News
On this page, we only publish "out of the ordinary" activities, not reports of our day-to-day Karate classes.
For more regular news updates about everything we get up to, including our day-to-day classes, please see our public facebook page.
For more regular news updates about everything we get up to, including our day-to-day classes, please see our public facebook page.
2019 NEWS
5th January 2019
New Website
What better way to start off the new year than with the release of our BRAND NEW website?
Of course, the website isn't totally finished yet (in particular, we have a LOT of content due to be added to the members-only section), but it's still a million times better than the old website, and is now "mobile-friendly", too!
We have so many exciting things planned for 2019, so all I can say is "watch this space".
What better way to start off the new year than with the release of our BRAND NEW website?
Of course, the website isn't totally finished yet (in particular, we have a LOT of content due to be added to the members-only section), but it's still a million times better than the old website, and is now "mobile-friendly", too!
We have so many exciting things planned for 2019, so all I can say is "watch this space".
27th january 2019
Iain Abernethy Seminar in Reading
My daughter, Alyssa, and I, have been to Reading this weekend to train with Iain Abernethy Sensei. Lots of Kata application was covered in some thought-provoking and enjoyable drills!
My daughter, Alyssa, and I, have been to Reading this weekend to train with Iain Abernethy Sensei. Lots of Kata application was covered in some thought-provoking and enjoyable drills!
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30th January 2019
Safeguarding Training
This evening, our Senior Instructors attended a "Safeguarding and Protecting Children" course in Truro.
A Karate instructor's work is never done!
This evening, our Senior Instructors attended a "Safeguarding and Protecting Children" course in Truro.
A Karate instructor's work is never done!
2nd February 2019
Entertainment Evening
This evening, many of our students (and their parents, where the students were younger) attended a fundraising "Entertainment Evening" event. We did lots of fun activities, including a "Streetfighter" tournament to finish off the evening. Good food and company was enjoyed by all :)
This evening, many of our students (and their parents, where the students were younger) attended a fundraising "Entertainment Evening" event. We did lots of fun activities, including a "Streetfighter" tournament to finish off the evening. Good food and company was enjoyed by all :)
7th March 2019
World Book Day
What's the chances of ALL of these students choosing to dress up as a character from the same book?!
For anyone who is intrigued, "The Pinan Katas of Shukokai and Shitoryu Karate - An Illustrated Guide" is available to purchase from lulu.com!
What's the chances of ALL of these students choosing to dress up as a character from the same book?!
For anyone who is intrigued, "The Pinan Katas of Shukokai and Shitoryu Karate - An Illustrated Guide" is available to purchase from lulu.com!
16th March 2019
Quiz Night
This evening, we held a quiz night as a fundraising event. Lots of fun was had by everybody, and I was impressed by the answers given to some of the questions - it appears we have some real geniuses amongst us! We also have some real comedians too, judging by some of the answers given!
Despite everybody being in "teams" and doing their best not to share answers, the social aspect of the evening was superb! Thanks for coming, everyone!
This evening, we held a quiz night as a fundraising event. Lots of fun was had by everybody, and I was impressed by the answers given to some of the questions - it appears we have some real geniuses amongst us! We also have some real comedians too, judging by some of the answers given!
Despite everybody being in "teams" and doing their best not to share answers, the social aspect of the evening was superb! Thanks for coming, everyone!
5th April 2019
Grading
Tonight's grading (belt examination) was probably the strongest grading we've had for a while. Great spirit, great technique, great effort... simply awesome!
Of the 33 people grading tonight, there was only one person who we were unable to pass, as they didn't satisfactorily complete one section of the grading (kata). It was a shame, as up until that point I was thinking about how incredibly well they were doing. In all honesty, I felt that overall they deserved to pass based on the standard they demonstrated throughout the rest of the grading, but rules are rules, and we make no exceptions. What I have done, however, is given that person the chance to practice the part they failed over the weekend, and show me again next week... if it's up-to-speed, I'll award them their belt. Despite being one of the youngest students in the grading (age 7yrs 10 months old), they took the news with maturity and resolve... now that's what Karate is all about, and I was very proud of the young man.
I was proud of how everyone did, but special congratulations go to the two students who were both awarded a belt higher than they were being tested for. I'm sure both of these students will accept the grade humbly, and appreciate that they still need to keep up their hard work despite their unexpected extra success.
I also want to say special congratulations to our brown belt candidates, who fought hard to earn their new grades... what an outstanding effort!
Finally, thanks to Sensei Andy and Sensei Kegan for helping with the grading... it's good to know that Cornwall Karate doesn't just rest on one person's shoulders, but has a great team behind it.
Below are the students who passed their Brown Belt (3rd Kyu) gradings... anyone would think they've just worked hard!
