There was plenty for Dunmow Kyokushinkai Karate Club to celebrate at Saturday’s British Kyokushinkai Karate National Kata Tournament.

Dunmow Broadcast: Georgia SlocombeGeorgia Slocombe (Image: Archant)

The club’s students had been training for three months leading up to the event, sometimes three times a week, which led to some excellent results.

In the junior red belt category, Samuel Fehily (age 15) who was taking part in his first tournament, was second and in the junior green belt category both Chloe Slocombe (age 11) and Fynn Clements (age 11) managed to get into the final.

Clements retained the green belt title he won last year with Slocombe taking second place.

This was Slocombe’s fourth final in four years after previously managing to get to the red, blue and yellow belt finals, which is a great achievement.

Kata is performed as a set sequence of blocks, strikes, kicks and stances and students are scored by five judges on the positions and stances they adopt in addition to their timing, focus and strength.

In addition, Georgia Slocombe (age 15) and Clements have been selected to represent England at the British Kyokushinkai Karate Pilatus Cup tournament, which is being held in Kriens, Switzerland on Saturday, March 18.

Teams representing England, Wales and Switzerland will compete in this tournament, which will comprise individual kata and team and individual fighting competitions.

Dunmow Kyokushinkai Karate Club will be starting a beginners course for juniors on Tuesday, March 21 and a beginners course for seniors on Thursday, March 23, with the first month’s training free.

Training is every Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday training times for juniors (aged six to 15) is 6pm-7pm at the Dunmow Leisure Centre and for seniors it is 8pm-9.30pm at Dance Studio, Dunmow Leisure Centre.

Thursday training times for juniors is 6.30pm to 7.30pm and seniors is 8pm to 9.30pm both at Foakes Hall, Great Dunmow.

Visit www.dunmowkarate.com or contact Shihan Andrew Turner on 07974 094925 for details.