Saturday 26th June 2010 saw students from Tyne and Wear Ishinryu attend the Ticky Donovan Summer school in Clacton on Sea. 9 students attended to train with Sensei Donovan, Sensei Dave Hazard, Sensei Jon Mottram, Sensei Lee Smith, Sensei Bruce Hyland and our own Sensei Eddie Gillespie.

The weeks training was made up of numerous daily karate classes starting at 7-30 am every day. Strudents were split up into their respective grades and worked under the guidance of some of the best Karateka in the country!

Monday was the first of the annual competitions with the adult Kumite competition. Here Chantelle Riley took silver losing out to Jenny Westgarth in the final in the girls under 21yrs competition. Steve Pickard took bronze in the adult 4th and 5th Kyu Competition. Joe Wright took gold, winning the Adult 1st and 2nd Kyu competition. Finally Dave Westgarth came first in the U21 kumite, and second in the Mens Blackbelt, beating both current and former senior England International competitors on the way!

Tuesday saw the annual fun run. Again Dave Westgarth was outstanding winning the Mens Competition. Joe Wright came 3rd in the same competition. Shani Ratnayake from our sister club Noth Kent, won the ladies event witrh Jenny Westgarth coming third.. Sean Lishman came 3rd in the boys run and 6th overall!

Wednesday was the Kata competition. Here our students also took medals. Joe Wright took a creditable 2nd place narrowly beating Chantelle Riley into 3rd in the 1st and 2nd Kyu competition. Again from North Kent Saj de Silva came 3rd in the mens blackbelt.

Thursday came round and the boys and girls kumite competition began. Matthew Wright won the boys brown and black belt competition after and exceptional performance. Sean Lishman was unlucky not to meet him in the final of the same competition, but did take a hard fought 3rd place.

The week was finished off with the gradings, and we saw Joe Wright awarded his black belt 1st Dan. Well done Joe!

Out of the dojo a great time was had by all, and the photographs are now on the website in the galleries.

On Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th April 2010, students from Tyne and Wear Ishinryu took part in the 3^rd England Karate Federation National Championships in Ponds Forge, Sheffield. This is one of the biggest competitions in the England, with competitors from all over the country taking part. Tyne and Wear Ishinryu entered 8 students in total, most with less than 12 months training. Every competitor gave their all, and represented their club with pride! Sensei Gillespie said “I couldn’t be more proud of my students. Every one of them surpassed my expectations. Emily Wright, in her first competition, and Emily Littler, in only her third competition both fought outstandingly. Sean Lishman, and Matthew Wright were both unlucky not to make the semi finals, and looked extremely confident and capable. Joe Wright took bronze after an 8-0 win for his third place looked a quality competitor. The icing on our cake, however, was the silver medal from our Under 9 girls team, Caitlin, Grace and Dania. They fought girls with 3 and 4 years experience, and more than held their own against the best in the country.”