Latest News
11th WUKF EUROPEAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
11th WUKF EUROPEAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Odense, Denmark October 24th – 27th
Karate Wales sent a squad of seventeen athletes, three coaches and two referees to the 11th World Union of Karate Federations European Championships held in Odense, Denmark. KW has set themselves a standard in medal achieving over the last few years and this squad continued our excellent results bringing home another yet another haul of medals.
Despite being a relatively small squad on this occasion, KW won a total of 16 medals to finish a very creditable 11th in the medal table overall. These included 8 Bronze medals, 6 silver medals and with KW having two new European Champions in Kay Powell and Jakob Bartush.
Kay added to her World Championship gold medal from Dublin by winning the Female Veteran’s kata title. And just to illustrate the range in talent we have across the ages in KW, Jakob won the under 8 years boys kata title.
There was also somewhat of a family theme to this squad. Richard Powell also won a Bronze medal and the tournament saw the return of Luke Howard to the mats, this time not only under the watchful eye of his wife Leah but his mum Clare too! It was a good weekend for the Howard family with both Luke and Clare winning silver medals. Finally, the Lee sisters Mayzi, Elle-Mai and Alysha may soon need a bigger trophy cabinet as they all came away with medals.
Full results are shown below:
Kay Powell -European Champion Female Veteran Kata
Jakob Bartush - European Champion Under 8yrs Boys Kata
Tyler Foster -Silver Medal Kata adapted Adults -Ambulatory
Mayzi Lee - Silver Medal Under 8yrs girls Kumite
Elle-Mai Lee - Silver Medal 10yrs girls kata
Emillie Thompson - Silver Medal 12yrs Girls Kumite
Clare Howard - Silver Medal Ladies Vets Kumite
Luke Howard - Silver Medal Senior Male Kumite -75kg
Talia Efstathiou - Bronze Medal 11yrs girls kata
Alysha Lee -Bronze Medal 16-17yrs female cadet Kumite
Charlotte Colbert -Bronze Medal 14-15yrs Female cadet Kumite
Jacob Denham - Bronze Medal 16-17yrs Cadet Kumite 65-75 Kgs
-Bronze Medal -16-17yrs Cadet Kumite Open
Richard Powell -Bronze Medal Male Kumite Sanbon +85Kgs
Sophie Evans -Bronze Medal 16-17yrs Female cadet Kumite -55Kgs
Josh Dodwell -Bronze Medal Male Kumite Sanbon -85 Kgs
Congratulations goes to all squad members and families who supported them. Thanks as always to our coaches Steve Wellington, Tom Beardsley, Kay Powell and Leah Howard who work so hard support our athletes and to our referees Andrew Jones and Doru Grad who represent KW at these events.
2nd United World Karate Championships 2017
2ND UNITED WORLD KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
A tally of the medals won by karate Wales at the 2nd United World Karate Championships, held in Montecatini, Italy from November 30th to December 3rd 2017.
Well done to all, in representing Wales with pride!
