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 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
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
National Kata Tournament 2020 Results
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.
National Clicker tournament 2019 - results
On behalf of our association, Thanks to all who helped make Saturdays British Karate Kyokushinkai Clicker Championships a great success. 270 fighters from the B.K.K, non-BKK & Ireland. Continuing to fight semi-contact since our formation in 1965 under the guidance of Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan.
Special thanks to Gareth Jones for all his work in advance and then on the day. The Area Managers Shihans: David Pickthall, Neil Madeley, Felix Ntumazah, Janine Davies, Paul Baker & Andrew Turner and all the un-mentioned officials, without who’s help we could not run the event.
Thanks also to Andy Rotherham & Stuart Wright, Health & Safety & Floor Manager respectively. Abi Rotherham for stepping in as photographer, Shihan Maria da Costa and also the “special few” table officials: Helen Rowlands, Samantha Williams, Francesca Morreale, Peter Frith & Mark Mcillroy.
Lastly thank you to all the fighters, who took success and defeat with equal measure and displayed skill, courage, endeavour and respect throughout.
Osu!
Shihan Nick da Costa
(Championship lead organiser & Chief Referee)
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.
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.
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
U18 Team England and Wales results at Sutani Cup 2019, Belgium.
U18 Team England and Wales attended this year’s Sutani Cup, Antwerp, Belgium in numbers, and came away with invaluable experience.
Results and congratulations to:
Ashley Black (ENG - Crawley dojo) - 1st place
Antek Sobecki (ENG - Westcroft dojo) - 1st place
Holly Harvery (WALES - Mountain Ash dojo) - 2nd place
Katie Martin (WALES - Mountain Ash dojo) - 2nd place
James Baker (ENG - Saffron Walden dojo) - 2nd place
Brandon Wise (ENG - Westcroft dojo) - 2nd place
Cai Williams (WALES - Mountain Ash dojo) - 3rd place
Rhys Meredith (WALES - Mountain Ash dojo) - 3rd place
Seren Harries (WALES - Mountain Ash dojo) - 3rd place
Nathan Hyde (ENG - Eastbourne dojo) - 3rd place
Nikhil Patel (ENG - Loughborough dojo) - 3rd place
Mia Hawkins (ENG - Crawley dojo) - 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.
42nd British Open 2018 Official Results
Relive the action of the 42nd British Open
Team GB announced for IFK European 2018 tournament
The adult and U18 GB Knockdown Team has been announced for the IFK European tournament, held in Armenia on the 7th and 8th April.
(clockwise): Gab Barbu, Blake Collins, Emma Markwell, Jaime-May Rowlands, Beth Salvi, Luke Baldwin, Hayley-Beth Rowlands
We wish them the best as they move into the final weeks of preparation. Representing IFK Great Britain will be:
U18 Team
- Jaime May Rowlands U18 BKK Cwmbran
- Bethany Salvi U18 BKK Crawley
- Sensei Wai Cheung Coach
Adult Team
- Emma Markwell Lightweight BKK Westcroft
- Hayley Beth Rowlands Lightweight BKK Cardiff
- Blake Collins Middleweight BKK Crawley
- Luke Baldwin Middleweight BKK Mountain Ash
- Gabriel Barbu Heavyweight BKK Crawley
- Sensei Kenny Jarvis Coach
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
World Silver medal for Emma Markwell at 3rd KWU World Tournament
Team GB (L-R): Graham Warden (Head Coach), Gabriel Barbu, Haley-Beth Rowlands, Emma Markwell, Lisa-Marie Heath, Roger Styles (coach)
Team Great Britain attended the 3rd KWU World Tournament held in Ekaterinberg, Russia 9th-10th December 2017, in what was one of the most professional and spectacular Kyokushin tournaments ever seen setting the standard for all others.
In a hotly contested tournament of extremely high standards, Emma Markwell claimed her third World-level silver medal. Congratulations to her, and the rest of the team who represented us all proudly.
RESULTS: Sutani Belgium Youth and Beginners Tournament 2017
Teams England and Wales
BACK ROW (L to R)
Sensei Chris Davies (Wales coach), Maise Blackford (Eng), Luke Sabey (Eng), Luke Jones (Wales), Sophie Hobbs (Wales), Ame Sorge (Eng), Sensei Wai Cheung (Eng coach), Rob Salvi (Eng), Aaron Sheehan (Wales), Luke Davies (Wales), Max Williams (Wales), Sensei Tony White (Eng coach)
FRONT ROW (L to R)
Beth Salvi (Eng), Bart Proctor (Eng), Dennis Sorokins (Eng), Jessica Charsley (Eng), Rhys Meredith (Wales), Holly Harvey (Wales), Lili Bryan (Wales), Mia Morgan (Wales)
Results from the Sutani Belgium Youth and Beginners Tournament 2017:
Team England
Bart Procter 1st
Denis Sorokins 1st
Beth Salvi 2nd
Maesi Blackford 2nd
Ame Sorge 3rd
Team Wales
Max Williams 1st
Luke Jones 2nd
Rhys Meredith 2nd
Luke Davies 2nd
Mia Morgan 3rd
They did us proud!