Tonight's grading (belt examination) was probably the strongest grading we've had for a while. Great spirit, great technique, great effort... simply awesome!
Of the 33 people grading tonight, there was only one person who we were unable to pass, as they didn't satisfactorily complete one section of the grading (kata). It was a shame, as up until that point I was thinking about how incredibly well they were doing. In all honesty, I felt that overall they deserved to pass based on the standard they demonstrated throughout the rest of the grading, but rules are rules, and we make no exceptions. What I have done, however, is given that person the chance to practice the part they failed over the weekend, and show me again next week... if it's up-to-speed, I'll award them their belt. Despite being one of the youngest students in the grading (age 7yrs 10 months old), they took the news with maturity and resolve... now that's what Karate is all about, and I was very proud of the young man.
I was proud of how everyone did, but special congratulations go to the two students who were both awarded a belt higher than they were being tested for. I'm sure both of these students will accept the grade humbly, and appreciate that they still need to keep up their hard work despite their unexpected extra success.
I also want to say special congratulations to our brown belt candidates, who fought hard to earn their new grades... what an outstanding effort!
Finally, thanks to Sensei Andy and Sensei Kegan for helping with the grading... it's good to know that Cornwall Karate doesn't just rest on one person's shoulders, but has a great team behind it.
Below are the students who passed their Brown Belt (3rd Kyu) gradings... anyone would think they've just worked hard!
18th/19th April 2019
Easter
I’m so kind, I gave every cadet student an egg for Easter... look at their happy little faces!
I’m so kind, I gave every cadet student an egg for Easter... look at their happy little faces!
In all seriousness though, we've had some great hard work from our students over the Easter Holidays (including on Good Friday), so we felt only too honoured to award some eggs for the "student of the class" on both days.
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11th May 2019
Kubotan Seminar
Today we held an awesome Kubotan seminar with some of our students.
During the seminar, we looked at the legalities of the Kubotan, and tested it's abilities for striking and slashing.
It was nice to see everyone enjoying the seminar, I hope you all found it useful.
Today we held an awesome Kubotan seminar with some of our students.
During the seminar, we looked at the legalities of the Kubotan, and tested it's abilities for striking and slashing.
It was nice to see everyone enjoying the seminar, I hope you all found it useful.
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23rd June 2019
Iain Abernethy Seminar in Wancanton, Somerset
We were due to have a Treasure Hunt today as a club activity, but the weather was horrible and we had to postpone it. I therefore whizzed up to Somerset for a last-minute opportunity to train with Iain Abernethy Sensei.
During the seminar, we looked at "The Training Matrix" ie identifying flaws in each of our training practices, and ensuring that other areas of our training make up for these shortcomings so that, overall, our training is complete.
We covered the role of kata, technical drills, scenario drills, pad drills, live drills and more besides. Ian Sensei’s seminars are always an education.
We were due to have a Treasure Hunt today as a club activity, but the weather was horrible and we had to postpone it. I therefore whizzed up to Somerset for a last-minute opportunity to train with Iain Abernethy Sensei.
During the seminar, we looked at "The Training Matrix" ie identifying flaws in each of our training practices, and ensuring that other areas of our training make up for these shortcomings so that, overall, our training is complete.
We covered the role of kata, technical drills, scenario drills, pad drills, live drills and more besides. Ian Sensei’s seminars are always an education.
30th June 2019
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles come to Penzance!
I don’t generally like “gimmicky” promotions of Karate, but for a bit of fun Sensei Andy and I popped down to Quay Fair Day in Penzance today to do a bit of goodwill promotion today... dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
It was nice to make lots of children (and lots of adults, too!) smile, and our hands are now worn-out from all the high-fives we gave away! Cowabunga dude!
Thanks to everyone who helped give out leaflets, and massive thanks also to our “minders”, Rachel, Sharon and Alyssa... we couldn’t see much in those costumes, so were grateful for your guidance!
I don’t generally like “gimmicky” promotions of Karate, but for a bit of fun Sensei Andy and I popped down to Quay Fair Day in Penzance today to do a bit of goodwill promotion today... dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
It was nice to make lots of children (and lots of adults, too!) smile, and our hands are now worn-out from all the high-fives we gave away! Cowabunga dude!
Thanks to everyone who helped give out leaflets, and massive thanks also to our “minders”, Rachel, Sharon and Alyssa... we couldn’t see much in those costumes, so were grateful for your guidance!
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7TH JULY 2019
Cornwall Karate Competition
We're not particularly a "competition-orientated" Karate club, preferring to focus on self defence instead of the sporting side of Karate. That said, we do like for our students to get a little competition experience, so that they can choose to focus more on that if that happens to be where their interests are, and also to identify any students who have a particular talent for it. To that end, we held an intra-club Karate competition on 7th July, where our students had the chance to try their hand at kata (forms), kumite (sparring), tag sparring, bokken battle and kick dummy.