BRANDON HARVEY
UWK WORLD CHAMPION
KUMITE SHOBU SANBON MALE CADET 15 TO 17 YEARS 55 TO 65 KG
MORGAN HARVEY
UWK WORLD CHAMPION
KUMITE SHOBU SANBON MALE MINI CADETS 13 TO 14 YEARS 55 TO 65 KG
ELLIE THOMAS
UWK WORLD CHAMPION
15-16 CONTACT KUMITE
JOSH DAVIES
UWK SILVER MEDAL
KUMITE SHOBU SANBON MALE CADETS OPEN 15 TO 17 YEARS OPEN WEIGHT
SAM CANA
UWK SILVER MEDAL
KUMITE SHOBU SANBON MALE JUNIORS 18 TO 20 YEARS 75 TO 85 KG
MENS TEAM
LUKE HOWARD, RYAN WILLIAMS, DCAIN FRANCIS, SAM CANA
UWK SILVER MEDALS
KUMITE TEAM SHOBU SANBON MALE SHOBU SANBON SENIORS
MALE CADET TEAM
JOSH DAVIES, JACOB DENHAM, BRANDON HARVEY
UWK BRONZE MEDALS
KUMITE TEAM SHOBU SANBON MALE SHOBU SANBON CADETS 15 TO 17 YEARS
LAUREN GALLAGHER
UWK BRONZE MEDAL
KUMITE SHOBU SANBON FEMALE CADETS
15 TO 17 YEARS 45 TO 50 KG
BRONZE MEDAL
KUMITE SHOBU SANBON FEMALE CADETS OPEN
15 TO 17 YEARS OPEN WEIGHT
ELLIE THOMAS
UWK BRONZE MEDAL
15-16 CONTACT KATA
MIKE HUMPHRIES
UWK BRONZE MEDAL
VETERAN CONTACT KATA
MALI GRIGG
UWK BRONZE MEDAL
13-14 CONTACT KATA
COVID-19 Return to Sport Guidance
Karate Wales COVID-19 Guidance (July 2021 Update)
We have recently completed a comprehensive update to our guidelines for Karate Wales member organisations and clubs. While there are still restrictions in place due to the continuing pandemic, recent changes to Welsh Parliament rules give us a little more freedom with our practice. We are currently in Alert Level 1 so please follow the appropriate guidelines for Alert Level 1 practice. Alert Level 0 will be amended once we have details following the Welsh Parliament announcement (expected 7th August).
The documentation can be downloaded below:
KW Return To Sport Plan
Covid-19 Risk Assessment Template
Covid-19 Activity Risk Assessment Template
Covid-19 Activity Implementation Plan Template
Karate Wales Open for All Ages Categories
Karate Wales Safeguarding Course 21st July
Karate Wales Safeguarding Course 21st July.
Karate Wales held the latest Child Protection and Safeguarding course for instructors in Penarth on 21st July.
All Heads of Associations should be aware that all instructors and assistant instructors need to be safeguarding trained.
Karate Wales will host these courses as necessary to ensure this criteria is met.
Heads of Associations are asked to contact Shihan Lee Costa for details of the next courses.




Karate Wales Squad Training
KARATE WALES SQUAD TRAINING
Squad Training details in preparations for Bratislava
-13yrs Juniors Session
14+ yrs Senior Session
Senior Kata & Junior Kumite
Senior Kumite & Junior Kata
Hengwrt Community Sports Centre,
Llansawel Crescent,
Briton Ferry,
SA11 2UN
Cost £5.00
Karate Wales success at the WUKF World Karate Championships 2016
Karate Wales success at the WUKF World Karate Championships
A squad of 48 athletes travelled to Dublin to represent Karate Wales at the 6th World Union of Karate Federations World Championships, held from the 17th to 19th of June. It was a huge event with over 2250 athletes competing from 76 Federations world wide.
Welsh athletes would compete over the full spectrum of events in both kata and kumite and as both individuals and as teams. For the first time at a WUKF World Championships the squad contained athletes who would compete in the Adaptive Category for athletes with disabilities, and what success they had bringing back a total of 4 Gold medals, 5 Silver and 5 Bronze!
In the Adaptive Category Tyler Foster from Merthyr gave an outstanding performance in the Male Kata over 15 years ambulatory division to take the Gold medal and become World Champion. Ably supported by Bradley James and Leon Jones winning Silver medals and Lucas Widdrington a Bronze put Karate Wales at the top of the medal table in this category with a total of 4. A superb result for our first time in this category at World level.
In the Veterans Female Kata Kay Powell, also of Merthyr, finally took the World Gold that her decades of training deserved. Having come close many times over her numerous years of international competition she finally became World Champion with a masterful individual performance.
Josh Davies of Swansea in the individual Wado Ryu kata for 13 to 14 years also produced a Gold winning performance to win this division and become Karate Wales third World Champion.
The fourth Gold medal was won by Chiara Baker, Aaliyah Wiley, Sasha Hughes and Sumaya Evans who gave an energetic and spirited performance to win the Female Shobu Sanbon Rotation team division for 11 to 12 years. Every team member played their part, both on the mat and by encouraging their team mates, to become World Champions.
