BKK English Open 2024 RESULTS

The English Open 2024 was hosted in Milton Keynes on Saturday 13th April. Results as follows and congratulations to all competitors.

Re-live the action by clicking the links below.

Welsh Open 2023 Results

Here are the results of the BKK Welsh Open 2023.

We thank all the organisations, teams and coaches for working together to support full contact karate in the UK. 

Thank you to the chief organiser Shihan Chris Davies and the Welsh dojos for all their hard work in preparing the event and to the tournament coordinators Senpai Gareth Jones and Sensei Emma Markwell, Chief Referee Shihan Andrew Turner, all the Tatami Managers and Officials for making this tournament a success.

Team GB announced for IFK European Championships 2023, Armenia

Chairman's Message November 2022

BKK Team England and Wales success at the 2022 Sutani Cup in Belgium

The BKK took England and Wales representative to the Sutani Cup, Belgium after three years out. The fighters were:

Elvin Vaskys, Isaac Warnfeldt-Rush, Brandon Wise, Elliott Fortnum, Cody Chapman, Alfie Finch, Jess Davies, Marcello Goodley, William Lawrence, Cai Williams, Morgan Mates, Katja Sartor, Kayla Davies, Sophie Aldridge, Ffion Sargent, Milly Harvey with head coaches Shihan Wai Cheung and Senpai Leon Lundregan, assisted by Sensei Mike Charlsey, Sensei Mike Woods, Senpai Gareth Jones.

All fighters represented their countries and the organisation immaculately, bringing home 6 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronzes.

Team England

- Isaac Warnfeldt-Rush - 1st place

- Brandon Wise - 1st place

- Elliott Fortnum - 1st place

- Cody Chapman - 1st place

- Alfie Finch - 3rd place

Team Wales

- Marcello Goodley - 1st place

- William Lawrence - 1st place

- Cai Williams - 2nd place

- Morgan Mates - 2nd place

- Katja Sartor - 2nd place

- Kayla Davies - 3rd place

Congratulations to all, and for representing their teams and the BKK immaculately.

BKK Coaching appointments for Team GB and Wales

The BKK appoints new coaches for U18 GB and Wales in Sensei Wai Cheung and Senpai Leon Lundregan respectively, with Sensei Chris Davies stepping down from the national teams coaching set up.

Sensei Wai Cheung (Head Coach GB & England)

Senpai Leon Lundregan (Head Coach Wales)

As current and existing England Head Coach, Wai continues to help build for the future. A Diamond Cup winner, five-time British Open vice-champion, Great Britain representative over two decades, and personal trainer. Senpai Leon is a two-time British Open Champion, and World medalist amongst his elite-level achievements. He has worked with Sensei Chris and transitioned fully into the Team Wales Head Coach role.

Both bring huge wealth of in-depth experience to the roles, and we wish Wai and Leon success for the future.

Thanks go to Sensei Chris Davies for his services to the BKK Coaching Team.

Osu!

BKK revert to traditional Clicker rules set out by Hanshi Steve Arneil

For the last few years the Executive Committee have discussed the possibility of reintroducing the BKK’s original Clicker ruleset, with low-kick added, to keep continuity with the children.

With declining entries in the adult categories we feel it appropriate to announce the return to our rules for the National tournament in November 2022.

Shihan Sunil Tailor has been appointed Clicker Tournament Lead. Former BKK Head of Clicker, Shihan Norman King, will be assisting Shihan Sunil with transition into his new role.

BKK Chairman, Shihan Alex Kerrigan, sets out in his letter the broad strategy and pathway for the membership, as agreed through the EC.

National Knockdown Training Returns

GB Knockdown Coach, Sensei Kenny Jarvis, with the assistance of skills coaches Sensei Mike Charsley and Senpai Kenny Mortin, held the first adult national knockdown training session since the start of the pandemic, on Sunday 8th August in Verwood, Dorset.

Sensei Kenny will hold a further national training session in September with the hope of increasing attendees, not just elite fighters to develop knockdown skills. Additionally it is hoped we will be able to begin an active competition schedule before the end of the year.

