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.
BKK success at the IKK English Open
A number of BKK dojos sent fighters the IKK English Open, in Canterbury on 3rd November 2019, and came away with good results, and experience for our youth.
Katerina Nikolajeva BKK Gravesend 1st Place
Ashley Black BKK Crawley 1st Place
Elvin Vaskys BKK Crawley 1st Place
Antek Sobecki BKK Westcroft 1st Place
Brandon Wise BKK Westcroft 1st Place
Jessica Charsley BKK Verwood 1st Place
Phil Burchill BKK Verwood 1st Place
Dan Williams BKK Verwood 1st Place
Kartar Singh Cheema BKK Gravesend 2nd Place
Grace Emmett BKK Crawley 2nd Place
Louie Warnfeldt Rush BKK Crawley 3rd place
[Tournament Report] GB at KWU 6th World Youth/ 2nd European Adult Championships
Fighters from the BKK, as KWU representatives, and fighters from IKK and EMAR representing a unified Team GB attending the Kyokushin World Union’s (KWU’) 6th World Youth and 2nd European Adult Championships in Varna, Bulgaria on the 7th-9th December 2018.
This was a landmark occasion for the BKK in taking U16 competitors to a contact-based tournament, and we’re pretty sure the handful of parents that travelled with the team were more nervous than the squad.
The adult team provided high hopes of podiums with experience and consistency at European level with Luke Baldwin, Emma Markwell and Hayley-Beth Rowlands flying the flag.
3 days of tournament fighting with over 700 competitors saw very high-levels at all ages.
Our U18 team all had tough first round draws which was to be expected at such a prestigious championships; Ashley Black’s first taste at World level drew a strong fighter from Armenia, Mia Morgan’s opponent from Poland, Russian’s for Holly Harvey and Charlie Denton, Luke Sabey’s dream draw from Japan, and Rhys Meredith making it all the way through to the quarter finals beating opponents from Belarus and Romania, missing out on a semi final place to the eventual winner from Russia. IKK GB representatives Callum and Harry had tough draws from Bulgaria and Kazakhstan respectively.
With relative inexperience amongst our U18s at such a high standard of competition, all without exception showed determination and spirit on the mats, and conducted themselves commendably off the mats, representing the country and BKK proudly.
The Adult tournament was equally tough, and although pitched at European level, categories saw multiple World Champions on display vying for the KWU European title in only its second edition of the championships.
Luke Baldwin was drawn against former British Open champion and current KWU World Champion, Drodz from Russia who Luke had previously fought at K2 in Crawley. An improved performance from Luke but ultimately Drodz proved too powerful over 2 mins.
Emma Markwell looked strong, and full of conviction on her way to the semi finals where she met and took the fight to Shemina, her Russian opponent she’d fought earlier in the year at the IFK European Tournament in Armenia. Emma put Shemina on the back foot early in the round with combinations, and strong body and low kicks, keeping her off balance. It was clear the early onslaught and aggresion took Shemina by surprise, but she did enough to rally and bring about a draw going into the first extension.
Both looked to take mat centre at the start of the second round; strong chest punches and knees from Shemina saw Emma increase her own punch count and knee combinations as well continuing to deliver heavy low kicks unbalancing her opponent on a number of occasions. As the fight headed into final third, Emma increased her pace forcing Shemina to match her. Fighting to hold the centre of the mat, both fighters matched each other, although Emma’s low kicks clearly causing damage on her opponent.
With both fighters ready for a second extension and encho-sen, three judges unexpectedly raised flags for the Russian. Delight for Shemina who’s leg was visibly damaged after the fight, it was a solid but disappointing and nevertheless solid bronze medal performance for Emma.
Hayley-Beth Rowlands reached her first career major tournament final, with stoppages by punches and ushiro geri, and a commanding semi-final flags decision against Ukraine and Russia fighters respectively, setting up the final against Tsakiri of Greece.
