Roffey Karate Club

Around 28 students attended last Sunday's course, which taught Traditional Wado Ryu Tanto Dori (knife defences), Tachi Dori (sword defences) and the basics of defences against a short stick.
The atmosphere was fantastic with an obvious desire from all to fully participate and learn. The grades ranged from 3rd Dan to 9th kyu with all fully involved.
Athol Abrahams once again popped in to take photos and I hope they will soon be available.
Once again well done to all who attended I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Sensei Phil

As some of you will know a Dan (Black belt) Grading was held at Roffey on Sunday February 19th. All of the students taking part passed at an excellent standard. Two of the students Nimesh Mehta and David Court travelled over from our sister club in Hampshire Rising Sun Karate (run by Sensei Andy Coe 3rd Dan). Two of our students Jed Abrahams and Andrew Bosbery became the youngest ever black belts at Roffey at the age of 11 and Alexander Law succeeded aged just 13. To top all of this Sensei James Swaine passed his 2nd Dan grading. Sensei James has been with me from before Roffey karate actually existed back in 1999 so it is a special success for both of us.

The West Sussex County Times ran an excellent piece in the paper and there are many photos available on Roffey Karate Clubs Facebook page

The panel examining the entrants was Sensei Phil, Sensei Colin and Sensei Andy Coe. Sensei Paul Lucas made his usual enthusiastic contribution as Sensei James' partner and in the Kumite.

So in the space of under 5 months we have had 3 new Dan Grades at Roffey another 2nd Dan and two Dan Grades from our sister club. This shows what can be achieved with focus, effort and dedication

All of you students currently training have the ability to do the same it just takes the belief that you can do it and the will to put in the effort.

Sensei Phil

WE HAVE FINALLY COMPLETED THE FIRST DVD SHOWING OUR SYLLABUS FROM RED BELT TO 1ST DAN BLACK BELT.
THE DVD SHOWS ALL THE BLOCKS AND ALL THE KATA. IT HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE SOLE AIM OF ASSISTING YOU TO PROGRESS THROUGH THE GRADES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A COPY PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE COST IS JUST £5, THIS COVERS PRODUCTION / EDITING COSTS ONLY.

The grading on Sunday 1st April was again very successful with over 20 students moving up a grade.
There were some students for whom this was their first grading so for them a nerve-wracking event. We had quite a large audience which made it even harder. You all need now to realise just what you can achieve in your Karate and in your life by putting in a lot of effort. Whether it is a Karate Grading or success at school the focus and effort you need is the same and I have seen all of you show that effort on many occasions. All the Instructors ask is that you listen and try to put what they sat into practice, and most importantly have fun!!!

Well done to all of you for your achievement you should be very proud of yourselves. I know that all the Instructors were very impressed with your focus and effort. WELL DONE!!!

If anyone has any photos of the grading I can get them put in a gallery on the website, so just send them along to me either on a disc or by email.

Sensei Phil

Following on from Sensei Andy Coe's success in becoming the first student to train with Roffey karate club through to his 3rd Dan Black belt, Sensei Colin Jackson has completed the same achievement. We also have four 2nd Dans currently training and teaching Sensei Paul Lucas, Sensei Neirin Thompson Sense James Swaine and Sensei Gregg Sandford, and all of these are or will be eligible to grade for 3rd Dan in the not too distant future.

Sensei Andy has his own club in Fleet Hampshire with his son Jamie 1st Dan and recent 1st Dans David Court and Nimesh Mehta.

Sensei Colin you all know from our classes at Roffey Dojo. He has been training and assisting with classes for many years bringing valuable experience and knowledge. This brings the number of students to achieve their Black belt with Roffey to over 30. This is a phenomenal achievement for a small club and goes to show that the students at Roffey are loyal and hard working and through that have achieved what is a huge personal achievement. Of these people there are still half of them training and teaching.

We currently have another group of around 10 students whose next grading will be for Black Belt, so the hard work of students and Instructors goes on.

So to those of you who are just starting on your Karate do journey I would say again that all of you have the ability to become a black belt, what you need is the belief that you can get there and the spirit to get there.

Fuyu wa Tsutomete ( work hard)

Thanks to all of you who took part in or supported those taking part in our Sponsored Press Ups for Charity 2012.
THE TOTAL RAISED WAS JUST £300. I have sent cheques for £100 to Hope For A Child, The Chestnut Tree Children's Hospice and to Cancer Research. I should be receiving some information from these charities soon.

The Press Ups took place in classes over the a short period from the end of February to the middle of March. Again we had a tremendous effort from those doing the pressups and I know many of you did far more than you thought you could achieve.

Well Done to you all for your efforts in doing the pressups and in raising money and thanks to all the kind people who supported you. The money raised will help support some very worthwhile charities.

Sensei Phil