Shodokan Northern Open Post Event Document (PDF)

Post
Event
Document

The ‘Ultimate Aim’ of The Shodokan Northern Open
Before I get to the actual overview of the day and introducing the results/medalists section of this document I want to start by
outlining The ‘Ultimate Aim’ of The Shodokan Northern Open:
“To aid the progression and development of karate-ka through supplying the motivation
to train harder and with more focus in the build up to our tournament.”
Of course we wanted to run a quality event with high standards etc. but these goals are just a means to achieving the above
ultimate aim for us.
So, to expand on the above: Everybody likes taking a title, winning a few bouts and ultimately your division and receiving a
medal – but be honest… how many of throw the medals you have won in your bag and never look at them again? unless maybe
you’re taking them out of your bag and putting them in a cupboard or drawer somewhere with all your other ones? I know
that’s what I do…
Please don’t be afraid of admitting that’s what you have done with the medals won at The Shodokan Northern Open! Regardless
as to the work we put in getting those medals organized this is how I would actually rather they are treated…
Why?
Because if that’s how you treat your medals then that means you’ve taken far more away from the day than just a medal and
that means we can feel satisfied that we have achieved what we set out to do with this tournament…
What I have written above about the aim of this tournament is just a fancy way of saying that we want to help people improve
their karate. Sure you will learn things on the day, facing new or previous opponents will give you plenty of feedback to go away
and work on. Then in the kata there is so much to be learnt from watching others I won’t even try to go into that now – but one
thing that I will say that I took away from the kata is a rekindled inspiration and you can’t put a price on that!
However where most of the improvements have been made for those competing is in their preparations, in the build up to
competing. Be honest with yourself… did you push a little harder? Did you go a little longer? Did you learn something new (a
new piece of footwork or combination)? Did you drill again and again and again?
When we have something to aim for, something with a date attached to it our training increases in intensity and as a result our
karate improves! My squads motto is “medals are just a side effect of our excellence” and that’s all medals are… a side effect of
quality training! If you train correctly, with the aim of becoming the best you can be and you turn up on the day the best version
of you, you could possibly be at that moment in time then regardless as to the result, the tournament has served its purpose,
and this is the true meaning behind the line that is often fobbed off ‘you’re all winners just for competing’. It’s not just turning
up to compete that makes you a winner, it’s the hours of blood, sweat and tears that you have put into your training to turn up
on the day as the best version of yourself you can be!
That’s why you are all winners… you’re winners in a far more valuable way than taking a chunk of metal and a bit of ribbon
home… and this is in line with the ultimate aim of karate-do itself!

“The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants”
(G. Funakoshi, Founder of Shotokan Karate-Do)

This is why I value tournaments so much, not for the ‘shiny shiny’ but for the metaphorical carrot they are in front of us daring
us to improve and constantly grow as competitors, as karate-ka and as individuals!

Competition Day
As this was the first official Shodokan Northern Open we would be remiss not to begin by thanking everyone for their part in making the day
a success.
To all competitors thank you for the efforts you put in prior to the event to set the standard on the day! To the coaches who aided your
preparations thank you for your time efforts and sharing your experience… and of course organizing your participation in the event itself.
To all parents and siblings thank you for your efforts getting the competitors and yourselves to the event and supporting the competitors
with love, encouragement and of course financially.
To all official’s (judges and table staff) we sincerely appreciate your help, we were stretched all day long but the day ran very well. In turn we
need to thank the guys that stepped in to help out after we lost a number of senior judges in the 2 days prior and while those who stepped in
didn’t have the experience levels of those they covered for, we hope you appreciate that without them we would off had to drop the event
to running over 2 rings all day and with the number of competitors we had that wasn’t really an option.
Back to the competitors now though…
With kata up first we had karate-ka after karate-ka step up with a
focus in their eye, ready to demonstrate the exquisite speed, control,
balance, co-ordination, rhythm and determination that top kata
exponents have.
There was a great mix of different styles of Karate-Do represented
and the variation in the kata performed was a pleasure to witness.
Then when the kumite started the whole atmosphere in the venue
lifted! The standard was high and competitors gave their all.
Everyone performed gallantly and should be proud of themselves…
Training starts now for next year!
We will look forward to seeing you all again.

