Clive Taylor Open Kata Championship

Steve Chappell and Paul Hepburn entered the Annual Clive Taylor Open Kata Championship at Samurai Judo Club in Kidderminster on Sunday 24th July. They achieved Gold Medals in the Katame no Kata and Nage no Kata sections. Great feedback was received from the examiners with the encouragement that they should be aiming for a medal placement at the British Kata Championships in September.

Changes at TJK Kingswood

Work is being done on the St Stephens Infants Hall in Kingswood. Saturday classes will temporarily move to the Hanham Dojo on the following dates:-

Hanham DoJo - Small Hall
John Wesley Memorial Church Hall
Bryant's Hill
Bristol
BS5 8QS

23rd July
30th July
6th Aug
13th Aug
20th Aug
27th Aug
3rd Sept

11am - 12 noon Judo
12 noon - 1pm Ju-Jitsu

The times will become the permanent times for the club moving forward.

West of England Open

The day after the teams, Natasha Maslen and Renz Vallerja competed at the West of England Youth and Senior Open. Natasha won her two fights giving her the gold medal in the seniors also getting some senior ranking points. Renz won two and lost two placing him in fifth. Well done to both once again.

Mark Maslen refereed again. The day before he was in Sheffield where he had an oral test where he got 20 out of 20 and to top this he was told by a senior referee that he was above average. At the West of England he showed everyone, again, that he is an amazing referee and proved that he is ready to go for his national refereeing level.

Tora Judo Kai grading results

Congratulations to everyone who graded successfully on Sunday 10th July. The new grades are as follows:

JU-JITSU
Blue Belt (2nd Kyu):
Micheal Keepin
Dave Wheeler
Andy Baker

Orange Belt (4th Kyu):
Gary Williams

Yellow Belt (5th Kyu):
Jordan Cox

White Belt (6th Kyu):
Dravan Powe

JUDO
Seniors:
Adam  Braden: Yellow belt
Michael Keepin: Green belt

Juniors:
Bailey Grimstead: Yellow
Emily Bell: White + 2 tabs
Howard Carn: Yellow
Miles Carn: Yellow
Martha Harris: White + 2 tabs
Daisy Player: White + 3 tabs
Becky Akbar: White + 3 tabs
Matthew Wise: Yellow
Liam Brailsford: Orange
Faith Byrne: Orange
Ben Ellard: Orange
Stephanie Grandon: Orange
Sam Kessler: Orange
Tom Kessler: Yellow + 2 tabs
Jack Keepin: Orange
Tom Eden Bull: Orange
Aaron Llewellin: Orange + 2 tabs
Rebecca Dawrant: Orange + 2 tabs

Competition news

Bedminster Youth and Seniors
On the 3rd of July there was another competition at Bedminster Judo Club. Natasha Maslen did a brilliant job as head referee whilst Rebecca Maslen fought in the youths gaining a gold medal.

The National Team Championships
Renz Vallejera, Natasha Maslen and Rebecca Maslen travelled to Sheffield as part of the West of Area team. Renz was selected out of many to be reserve for the Under 50 junior boys team. Rebecca was selected to fight in the Under 63 junior girls team with Natasha in Under 70s. The western area junior boys team came back with a bronze medal and so did the junior girls team.  Judy Maslen was there with the other Western Area coaching team, coaching and supporting all of the players. Well done to all of them for being selected and contributing to the great team spirit.

Kent International competition report - 25/26 June

The Kent International lasted an entire weekend. On Saturday we had one competitor, Renz Vallejera, and two officials. Mark Maslen once again refereed and Rebecca Maslen was working on the tables. Despite the extreme heat, Renz fought amazingly well and took the well deserved gold medal having won all of his fights by ippon including beating other three England Squad members. Well done Renz.

Day two at the Kent International, Mark and Rebecca continued to officiate through the high temperatures. Natasha Maslen competed in the seniors. Her first fight was up against an old rival who is in the England’s Talented Squad and Natasha beat her by ippon in a few seconds. Unfortunately, Natasha lost her second fight but was still put through to the semi finals where she met another competitor who she always fights and wins against. After winning the semi finals, she met the girl she lost to. Natasha unfortunately lost but it was a success as the woman was very experienced at the age of 36. To top this, Natasha received her last 20 points towards her 2nd Dan (BJA), so she only needs to complete the theory. Well done Natasha.

It was a long, hot, sticky weekend but the two competitors and officials did exceptionally well and once again did themselves and their club proud. On behalf of the competitors I would like to thank Judy Maslen who once again coached and supported our players the whole weekend.

Bedminster Competition report - 11 June 2011

We had four officials and four competing at this junior and youth event, with Mark Maslen and Natasha Maslen refereeing and Rebecca Dawrant and Rebecca Maslen working on the tables. Chloe and Daniel Robyns-Landricobe from Lanson Judo had a very good day at their first BJA competition. Chloe took the silver after some hard fights in her weight category and Daniel took the bronze, also a hard group. Renz Vallejera, from Pill, competed in the junior event taking the gold while Rebecca, also from Pill, took the gold in the youth event.

Well done to all who fought and officiated - you did Tora Judo Kai and yourselves proud. A special thank you to Judy Maslen who was coaching and supporting all the players.