Any signs of nerves were gone early in the fight as Hayley set about stemming her opponent’s aggressive start with stiff punches and hard leg kicks of her own. With a high-pace style of fighting, Hayley took control using angles to keep Tsakiri off balance, throwing direct and hook punches coupled with chudan mawashis and hizas to wear her opponent down. An attempted ushiro mawashi geri came close to connecting but for her loss of balance.
As much as Tsakiri tried to counter attack, Hayley was the clear aggressor in ascendance not giving her opponent any space or time to work. She was able to use her technical and strength superiority to continually move forwards, driving the Greek out of bounds in the final seconds of the round.
A unanimous decision after 3 mins meant Hayley deservedly became the -50kg KWU European Champion, and award for Best Female Technician.
English Open 2018 results
The BKK held a successful English Open 2018 on the 13th May for UK and Ireland based organisations, which included categories for Open Adult, Novice, Cadet and, for the first time in BKK history, Junior IFK Kyokushin rules fighting.
Jim Barton (BKK Verwood) dropping a well timed jodan mawashi geri
Luke Baldwin (BKK Mountain Ash, and Team GB) on his way to the 2018 English Open Middleweight Title
Diamond Cup and Scottish Open round up and results
The BKK had a busy weekend with competitors going to both the Diamond Cup in Belgium and the IKKU Scottish Open.
We had nine participants in Antwerp at the WKO event with Emma Markwell BKK securing her second diamond winning the -57kg title. In a strong field she worked her way to the final defeating Kimm Carriere from Canada in the semi.
Hayley Beth Rowlands also fought in the other semi final but lost out to the Bulgarian WKO European Champion. Its another successful step for Hayley as she works her way towards the top honours.
Also competing in the adults was Lisa Heath who made the Quarters but lost by decision to Swedish fighter Cecilia Wallin and Luke Baldwin who had a tough three rounder to the very durable Juan Carlos Auge of Spain.
The cadets had to fight with slightly different rules to what they are used to with helmets and light contact kicks to the head scoring waza ari so I don't think this suited their fighting style but it was still great experience for the three of them with Jaime May Rowlands and Jess Charsley taking joint 3rd and Luke Jones missing out to the head kick rule.
The BKK also competed in the Kata event with Janine Davies taking a credible 3rd place losing to the European Champion in the semi and Sunil Tailor missed out early on.
Meanwhile in Scotland the BKK had approximately twenty participants and they picked up lots of silverware.
We did really well in the Novice categories with gold Weronika Oleisejuk WHW , Harry Harden MLW and Dylan Baldwin MMW. Also Invictus got 2nd in MHW with Tristan Taylor and most spirited fighter Jon Joe Lawler in tough novice categories.
In the Open categories fight of the day saw MW final teammates Blake Collins and Dawid Ozga fight a tough three round battle with Collins sneaking a 3-2 decision .
Ben Watson of Westhill also deserves a mention for a very hard earned 3rd place in MHW to show he is improving all the time.
Overall the event was a tremendous success for the BKK with lots of valuable experience and we look forward to seeing them all compete at the BKK English Open in May!
Results
Diamond Cup
WLW Emma Markwell Westcroft 1st
WLW Hayley Beth Rowlands Cardiff 3rd
CGLW Jaime May Rowlands Cwmbran 3rd
CGLW Jess Charsley Verwood 3rd
Womens Kata Janine Davies Mountain Ash 3rd
Scottish Open
MMW Blake Collins Crawley 1st
MMW Dawid Ozga Crawley 2nd
MHW Ben Watson Westhill 3rd
WHW Lyndsey Moulden Ynysybwl 2nd
NWHW Weronika Olesiejuk Melton Mowbray 1st
NMLW Harry Harden Crawley 1st
NMMW Dylan Baldwin Mountain Ash 1st
NMHW Tristan Taylor Invictus 2nd
Veterans LW Sid Moulden Mountain Ash 2nd
Veterans LW Matthew Lawler Invictus 3rd
Veterans HW Dariousz Delecta West Yorkshire 3rd
Most Spirited Fighter Jon Joe Lawler Invictus