Kata Results
KATA: 4th Kyu & below (9yrs & Under) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Orion Chatterjee
Connor Cook-Harper
Aaron Mayes
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (9yrs & Under) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Jake Moore
Summer Groves
Sonny Groves
KATA: 4th Kyu & below (10 - 14yrs ) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Connor Burnett
Lewis Hunt
Ellie Edwards
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (10 - 12yrs ) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Tia Tomplin
Thomas Edwards
Gedvile Juodvalkyte
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (13 - 14yrs ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Christine Hallacy
Rheanna Hadley
Samanntha Robinson
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (13 - 14yrs ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Kisler Flores Jnr
James Tyler
Eddie Rooney
KATA: 4th Kyu & below (15 - 17yrs ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Kayleigh Mann
Sahel Kakaie
n/a
KATA: 1st Kyu & Below (15 - 17yrs ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Lewis Harrrison
Daniel Jevons
n/a
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (15yrs Plus ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Jasmine David
Charlotte Shepherd
Sophie Welch
KATA: Shodan & above (15 - 17yrs ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Harrison Chapman
Jamie O'Donnell
Aaron Bland
KATA: 4th Kyu & below (18yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Andrew Butler
David Kay
Joe Redpath
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (18yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Oliver Willison
Ryan Marvin
Dean George

Kata Results
(continued)
KATA: Female Vets Open (35yrs Plus ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Karren Savage
Vicki Wright
Libby Connor
KATA: 4th Kyu & below (35yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Michael Davison
Keith Broad
Steve Clarke
KATA: 3rd Kyu & above (35yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
John Taylor
Jamie Edmunds
Mark Fletcher
KATA TEAM: Children: Open Grade (12yrs & Below) Mixed 3 Persons
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Chikara B
GKR Manchester
n/a
KATA TEAM: Juniors: Open Grade (13 - 17yrs) Mixed 3 Persons
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Shodokan Bradford
Kenkyukai
Shodokan Liverpool
KATA TEAM: Seniors: Open Grade (18yrs Plus) Male 3 Persons
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Chikara A
GKR Manchester
Chikara C

Kumite Results
KUMITE: 4th Kyu & below (9yrs & Under) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Ellis Thwaiites
Ruby Reed
Orion Chatterjee
KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (9yrs & Under) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Daniel Edwards
Sonny Groves
Summer Groves

GOLD
Lewis Hunt

KUMITE: 4th Kyu & below (10 - 12yrs ) Mixed
SILVER
BRONZE
Ellie Edwards
Olivia W

KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (10 - 12yrs ) Mixed
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Elizabeth Wright
Ethan Mitcchell
James Duran
KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (13 - 14yrs ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Rhenna Hadly
Chislaine Hallacy
n/a

GOLD
Ali Khan

KUMITE: 4th Kyu & below (13 - 14yrs ) Male
SILVER
Leslie Hooson

BRONZE
n/a

KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (13 - 14yrs ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Kisler Flores Jnr
Asad Rana
James Tyler
KUMITE: 4th Kyu & below (15 - 17yrs ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Sydney Edwards
Sahel Kakaie
Kayleigh Mann
KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (15yrs Plus ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Katie Eccles
Charlotte Shepherd
Sophie Welch

GOLD
Lewis Harrision

KUMITE: Pre Shodan (15 - 17yrs ) Male
SILVER
Tom Hughes

BRONZE
Daniel Jevons

GOLD
Charlie Baker

KUMITE: Shodan & above (15 - 17yrs ) Male
SILVER
BRONZE
Jamie O'Donnell
Jay Simmons

GOLD
David Kay

KUMITE: 1st kyu & below (18yrs Plus ) Male
SILVER
BRONZE
Sam Parker
Mick Scarlett

KUMITE: Shodan & above (18yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Ryann Marvin
Paul Lineham
Brett Smith

Kumite Results
(Continued)

KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (35yrs Plus ) Female
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Karren Savage
Jude Singleton
Libby Connor
KUMITE: 4th Kyu & below (35yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Rick Ward
Michael Davison
Keith Broad
KUMITE: 3rd Kyu & above (35yrs Plus ) Male
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Steve Atkins
Rob Anthony
Neil Bains
KUMITE TEAM: Children: Open Grade (12yrs & Below) Mixed 3 Persons
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
North West Goju
GKR Manchester
The Dojo
KUMITE TEAM: Juniors: Open Grade (13 - 17yrs) Mixed 3 Persons
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
The Dojo
Shodokan Liverpool
Shodokan Bradford
KUMITE TEAM: Seniors: Open Grade (18yrs Plus) Male 3 Persons
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Shodokan Karate-Do
The Dojo
Shugyou BSKI 1