who was another former student our late sensei, Shihan Cummins).… Read the rest

    Kyu and Dan Gradings: June 2022

    June 2022 Gradings

    After the bumper turnout for the March gradings the June 2022 gradings were split over two weekends at our Bournville College dojo. This allowed the gradings to proceed at a far less hectic pace than the previous gradings which was far less stressful for those grading and the examiners. The first gradings were held on Saturday 11th June for beginners to red belts. The gradings went well with our students having diligently studied for the gradings over the previous months showing a good standard throughout.

    The second weekend of gradings were on Saturday 18th June 2022 and covered the remaining Kyu grades and Dan gradings.… Read the rest

    Kyu & Dan Gradings: March 2022

    Kyu & Dan Gradings: March 2022

    We held our first post covid restrictions Kyu and Dan gradings this month which is the start of a more normal grading cycle going forward. The grading day itself was on Saturday 19th March 2022 at the Longbridge dojo . In a return to the more normal schedule we were able to have a training session running along with the gradings. However, even we were slightly surprised when we saw everyone lined up from one end of the hall to the other.

    The proceedings started with the presentation of Dan grade certificates for those who passed in the December grading.… Read the rest

    Kyu & Dan Gradings – December 2021: Well done everyone!

    Girls kicking

    Over the course of the month we conducted the December 2021 grading examinations for Kyu and Dan grades. Firstly we would like to thank everyone for their support for these as we had to change the initially planned date due to one of the venues deciding to close for the Christmas break earlier than initially expected. This meant we had to conduct the examinations when people were available on various training nights.

    As instructors we were very pleased with the standard shown and the effort and dedication you all put in preparing for and taking your gradings. We would like to congratulate each and every one of you who took a grading this month.… Read the rest

    September 2021 Kyu Gradings.

    September 2021 Kyu Gradings.

    Well done to everyone who took their grading on the 25th September and to those who came to train whilst the gradings were happening. People always talk about taking their black belt gradings as being difficult but many forget those first few kyu gradings are terrifying in their own right as it is all very new and you haven’t yet learnt what to expect. We were very pleased with the standard shown and the amount of effort everyone has put in to reach this point. A special mention for Kayleigh Emmison who graded to 7th kyu.

    Congratulations to all again.… Read the rest

    We Passed! Kyu & Dan Gradings June 2021

    Black belts with their instructors after their grading

    It has been an eventful couple of weeks for all the students at BWCSK. As more coronavirus health restrictions were eased since the initial return to dojo training we were able to conduct our first full kyu and dan gradings. The gradings took place on three separate dates in order to try and give everyone who was ready and wished to the chance to take their gradings.  First up were a small group of juniors who took various kyu gradings from beginners to brown belts on the Thursday evening. There was a palpable sense of nervousness as the first group to grade lined up in the main hall of the Weoley Castle dojo waiting for their grading to begin. … Read the rest

    Gradings – October & November 2020

    Gradings – October & November 2020

    Shortly before the announcement of the November 2020 national lock down we had started preparing for and taking some grading examinations. Due to the covid-19 health restrictions these couldn’t be conducted in the same manner as our previous gradings. We were also able to present Arran Mehtam’s Shodan certificate from his dan grading before the initial March 2020 lock down which due to circumstances had not been possible until now.

    We would like to congratulate all those who passed their gradings. This has been an especially difficult year with training disrupted, moving online for several months and then restrictions upon our return to the dojo however all those who graded overcame these obstacles to reach a level where they were ready to take a grading.… Read the rest

    The Return Of The Karate-Ka

    The Return Of The Karate-Ka

    Well a new new routine has settled in since we have returned to the dojo so it seemed a good time to do a round up of the journey so far.The Longbridge dojo is yet to reopen but we are currently running classes on Mondays, Tuesdays (an extra night whilst Longbridge is still closed) and Thursdays at the Weoley Castle dojo. Since the return we have had a few junior students who trained throughout the lockdown on zoom take socially distanced kyu gradings under an adapted syllabus. We would like to congratulate all of you on your new grades, you’ve trained hard over the last few months despite the challenging circumstances and progressed.… Read the rest

    Special Congratulations Arran on passing your Shodan Grading

    Special Congratulations Arran on passing your Shodan Grading

    We would like to offer special congratulations to Arran Mehtam who passed his Shodan grading on Saturday. Arran has shown great spirit and trained very hard to achieve this goal. The fact that he has listened to feedback he has been given and worked to improve on areas that needed it was very evident in his performance on the grading. He graded in front of a panel consisting of Sensei Susan Hession 4th dan, Sensei Richard Amuzu 4th dan and Sensei Michael Paul 1st dan who stepped in to help with the kumite. Well done Arran!

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