Karate Wales other three silver medals were won by:
Jacob Denham – Wado Ryu kata male 13 to 14 years green to black belt
Lauren Gallagher – Shobu Sanbon kumite female 15 to 17 years all belts
Sam Cana – Shobu Sanbon kumite male 15 to 17 years all belts
Bronze medals were also won by:
Josh Dodwell – Shobu Sanbon kumite male 18 to 20 years all belts
Leah Copeland – Shobu Sanbon Seniors female 21 to 35 years 55-60kg
Rahine Karunanithy – Shobu Sanbon kumite Seniors female 21 to 35 years 55-60kg
Leah Copeland, Amy Davies, Katie Rees and Rahine Karunanithy Shobu Sanbon kumite Seniors female team rotation 21-35 years.
Praise must also be given to the team of coaches that accompanied the squad. The event turned into an endurance marathon with twice the number of athletes competing than was originally anticipated by the organisers. This led to 12 to 15 hour days of competition and a logistical headache to ensure each athlete made it to their area in time for their event.
Despite this, at the end of three long days, Karate Wales was proud to emerge with four Gold medals and seven new World Champions as well as a host of other medallists. Allied to previous World, European, British and Welsh Champions within the squad, the Karate Wales Governing Body continues to go from strength to strength.
Female Rotation Team 11-12 Years World Champion
Josh Davies World Champion
Kay Powell World Champion
Tyle Foster World Champion
Karate Wales Youth Open 2018 Results
Karate Wales Youth Open 2018 Results
|
GOLD MEDALIST |
SILVER MEDALIST |
BRONZE MEDALIST |
BRONZE MEDALIST |
||||
KA1 |
JAKOB BARTUSH |
VALE KARATE |
ELIAS OWOLABI |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
OWEN ROE |
AKAI RYUU |
JONATHAN McCARTHY |
AKAI RYUU |
KA2 |
DARCEY HAWKES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
MADDIE VAUGHAN |
AKAI RYUU |
LILY ROSSER |
AKAI RYUU |
POPPY VAUGHAN |
AKAI RYUU |
KA3 |
THEO GANDERTON |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
JACK EUSTACE |
VALE KARATE |
MASON-COLE HOLLOWAY |
OKAMI |
DYLAN WINFIELD |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
KA4 |
LLOYD BEER |
VALE KARATE |
NIALL WAITE |
SHIN GI TAI |
|
|||
KA5 |
MADISYN RHOOMS |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
AMELIE FISHER |
VALE KARATE |
LILI VAUGHAN |
AKAI RYUU |
KERIS PROSSER |
AKAI RYUU |
KA6 |
HEIDI RANDALL |
VALE KARATE |
ELLE-MAI LEE |
VALE KARATE |
|
|||
KA7 |
LEO PRITCHARD |
AKAI RYUU |
TOBY OSBORNE |
SHIN GI TAI |
TANATSWA MATENGA |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
ALISTAIR HOROBIN |
SHIN GI TAI |
KA8 |
ZAC YATES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
RHYS YOUNG |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
GREGORY JAMES |
VALE KARATE |
JED CARROLL |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
KA9 |
KEIRA HAYCOCK |
AKAI RYUU |
EMILY BROWN |
SHIN GI TAI |
ALYSSA McCARTHY |
AKAI RYUU |
RUBY AMOR |
SHIN GI TAI |
KA10 |
ANNA HARRISON |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
TALIA EFSTATHIOU |
VALE KARATE |
DEMI CHARLESWORTH |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
SKY McGUIGAN |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
KA11 |
DYLAN HULBERT |
AKAI RYUU |
CAMERAN BROWN |
AKAI RYUU |
CAMERON CLAGUE |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
LEX-JAY ADAMS |
SHIN GI TAI |
KA12 |
GLORY BIMBI |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
ANISH JOGIA |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
MACK CARROLL |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
HARRY INGLIS |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
KA13 |
ANNALISE SMITH |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
JENNY PROSSER |
AKAI RYUU |
MOLLY SALTER |
AKAI RYUU |
|
|
KA14 |
CHLOE BARNES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
PHOEBE JONES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
LILLY SIMMS |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
ELLIE-JAYNE FARRUGIA |
VALE KARATE |
KA15 |
DANIEL PAGE |
KANSEI |
HARVEY HAWKES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
OWEN ARMSTRONG |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
BEN YOUNG |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
KA16 |
CHIARA BAKER |
VALE KARATE |
MAISIE HARPER |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
FFION DAVIES |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