In Memory of Hanshi Steve Arneil

BKK Members

As many of you are aware Hanshis family have requested rather than receiving flowers or donations to the family they have requested a donation be made to Cancer research instead. In the interest of the families requests we have set up a Hanshi Steve Arneil Memorial fund raising page for the BKK. This will enable us to group together in this difficult time of mourning to show our solidarity, our unity and our unwavering loyalty to our founder and leader Hanshi Steve Arneil.

The donations all go directly to the Cancer Research, please ensure that you add the gift aid to increase the amount donated (this will not affect the amount you donate but will be increased effectively by the government).

In these difficult times we hope that you find comfort in supporting a worthy cause. Please see link below to make any donations.

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/hanshi-steve-arneil

Osu

The loss of our founder, Chief Instructor, and Life President Hanshi Steve Arneil (1934-2021)

BKK Promotions by Hanshi Steve Arneil

Normally the promotions of our members to yondan and above are carried out at our prestigious events. Due to the unprecedented time of a global pandemic we cannot gather together, so I have taken the decision to announce the 2020 promotions via our website.

I wish to announce the promotions of the following karateka:

• Shihan Maria Da Costa 6th Dan

• Shihan Norman King 5th Dan

• Shihan Clara Akpokomua 5th Dan

• Sensei Emma Markwell 4th Dan

I apologise deeply due to the pandemic I am unable to meet with you and present your award in person. I thank you all for all your hard work and dedication over the years.

 Osu

 Hanshi

An Interview with Sensei Emma Markwell

The Martial Way podcasts: 

Sensei Emma Markwell is a British and World Champion in Kyokushin Karate, and podium holder of many International Kyokushin Karate Tournaments. She is a member of the International Federation Karate (IFK) and British Karate Kyokushinkai (BKK).

It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Sensei Emma. We covered her background in Kyokushin, training, her personal coaching and much more. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I hope you do as well. Osu!

Scott Heaney

AGM and English Open Championships postponed

You all will be aware of the COVID-19, the measures the UK Government is putting in place to slow the spread of the virus and encouraging everyone to take precautions to keep themselves and others well. For information on the virus etc. please go to www.nhs.uk.

To this end the BKK are postponing the forthcoming AGM and English Open Knockdown Championships – we will advise of alternative arrangements as soon as possible.

We will be listening to Government advice and it may be necessary to change or alter our future events.

We will keep you informed of future developments relating to the BKK.

Kind regards,
Linda Keaveney
BKK General Secretary

All National Squad Training suspended as precaution to Coronavirus

Coronavirus (Covid-19): Response from BKK National Coaching Team

The British Karate Kyokushinkai National Coaching Team has taken the decision to suspend all national (Great Britain, England and Wales) squad training sessions with immediate effect until further notice due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

We are dedicated to taking the necessary precautions to prioritise the health and safety of all students and feel limiting country-wide travel, and minimising group contact, at this time, is the best and safest course of action.

The Coaching team expresses its full commitment in continuing doing its upmost to provide the best conditions for athletes to compete at the highest level and sincerely regrets the inconvenience created by this unfortunate situation.

We will continue to monitor the situation and advise accordingly – we thank you for your continued support and patience.

Please continue to follow the advice provided on the UK government websites https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance

Regards

Team GB | Team England | Team Wales

Sensei Kenny Jarvis (GB)

Sensei Chris Davies (U18 GB and Wales)

Sensei Wai Cheung (U18 England)

Sensei Sam Williams (Wales)

Hayley Rowlands takes silver at the 1st EFKO European tournament

Continuing her rich vain of form, Hayley Beth Rowlands took silver at the 1st EFKO European Tournament, in Antwerp, Belgium narrowly missing out on a place to Japan, but nevertheless continuing to shine and develop on the big tournament stage.

Congratulations Hayley.

OSU!

Hayley Beth Rowlands to compete at the 1st EFKO European Championships

Hayley Beth Rowlands will be competing this weekend at the 1st EFKO European Championships, in Antwerp, Belgium.

