Bristol Karate Academy

Bristol Karate Academy showed their strength across all age groups when they took nine medals away from the KUGB Southern Region Championships in Reading on Saturday – with medallists aged from 9 through to 50.

Academy members competed against karate exponents from right across the south of England for regional honours, with the Bristol team – made up of the clubs in Nailsea, Backwell and Westbury-on-Trym – taking two golds, one silver and six bronze medals.

Hot off the back of a silver medal from the KUGB National Championships, the Academy kata team of Tim Griffiths, Steven Connell and Dan Salter went one better this time around, by taking gold. Two of the finalists at the National Championships were from the South of England, so securing the number one spot was certainly not a given. Up first were the Red Dragon Somerset team, with an improved performance on their Nationals outing. This meant that it was up to Bristol to pull out all the stops for their finals kata ‘Sochin’, which they duly did to secure the points they needed to take them clear of their Somerset neighbours.

Bristol’s second gold came from its youngest medallist: Liam Mashford, who showed exceptional poise and focus to take the Children’s Ippon Kumite title, winning by three to two in the final. This is Liam’s first gold at this level and certainly demonstrated his potential as he moves up into the free kumite categories later this year.

Bristol’s seven other placings came from right across the age categories, from child to veteran divisions, across kata and kumite categories and in both individual and team events. With many people taking southern area medals for the first time, it certainly suggests a bright future for the Academy.

Bristol Karate Academy coach Tim Griffiths, said, “While undoubtedly our more advanced members benefit from both brown and black belt-only classes and additional squads sessions it’s important to us that we still have some classes where all ages and all grades still mix together. Advanced students inspire the newer students and both our children and adult new starters get to see what good looks like. We hope the model continues to inspire our newer members as they go through the ranks.”

Full results from Academy members:

GOLD in Senior Team Kata: Tim Griffiths, Steven Connell and Dan Salter.
GOLD in Children's Ippon Kumite: Liam Mashford
SILVER in Kyu Grade Kumite: Rob Lee
BRONZE in Male Team Kumite: Tim Griffiths, Jim Mateer, Ian Connell and Steven Connell
BRONZE in Female Team Kumite: Nicki Watts, Annaliesa House and Annette Connell
BRONZE in Male Veteran Kumite: Jim Mateer
BRONZE in Boys' 5'-5'5" Kumite: Adam House
BRONZE in Male Senior Kata: Steven Connell
BRONZE in Children's Kyu Grade Kata: Alistair Hanlon

Well done everyone!

Full Academy team: Wayne Baker, Brandon Bennett, Quaid Bennett, Annette Connell, Ian Connell, Steven Connell, Tim Griffiths, Josh Gubbins, Keira Gubbins, Alistair Hanlon, Jason Hanlon, Adam House, Annaliesa House, Paul House, Dani Jones, Rob Lee, Josh Mashford, Kevin Mashford, Liam Mashford, Dylan Mateer, Jim Mateer, Dan Salter, Jack Salter, Alfie Teague, Dayne Troskie and Nicki Watts.

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