Ishinryu Competition

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February 2010 - Aaron Swales secures European Place GREECE is the word for East Durham Ishinryu's Aaron Swales after securing his place on the plane for the European Championships. Aaron, 22, impressed England squad coaches at a final selection in North Yorkshire and was given the news that he's heading to Athens in May. He will be part of the men's fighting team that will contest the medals. He said: “I'm just thrilled, I've been working really hard for this and it's paid off. The coaching I'm getting now is really working for me and I just hope I can repay that now by getting among the medals.” Second Dan Aaron has picked up a string of successes in the last 12 months after stepping up from the junior ranks. He secured his place on the England senior A squad in December, and has improved even more in the early part of this year. Aaron's sensei, Gavin Foster,3^rd Dan, and former England international, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for Aaron, but he can't rest on his laurels. He's got about 10 weeks now before the tournament and his training will be intense.” Aaron faces several international warm-up matches before the Europeans, which start on May 8, the first of which is the Dutch International Open in Rotterdam on March 13.
February 2010 - Swiss International Open (Zurich) Emma Lucraft and Aimee Sell competed in the 2nd Swiss International Open in Zurich. This competition, although only in it's second year, attracted over 1,300 competitors from all over Europe and countries outside Europe too. 22 countries attended including France, Colombia, Italy, and Bosnia. Emma had 5 Rounds and Aimee 6 Rounds. Both girls did extremley well with both winning gold 5-0 in their respective finals. Well done to the organisers from the Swiss Karate Federation for a surperb international event.
October 2009 - Course Cash Boost for England Hopefuls Five World Junior Championship medal hopefuls were given a fantastic boost after proceeds of the Ishinryu one-day open course were donated for the trip to Morocco. Sensei Ticky Donovan 9^th Dan OBE made the generous gesture – which was greeted with cheers and applause from the 90 people who attended the superb event. And the coffers were boosted even further when Ishinryu 3^rd Dan Tony Spinks announced his firm Merritt Rail Ltd was adding a further £250 to the fund. Sensei Donovan said: “Financially, these are difficult times and it is a lot of money to expect families to fork out in order that these youngsters can represent their country. The EKF are in the process of trying to secure financial backing for the future, but in the meantime, we need to support our athletes as best we can. “As an association, it a massive achievement to have five members of the England squad for the world championships from Ishinryu. “We had a fantastic course, it was a great atmosphere and I was only too happy to help these young people to achieve their dreams. “I would personally like to thank Tony Spinks for his contribution. Hopefully, knowing that they have the full backing of everyone in their association will give the athletes an extra boost when they get on the mat and bring back some medals. No pressure!” The junior world championships will take place in Rabat, Morocco, from November 12 to 15. Emma Lucraft will represent England in the junior female kata and the team event alongside Aimee Sell – who also goes in the cadet individual. Chris Karwacinski takes his place in the team kata, while his sister, Kate, fights in the U-59kg junior female category. And Gareth Hains holds our hopes in the U-21, U-78kg kumite event. We wish them all the very best of luck. The gesture by sensei Donovan rounded off an excellent day at the course which saw guest appearances from some old faces, including former champions Frank Lee-Sang and Dianne Reilly.
October 2009 - Copenhagen Open Championships Results now in from this event held on the 3rd and 4th October. Ishinryu won the following awards for Kata: Jonathan Mottram - Gold Emma Lucraft - Gold Aimee Sell -Bronze Aimee also won silver at the Welsh Open.
