Bristol Karate Academy

Even the most optimistic person could barely have imagined what you could have all achieved in 2025. Let’s look back at what has been another landmark year for Bristol Karate Academy.

More people training

We opened our doors for an incredible 468 hours of training in 2025, across our four dojos in Westbury-on-Trym, Nailsea, Backwell and Long Ashton.

Our record for the busiest ever training day has fallen for the second consecutive year! An incredible 64 of you trained on both Wednesday 5th November and Wednesday 12th November.

And for those wanting to push even further? We’ve got your back. We held over 22 hours of elite squad and kumite development training sessions. They’ve all been free to our monthly members. It’s our way of thanking you for going the extra mile.

Thank you to so many of you for committing to regular training and putting in the hard yards to get the results you want to achieve. It’s noticeable in how you’ve all performed in gradings and tournaments throughout the year.

More dan grades

It’s been a fantastic year for those taking dan gradings! Eight of you passed under grading panels led by the Head of JKS England, Alan Campbell Sensei. This includes six shodan (1st Dan black belt) passes, a sandan (3rd Dan) pass by Finn Westcott and a yondan (4th Dan) pass by Sensei Ian Connell. Congratulations to all of you!

Collectively you all passed 156 kyu and mon gradings, including 119 9th to 1st kyu passes. What’s more, at each of our gradings, examiners commented on the fantastic standard on show.

Well done to those who graded in 2025!

Incredible seminars

In 2025 we welcomed English, British and Baltic States Champion Remi Jurgilaitis for the first time, to share his knowledge with Academy members and visitors from across the region.

We were also delighted to welcome back Senseis Alan Campbell and Matt Price for return visits to the Academy.

By having the JKS Head of Association, Head Coach of JKS England and the most decorated male JKS England competitor to our dojo, our members have been treated to the very best karate around.

In 2026, we have more exciting opportunities, with five special seminars scheduled throughout the year. Would you like to join us for the most successful competitor to have ever visited the Academy? We’ll be announcing a seminar and opening for bookings very soon! It’s one not to be missed!

More medals, from more people

While we’re an all-round traditional karate club, it’s been fantastic to see lots more people experiencing tournament karate for the first time. In 2025, a record 50 of you entered a tournament this year and 36 different members picked up a medal – incredible! What’s even more incredible is the vast number of medals you took home.

A record 183 medals were won by you all in 2025. That’s more than double last year’s record of 89 medals. In fact you almost reached last year’s medal haul just with golds, taking home 70 titles in total.

It’s needed around 150 metres of ribbon just to hang medals around Academy members’ necks!

Congratulations to you all. We hope your medals are proudly on display and have been to school assemblies and family members’ houses as you’ve talked about your successes!

More national squad members

In 2025 our number of JKS England squad members increased from seven to 13. Bristol Karate Academy is now one of the biggest contributors of competitors to the JKS England squad. Well done to Evert Collard, Olive Davies, Benjamin Griffiths, Oli Hulbert and Luke Mashford, who all joined the squad for the first time.

We were also delighted to see two members invited to EKF all-styles squad trials and Oli Hulbert formerly invited to join the English Karate National Governing Body squad earlier this month. Congratulations, Oli!

Europe called and the world is now your oyster!

We were so proud to see seven Academy members flying the flag as part of the JKS England squad in Copenhagen at the JKS European Championships during September. Being selected was a huge honour, but to then see you take home eight medals and including three golds was a very special moment for our dojo.

Congratulations to all of you and especially to our three European Champions, Benjamin Griffiths, Tim Griffiths and George Tarr.
But with the JKS World Shoto Cup just around the corner, the good news has kept on coming. We were delighted to announce that nine members were selected as part of the JKS England team heading to Brazil in August 2026. A big well done to everyone off to Vittoria!

A proud moment and a stepping stone.

Each year you all set the highest of goals. And while some of us have faced challenges throughout 2025, as a collective you’ve all achieved incredible things. We’ve coached you. We’ve applauded you. We’ve stood in awe at your achievements.. Your job now is to use this not as a blueprint but as a stepping stone.

We have a responsibility to each other to keep driving the standard forward. Starting in January, let’s set a new high tide mark.
It won’t be easy, but raising your game never is. It’s going to take commitment, guts and determination. But if you’re willing to put in the effort then we’re willing to go the extra mile to back you every step of the way.

See you in 2026.