Hirayama Sensei (5th Dan, Japan)

On Sunday 23rd November 2008 I took the MiniNinja to the Xcel Leisure Complex in Surrey to compete in the JKA England Kyu Grade National Championship 2008. The Championship is open to competitors from orange to purple & white belt (9th-4th Kyu) with various categories based on sex, age, and Kyu grade.

We had both previously competed in the 2007 Kyu Grade Championship when we were both orange belts and we had really enjoyed the experience although we did not progress far enough to be in with a chance of a medal. The MiniNinja was eliminated in the 1st round of both kata and kumite while I was eliminated in at the quarter final stage of the kata by the eventual silver medalist and at the same stage of the kumite by the eventual gold medalist.

This year we were more prepared and I felt that the MiniNinja had a good chance of grabbing a medal since his karate has really improved since we last competed. MiniMe was competing in the children’s kata and boys kihon ippon kumite; both 6-8 years old and 6th-4th Kyu. I was competing in the male kata and male kihon ippon kumite in the 6th-4th Kyu, 19 years and above category.

The day started with the Kilburn SKC competitors going through a warm-up led by Sensei Anita and we were soon into the opening ceremony with words of encouragement from Sensei Ohta. The even is very well organised but can be challenging, especially for the children and first time competitors, as you have to find out which area to be in ready for the start of your competition. I checked out the noticeboards to find out  where and when we were met to be and he morning started off with the kata heats and the MiniNinja was up before my age group so I was able to watch him in action.

For our grade the kata competition consisted of a random performance from either Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, or Heian Sandan. I was nervous for the MiniNinja because I know he is extremely talented and loves to compete but equally he can sometimes suddenly forget where he is in the kata and make a mistake or he glances over at his opponent and can copy a mistake because he thinks he is completing the kata incorrectly. Unfortunately this was the case during the first round and MiniMe froze suddenly mid Heian Sandan and his corner judge flagged for a mistake. His opponent was also flagged for a mistake so the judges were called to the middle and they decided to mark it as a draw so they were both asked to perform another kata. Sadly the MiniNinja made another mistake, this time performing Heian Nidan, and he lost the bout and was eliminated during the first round.

I was disappointed for MiniMe because I knew he was good enough to challenge for a medal and when we had practiced a kata competition in the weeks leading up the championship he flew through each kata without any problem. I carried this disappointment through into my kata competition and I was also eliminated in the first round performing Heian Nidan. My opponent went on to claim the silver medal in kata but I had not done myself any justice and the reality was that I should have progressed further and challenged for a medal.

Once my kata heats finished I went with MiniMe to the cafe area because he was hungry and we sat together and ate some lunch. This meant that we missed the kata finals where some of our fellow Kilburn SKC members went on to win medals: Dorata took gold in the female over 19′s, Benjamin took silver in the same category as MiniMe, and Kulwant took gold in my category. I was especially pleased to see Kulwant do well as we often train together and I know just how good his kata can be.

JKAE Kyu Grade Championship 2008

Our disappointing result in the kata competition really focused MiniMe and we spent the official lunch break practising kumite together since we would both be competing under kihon ippon kumite. Sensei Anita then took all the Kilburn SKC karateka through a kumite practice before the competition started again for the afternoon session. Neither me nor the MiniNinja’s category were up first so we stood together and watched the male sanbon kumite. Next up was MiniMe’s category and under the watchful eye of Sensei Anita he put on a remarkably strong and focused performance from the start. He won round after round and with a growing number of senior Kilburn Karateka watching the MiniNinja progressed into the semi-final and was guaranteed at least a bronze medal. Thankfully his competitive streak really kicked in and there was no way he was going to settle for bronze so really stepped up in the semi-final so was then guaranteed a silver medal at least.

The finals moved onto the main mat so Sensei Anita accompanied MiniMe ready for the start of his final while I started the heats in my kumite competition. Our competition was especially fierce and I took a punch to the sternum during the first round: so much for non-contact kumite! I progressed through to the quarter final stage and came up against the same opponent who eliminated from the kata competition. This time our first bout was scored as a draw so we had to repeat the bout but this time on the left side rather than right. Unfortunately I made a mistake on my first upper rising block (age uke) so was eliminated once again at the quarter final stage. I can have no complaints with the result but again I lost my focus for a brief time and it cost me the chance to really contest a medal.

As I was busy with my heats the MiniNinja was competing in his final so I was unable to watch how he faired going for gold. Sensei Anita was kind enough to accompany him and help him through the final and by all accounts he put in a near perfect round of ippon kumite in the final so took the gold by a clear majority decision by the judges. I did manage to look over and see several senior Kilburn members congratulating MiniMe for his performance and result, which was a really nice gesture from everyone. I have to pass special thanks onto Sensei Anita for taking the Kilburn warm-up, generally organising the Kilburn competitors, and accompanying MiniMe through the kumite competition while I was busy competing in my category. I also have to thank Sensei Graham for his words of encouragement during my kumite and it’s a shame that I was not quite able to bring home a medal.

1st Place, Boys Ippon Kumite - JKAE Kyu Grade Championship 2008

The kumite medal presentations concluded the day and MiniMe looked especially proud as he received his gold medal and certificate from the visiting Sensei Hirayama. It was pleasing to see so many medal winners from Kilburn but of more note was the amount of Kilburn competitors. It is not easy to compete in front of so many people but I am sure that everyone benefited from the experience.

Finally, we would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation of the Kyu Grade Championship and we are looking forward to competing in the JKAE National Championship in July 2009.