September 2009 - British Championships Edinburgh Another fantastic result for Ishinryu at the 2009 British Championships in Edinburgh. A team of just 16 made the trip - but they returned triumphant with a haul of 11 medals, including three gold, four silver and four bronze. The team once again showed its class in the kata with Connor Chatfield picking up bronze in the boys 14-15yrs category. It was a one, two, three in the girls 14-15yrs with Rebecca Birch taking gold in a close final against Aimee Sell and Kate Karawacinski made it through to pick up bronze. Jonathan Mottram confirmed his place as Britain's best taking gold in the men's with an awesome performance. Emma Lucraft had to settle for bronze in the girls 16-17yrs - but another great performance. John Gardner had to settle for a quarter final place in the men's kata and Michael Wilson missed out in the veteran's kata. But young Melissa Williamson has just turned 12 -and took silver in the girls 12-13yrs. Melissa showed she is all-rounder by taking silver in the open weight kumite. As did Kate Karawacinski with silver in the girls 14-15yrs U-54kg category. Her brother, Steve, went one better and took gold in the boys 14-15yrs U-70kg and Rachael Bramley earned a bronze in the ladies open weight. It wasn't to be for Liam Conroy who was retired by the doctor 6-2 up in the fight off for bronze and Aaron Swales was disappointed after going out in the qurter-final of the men's U-75kg. It was quarter finals for Michael Day who made his first return to the British Championships for the first time after making his comeback. It was a great performance from Michael. It wasn't to be also for Chris Karawacinski the younger of the three siblings who missed out in Kata and Kumite and 10-year-old Samual Parle who did the same. But it was a fantastic effort from them and all the Ishinryu squad. They did themselves and Ishinryu proud.
World Karate Championships in Morocco (Cadet Junior) The following Ishinryu competitors have been selected for the World Karate Championships to be held in Morocco later this year: Aimee Sell (Female Cadet Kata) Emma Lucraft (Female Junior Kata) Chris Karwacinski (Male Team Kata) Gareth Hains (Male Kumite under 21 under 78kg) Kate Karwacinski (Female Junior Kumite under 59kg)
June 2009 - Austrian Junior Open Twenty countries participated in this event in Saltzburg including the Czech Republic, France Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, the USA, and Germany. There were 938 competition entries with 121 clubs represented. Included was a team from Ishinryu in the UK who returned with three Gold medals. Samantha Cannon beat Germany to Gold in the under 21 Kata event. Emma Lucraft beat Italy to Gold in the under 18's event, while Aimee Sell also beat Italy to Gold in the 16s and under Kata event.
April 2009 - Scottish Open Congratulations to Liam Conroy after he picked up bronze at the Scottish Open in Edinburgh on April 6 in the Male kumite 14-15yrs category U-52kg. It followed his success at the AMA International Open where he took Gold.
April 2009 - Italian Open Golden League Emma Lucraft wins Gold in Kata Aimee Sell wins Bronze in Kata Seen here with coach Jonathan Mottram
March 2009 - Dutch Open in Rotterdam Emma Lucraft wins award
March 2009 - English Championships, Sheffield Well done everybody. And a special thanks to the Ishinryu coaches Eddie Gillespie, Jonathan Mottram and Gavin Foster. Ticky Donovan O.B.E.
Overall result was: 7 GOLDS 7 SILVER 10 BRONZE GOLD Aimee Sell 12-13 years KATA Aimee Sell 14-15 years KATA Mike Wilson veterans KATA Steve Karwacinski 14-15 years KUMITE Emily Kelleher 14-15 years KUMITE Rebecca Birch, Aimee Sell, Emily Kelleher Junior Team KATA Emma Lucraft, Nicole Taylor, Kate karwacinski Senior Female Team KATA
SILVER Gareth Hains mens KATA Emily Kelleher 14-15 years KATA Rachel Bramley Womens KATA Mark Handsford, Steve Karwacinski, Chris Karwacinski Junior Team KATA Mike Wilson veterans KUMITE Kate Karwacinski 14-15 years KUMITE Dahmi Maisuria 9 years and under KATA
BRONZE Aaron Swales, Mark allembey, Alan Evans, Gareth Hains, Mithel Scotcher Mens Team KUMITE Rachel Bramley, Sarah Styles, Samantha Cannon Womens Team KATA Lauren Taylor, Rebecca Birch, Tanya Lampreia 10-13 years Team KUMITE Mark Handsford 14-15 years KUMITE Chris Wilson veterans KATA Sarah Styles veterans KATA Emma Lucraft 15-17 years KATA Rebecca Birch 12-13 years KATA Jonathan Mottram senior mens KATA Chis Wilson, Mike Wilson, Alan Evans Men's team KATA