The spirit shown by the competitors was second-to-none, and the spectators also did a great job of supporting everybody.
Here's a photo of three of our competitors. Karate practitioners don't put people down, they lift them up!
We're not particularly a "competition-orientated" Karate club, preferring to focus on self defence instead of the sporting side of Karate. That said, we do like for our students to get a little competition experience, so that they can choose to focus more on that if that happens to be where their interests are, and also to identify any students who have a particular talent for it. To that end, we held an intra-club Karate competition on 7th July, where our students had the chance to try their hand at kata (forms), kumite (sparring), tag sparring, bokken battle and kick dummy.
The spirit shown by the competitors was second-to-none, and the spectators also did a great job of supporting everybody.
Here's a photo of three of our competitors. Karate practitioners don't put people down, they lift them up!
13TH JULY 2019
Summer Meal
Although our main passion is Karate, we also try to have an active social side to our Karate group.
On the 13th July, many of us went out for a meal to the New Hong Kong restaurant in Penzance for their "all you can eat" buffet...mmmmm!
Don't worry, we'll work the calories off in class :)
Although our main passion is Karate, we also try to have an active social side to our Karate group.
On the 13th July, many of us went out for a meal to the New Hong Kong restaurant in Penzance for their "all you can eat" buffet...mmmmm!
Don't worry, we'll work the calories off in class :)
30TH july 2019
Knife Self Defence
Our adult students, and some of our higher-grade cadet students, have just undergone three intensive knife defence classes.
We did some “theoretical” drills which increase the odds of a favourable outcome (not that a favourable outcome is ever certain when dealing with a knife), some live sparring with rubber knives which leave a red mark every time you are “cut” with them, and we had a talk about the legalities of what you can and can't do when defending yourself against a knife.
It was an educational and sobering experience, and whilst bare hands vs a knife is not something we would ever want to have to face, the hands-on experience was worth its weight in gold.
Our adult students, and some of our higher-grade cadet students, have just undergone three intensive knife defence classes.
We did some “theoretical” drills which increase the odds of a favourable outcome (not that a favourable outcome is ever certain when dealing with a knife), some live sparring with rubber knives which leave a red mark every time you are “cut” with them, and we had a talk about the legalities of what you can and can't do when defending yourself against a knife.
It was an educational and sobering experience, and whilst bare hands vs a knife is not something we would ever want to have to face, the hands-on experience was worth its weight in gold.
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27TH JULY 2019
Inflatable 5K Fun Run
Several members of Cornwall Karate did an inflatable 5K fun run at Stithians today. It was great fun, and everybody did fantastically as it wasn't exactly a "flat" course! I think the medals were well-deserved!
Several members of Cornwall Karate did an inflatable 5K fun run at Stithians today. It was great fun, and everybody did fantastically as it wasn't exactly a "flat" course! I think the medals were well-deserved!
18TH AUGUST 2019
Course with Damian Bowen Sensei
Today, we were lucky enough to have the Chief Instructor of our Karate association, Damian Bowen Sensei, come to Cornwall to teach a Karate seminar.
We worked on dynamic tension, some fitness and spirit work, and finished with Nijushiho Kata. Hard work, but VERY enjoyable.
Not a massive turnout due to lots of people being away on holiday, etc but what a boon for those who attended :)
Today, we were lucky enough to have the Chief Instructor of our Karate association, Damian Bowen Sensei, come to Cornwall to teach a Karate seminar.
We worked on dynamic tension, some fitness and spirit work, and finished with Nijushiho Kata. Hard work, but VERY enjoyable.
Not a massive turnout due to lots of people being away on holiday, etc but what a boon for those who attended :)
1ST SEPTEMBER
It's a Knockout, in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care
Yesterday, some of Cornwall Karate's members participated in the "It's a Knockout" tournament being organised by Cornwall Hospice Care. Just for fun, we went in fancy dress, with a ninja theme!
We raised £552.06 for Cornwall Hospice Care (including our £50 entry fee). Thanks for everyone who donated/sponsored us, to help this very important charity.
Yesterday, some of Cornwall Karate's members participated in the "It's a Knockout" tournament being organised by Cornwall Hospice Care. Just for fun, we went in fancy dress, with a ninja theme!
We raised £552.06 for Cornwall Hospice Care (including our £50 entry fee). Thanks for everyone who donated/sponsored us, to help this very important charity.
8th september 2019
Race for Life
Several Cornwall Karate members did the "Pretty Muddy" Race for Life, in aid of Cancer Research, today.
Great fun and... true to it's name... it was pretty muddy!
Several Cornwall Karate members did the "Pretty Muddy" Race for Life, in aid of Cancer Research, today.
Great fun and... true to it's name... it was pretty muddy!
Keep checking back for further news updates...