Fresh from her good form of current KWU European Champion, 2nd place 2019 British Open, and silver place at the recent KWU World Championships, Hayley will be hoping for success, and secure a place to fight in the WFKO’s World Championships in Japan, later this year.

Live streaming of the tournament can be found here

We wish her the very best of luck.

OSU!

Emma Markwell is the KWU World Champion, as the BKK women set a high bar

Emma taking the fight to Ficks (IFK Russia) in the final match

The KWU held the 4th World Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan on 7-8th December in a hotly contested and high-level competition.

Emma Markwell, having gained silver at the previous three champioships, finally took gold and the title of World Champion in the -65kg class, in an impressive display over 2 days beating her final opponent from Russia in an aggresive and tough match.

Congratulations to Sensei Emma, our World Champion!

Hayley Beth Rowlands battled her way through 2 days to gain a very well deserved silver place in her strong -5okg category.

Congratulations to Senpai Hayley on her first world podium placing.

Wish our BKK fighters good luck at the 4th KWU World Championships

Emma Markwell, Blake Collins, and Hayley-Beth Rowlands are representing Team GBR at the 4th KWU World Championships, in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan this weekend.

We wish them the best of fighting luck. Osu!

You can watch them live here, from 10am local time. Kazakhstan is GMT+6.

Emma makes her mark at the WKO World Karate Open in Japan

Sensei Emma Markwell was part of a select KWU team competing at the WKO’s 12th World Open Karate Championships in Tokyo Japan, held over two days on 8-9th November 2019.

This is an open weight tournament, and Emma had prepared herself well by making a very successful shift to the upper weight categories taking a European title in the process, culminating with an unprecedented British Open win against much heavier opponents in October this year.

Emma was the second fight of the day against a South African opponent with an awkward looping double right-hand punch. She executed her fight plan well, breaking her opponent’s balance and rhythm by attacking the inside back leg coupled with hard body shots, then drifting away from her opponent’s power-side all the while keeping pressure on her opponent. As the round progressed, Emma brought in knees and front-kicks, dictating the pace. One round, and 3 flags was enough to progress.

Her second opponent from Russia, was taller and more mobile than her first, intent on attacking Emma from the outside with an array of high kicks. Early in the fight, whilst giving her opponent a little too much space and time, Emma took a well-placed spinning back kick to the head. This did little to upset Emma’s rhythm who’s own tactic was to use head kicks then close the distance at high-tempo, attacking with body punches and solid low-kicks. Each time her opponent looked for space, Emma high-kicked nullifying the Russian’s ability to attack effectively – round one was a draw.

First extension, and Emma tactics started to wear her opponent down by beginning the round at an aggressive pace. Running out of space and energy, the Russian engaged Emma at close range, and was being systematically broken down to the body and legs. Sensing her opponent getting weaker, Emma came close with a Do-Mawashi Kaiten geri (rolling kick), then immediately returned to the full arsenal of head kicks, knees to the body, and relentless body shots and low kicks to earn her a place in the final 16.

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Her third opponent was the Japanese and tournament favourite, Juri Minamihara. Emma’s tactic was to hold ground, firing hard punches and low kick to the calf against Minamihara’s aggressive forward style of high chest punches and low-kicks.

Two immovable forces resulted in Emma’s opponent leaning against her, grabbing and pushing at times to gain space or advantage. No decision after the first, leading to the same in the second round, now with Minamihara creating more lateral movement in attempts to off-balance Emma. To no avail, as Emma continued to pile on pressure, adding knees into each lateral movement from her opponent.

Round two, a draw. The final round saw an increase in pace and aggression from both fighters. The pressure was beginning to show, as Emma started to find success in creating space with low-kicks set up through her punches, with Minamihara reduced to small backward movements to gain space, grabbing at times to stem the flow. The two stood toe to toe throwing punches, and Emma hitting low kicks to off-balance her opponent, both finishing the fight aggressively with an incredibly vocal crowd. Three flags to Minamihara, who went on to win the tournament, and an incredibly impressive final 16 finish for Emma.

 A huge congratulations to Sensei Emma for becoming part of select team to represent the KWU – a huge achievement, and for her tournament progress in a very partisan environment.