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Ichiban Karate
Ichiban karate is one of the fastest growing and inclusive karate clubs in Leeds, growing both in terms of numbers and in terms of success at a competitive level at competitions around the UK. Based at Ichiban Dojo on Meanwood Road, Ichiban Karate also facilitates classes in Gipton in conjunction with the charity Gipton Together. The club provides karate classes for everyone age 4 + and provides members with the option to simply either progress their karate in class or also pursue a competitive aspect through the development of a strong competition squad over the last 5 years. Taking beginners to World Champions. Approximately 60% of the club is made up of family and sibling members that train and progress together on a weekly basis. The club is also proud to have a strong female membership in sport that is often seen as male dominated. The club, through it's competitive activities and development of individuals potential, the club aims to help leverage their achievements to help them achieve secondary school and higher education bursaries and scholarships, thereby improving their long term prospects, helping them achieve their higher aspirations.
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Ichiban Karate Impact Stories
Ichiban Karate Excels at 1st World Championship
Ichiban Karate was founded in January 2017 and always had an aspiration of creating a strong competitive team. Having attended their first competitions in 2018 the squad, even with the interruption of Covid have worked hard and were able to attend their 1st World Championships just 4 years later in 2022. At the end of June 2022, 8 members of our karate team who were selected to represent, Dokan Karate England travelled to the USA to take part in their first World Championships. The 10th WUKF World Championships were held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Attended by over 34 countries and more than 1340 competitors this was the biggest stage yet for the young karate team. The expectations for the championships, were simply to attend, compete, give it their best and enjoy the experience. Medals would be a bonus, and were certainly not an expectation given the big step up to International competition abroad. The team exceeded all expectations across the pond, bringing back 6 World Medals. 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 3 Bronze and in so doing, crowning the first Ichiban Karate World Champions. This was an exceptional achievement by the young squad, especially considering every one of them were attending their 1st World Championships and that the squad consisted of relatively young members between the ages of 7 and 15 who all had only between 1 and 5 year’s experience. Not many children get the opportunity to travel abroad with friends, and compete at the highest level in a sport that they love. The whole experience was amazing both for coaches and competitors and the parents that were able to travel with and support the team. The effort to get the team to Florida was a monumental team effort, as the team, coaches and parents needed to raise all funds required for the team to compete. Without the successful fundraising, the team would not have been able to attend. Thank you to all those that donated, and sponsored the team!
Leeds Karate Team Excel at International Championship!
On the 5th and 6th March, a small Ichiban Karate team competed at the two day AMA International Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. Whilst it is the first two day international event attended by the team, the occasion did not overwhelm the competitors, with the team bringing home 7 international medals!The competition was attended by more than 50 clubs, 28 Federations as well as teams from India, Romania, Pakistan, Scotland and more.The competition was a key milestone in the squad’s preparation for the 2022 World Championships in Florida this summer.Kylie Greeff, Ichiban Karate Coach, says ‘ we’re really pleased with the performances of every individual in the squad. It was the first international event for all of the competitors and they didn’t let the occasion overwhelm them. The standard across both days of the competition, was extremely high, and many put on some of their best performances! We’re extremely proud of every competitor and encouraged by their continuous progress and dedication to training.’ Against some of the best competitors in the country and the world the team brought home 1 Gold Medal, and 6 bronze medals. Special congratulations to Zayd crowned 2022 International Kumite Champion at his first event of this calibre. As well as Frank achieving bronze in a large kata category with many competitors up to 4 years older than him! Medals:Gold - Zayd Boys 8yrs and under Kumite Bronze - Frank (age 6) 10yrs and under kataBronze - Ariz 11-15 Boys 4th Kyu below kataBronze - Safa 11-15 girls 4th Kyu below kataBronze - Salma 13-15 Girls Shitoryu KataBronze - Stuart 16yrs + 4th Kyu below kataBronze - Girls 13-15 Team Kumite
Leeds Karate Kids Deliver High Energy Class During February Half Term
On the 21 February 2022, four young Leeds karateka and their coach from Ichiban Karate delivered a well-attended high energy children’s karate taster session at Ebor Gardens Community Centre in Leeds, in conjunction with Damasq Charity. The energetic session was attended by approximately 40 children from the local area of Burmantofts Leeds during the February half term. Damasq works to support refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and minority communities generally.During the karate session the children learned a number of basic karate moves and defences and showed particular enthusiasm when it came to striking the pads held by the older karateka from Ichiban Leeds. Following the children’s karate session, Kylie Greeff instructor at Ichiban Karate lead a ladies self defence class, which was well attended by an enthusiastic and focused group of mums from a variety of different backgrounds.Narjis(15), Alex(12), Reda(12) and Adel(12) from Ichiban Leeds are preparing for the 2022 WUKF World Championships in Florida this July. The karate and self-defence morning was run in collaboration with Damasq to help raise funds to get the children to Florida this summer and to provide the community with an opportunity to try something new and keep the children entertained during the half term break. Ichiban karate would like to thank all those that attended and supported the event and thank in particular Damasq the opportunity to run the event at the centre and for their support in arranging the day.
Leeds Karate Kids Excel at Championships in the North East
On the 6th February almost 50 competitors between the ages of 6-40 woke up well before 6am to travel to South Shields to take part in the Dokan Karate Association Karate Championships.The ambitious team finished second on the medal table in terms of medals won! Beaten only by the hosting club. This is made all the more incredible considering, that of the squad that competed 30 had never done an external competition before, and were competing on a big platform for the first time.The efforts of the team meant that most of the competitors that attended came home with a medal, or three. Some of the squad at the end of the day The competition also provided the first of many competitions between now and the July 2022 World Union of Karate Federation World Championships, in Florida, for the more experiences competitors to test their skills and identify areas of improvement. Ichiban Karate are hoping to send a squad of 8-10 competitors between the ages of 6 – 15 years to Florida, depending on the success of their fundraising efforts. A special mention of exceptional performances goes two of the squad’s youngest competitors Dani (9) and Frank (6) who both on their first outing with the squad managed to come home with three medals each. Both boys have been training for less than a year. Kylie Greeff, Ichiban Karate coach, says : “Going into the competition in South Shields I was nervous about how many of the competitors would respond to the extra pressure and bigger occasion, however the handled it fantastically and proved that they have a very bright future ahead of them, if this is how they performed at their first competition. It was also excellent to see how the older, more experienced children in the squad encouraged and supported the new members and still also managed to put on excellent performances themselves. There are definitely a number of future World Champions in this group of children!” Ichiban Karate offer karate classes in Meanwood and in Gipton, with many of its students coming from lower-income households. Whilst karate has a relatively low barrier to entry as a sport, regular competitions, which are important for the continued improvement of the students comes at a cost, making attending competitions inaccessible for many of the squad.The team are actively looking for corporate and individual sponsors to help many of the squad attend the 2022 World Championships as well as other local competitions and would love to hear from local businesses and individuals that are in interested in supporting the team.
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