Zanshin Dojo
Welsh Karate Governing Body National Championships
Two of the Zanshin Karate Dojo's senior members were selected to represent the Welsh Karate Association at the Welsh Karate Govening Body National championships held in Sophia gardens in Cardiff. In the Senior male Kata Brown and Black belt division, the clubs instructor, Gavin Evans, is coming back to form claiming a bronze medal . In the senior male kata , beginner to purple belt division another of the clubs members , Chris Pavett won a silver medal, no doubt following in the footsteps of his instructor. The Welsh national championships are without a doubt the hardest championships in Wales and the club has done extremely well coming away with two medals.
Welsh Traditional Friendship Open
The Zanshin Karate Dojo recently sent some of its students to train with the worlds top three Japanese instructors at the Afan Lido, Port Talbot. The course was hosted by the Welsh Karate Association and lasted six hours. The students of the club enjoyed their day and gained important knowledge in their karate studies. A special friendship tournament was held the following day inviting all traditional karate associations in the UK to enter with special arrangement for the Japanese instructors to present the trophies. The tournament was a huge success with entrants coming from all over the UK with strong Irish and English squad members entering. It was the first time in Wales that prize money has ever been awarded in a karate tournament with £1000 prize fund for all the senior Male and female categories. The Zanshin Dojo entered several members including its instructor Gavin Evans, who entered the Mens senior Kata. It was a welcome return for the former Welsh and British champion as it was the first time in 8 years that Gavin has entered due to retirement but done extremely well considering the 30 strong line up of competitors and came away with a bronze medal.
Wadokai Grand Masters course
Gavin Evans pictured with Sensei M.Hashiara (9th Dan) and M.Maeda (8th Dan)
Welsh Karate Grand Prix Success
The Zanshin Karate Dojo were successful yet again in the Welsh Karate Grand Prix held recently. The club picked up a 3rd place in the Team Kata event with the trio of Dominic Evans, Sion Maclaughlan and Lewis Knoyle. The trio did very well in the individual kumite and kata section all reaching the quarter final stages in their respective categories. It was a very good day for Lewis Knoyle though as he added another bronze medal to his days total in the under 12yrs individual Kumite section . The club has been recently helped by grant aid from the Glynneath Selar Trust Fund which has enabled the club to purchase specialised items of equipment and a matted training area to help in their progress. The club instructor and coach Gavin Evans is extremely pleased with the progress of the students and the growth of the club, with Dojo’s now running in Pontneathvaughan, Glynneath, Cwmgwrach and Rhigos.
Grant Aid
The Zanshin Dojo recently benefitted from a generous grant from the Glynneath Selar trust fund. The club has recently been able to purchase specialised items of equipment such as free standing punch bags , protective equipment and also a matted area for training and tournaments.
Karate success for Sion.
The Zanshin Dojo karate club recently entered several competitor’s in the Welsh Karate Association’s national championships held in September. Sion Maclaughlan came away with a bronze medal in the under 14 yrs boys kumite narrowly losing out to a place in the final. Sion fought off tough competition from the dominant Cardiff and Swansea clubs and was very excited with his medal as it is only his third tournament he has entered. Sion has been training for just six months at the Zanshin Dojo in Pontneathvaughan and Glynneath . His instructor and coach Gavin Evans was delightedwith the outcome .
Zanshin Karate Dojo annual summer tournament.
Clips taken from local newspapers (The Guardian, Courier and Evening Post).
The Zanshin Karate Dojo recently held its annual summer under 13’s tournament at the Glynneath Rugby club. There was a very good turn out for the day with trophies being sponsored by the clubs sponsor ‘ The Pizza King’
In the individual kata section Lewis Knoyle took the gold medal narrowly beating Heidi Williams into silver position with Kyle Walker taking the bronze. There was a very strong line up in this section as they are instructed by former Welsh and British kata champion Gavin Evans, the club Sensei. The team kata section saw the trio of Sion Maclaughlan, Courtney Harries and Heidi Williams taking the Gold with a well timed kata display.
In the individual kumite section Dominic Evans took gold narrowly beating Meg O’ Reilly into the silver medal. The bronze medal went to Sion Maclaughlan who beat his younger cousin Lewis Knoyle in the fight off. The three man team kumite was won by the trio of Dominic Evans, Alex Jones and Lewis Knoyle. The final of the team event was particularly enjoyable as the club champion Dominic Evans came up against one of the smallest competitors of the day Darcey Lewis , who fought with great determination eventually losing out but winning the crowds hearts. It just goes to prove that it doesn’t matter how big an opponent is.
Zanshin Karate Dojo annual Xmas tournament
The Zanshin Karate Dojo based in Glynneath held its first annual karate tournament for the under 11's recently. The club had an excellent turnout from the youngsters and a good response from the parents supporting them also. In the Kata Jennifer Slarke won gold with Joshua Waters taking the silver and David Slarke taking bronze.
The kumite section again saw Jennifer Slarke following up her gold in the kata with another gold in the kumite narrowly beating Alex Jones in the final. Bradley Francis won bronze in a hard close fight-off against Samuel Sleep. The team gold went to the trio of Kyle Walker, Alex Jones and David Slarke. Club instructor Sensei Gavin Evans said that he was thrilled with the success of the day and would like to thank all the officials and timekeepers for their help.