EMILY CRAIG |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
KA17 |
CALLUM CHATTOE |
KANSEI |
CALLUM LEWIS |
AKAI RYUU |
UDESHPAL MANN |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
|
|
KA18 |
SOPHIE EVANS |
ZENTAI KARATE |
LAUREN GALLAGHER |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
ELLI LLOYD |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
||
SHOTOKAN FEMALE |
CHIARA BAKER |
VALE KARATE |
ELLIE-JAYNE FARRUGIA |
VALE KARATE |
ANGHARAD DAVIES-BALL |
KANSEI |
|
|
SHOTOKAN MALE |
DANIEL PAGE |
KANSEI |
OSCAR WOOSNAM |
COMMUNITY KARATE CLUBS |
OLIVER JOHNSON |
COMMUNITY KARATE CLUBS |
BRANDON WOOSNAM |
COMMUNITY KARATE CLUBS |
OTHER STYLES FEMALE |
PHOEBE JONES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
NEYLAN GRAHAM-MASON |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
CHARLOTTE COLBERT |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
SKY McGUIGAN |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
OTHER STYLES MALE |
HARVEY HAWKES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
GLORY BIMBI |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
HARRY INGLIS |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
LEO McGUIGAN |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
WADO KATA |
ELLA-RAE DAVIES |
KEN BU KAN |
EMILY CRAIG |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
CHARLOTTE CRAIG |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
|
|
KYOKUSHIN KATA 10-11 |
DANIEL FELLOWES |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
ELIN ROBERTS |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
CHLOE PARSONS |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
SAMA OSMAN |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
KYOKUSHIN KATA 14-15 |
ELLI THOMAS |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
MIA FELLOWES |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
|
|||
KYOKUSHIN KATA 5-7 |
ELLA CORMACK |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
JAMES TAYLOR |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
GRUF REYNOLDS |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
CHIARA CIONE |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
KYOKUSHIN KATA 8-9 |
ESME LEES |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
EVAN KENNEDY |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
GWEN REYNOLDS |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
KHALID OSMAN |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
SPECIAL NEEDS |
TYLER FOSTER |
ZENTAI KARATE |
BRADLEY JAMES |
VALE KARATE |
|
|||
TEAM KATA 14-17 |
WKU |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
AKA 8 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
||||
TEAM KATA 6-13 |
AKA 2 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
AKA 3 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
VALE KARATE |
VALE KARATE |
KANSEI KAIKEN |
KANSEI |
KU 1 |
JONATHAN McCARTHY |
AKAI RYUU |
KOBY FORD |
CHIKARA |
ESSAN ALI |
KARATESPORT ENGLAND |
ASHTON JONES |
CHIKARA |
KU 10 |
LUKE THOMAS |
KIHON |
HENRY INGLIS |
SAMURAI CYMRU |
GLORY BIMBI |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
LEO McGUIGAN |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
KU 11 |
ANNALISE SMITH |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
MOLLY SALTER |
AKAI RYUU |
|
|||
KU 12 |
PHOEBE JONES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
FFION GALLAGHER |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
NEYLAN GRAHAM-MASON |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
CHARLOTTE COLBERT |
SAMURAI KARATE CYMRU |
KU 13 |
JAMES CLARK |
KIHON |
HARVEY HAWKES |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
JOSH DAVIES |
VALE KARATE |
MORGAN HARVEY |
KEN BU KAN |
KU 14 |
FFION DAVIES |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
ALYSHA LEE |
VALE KARATE |
EMILY CRAIG |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
MAISIE HARPER |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
KU 15 |
BRANDON HARVEY |
KEN BU KAN |
UDESHPAL MANN |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
CALLUM LEWIS |
AKAI RYUU |
PATRICK RILEY |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
KU 16 |
LAUREN GALLAGHER |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
ELLI LLOYD |
WELSH KARATE UNION |
ABBIE SULLIVAN |
AKAI RYUU |
MEGAN CHAMBERS |
ARASHI |
KU 2 |
LILY ROSSER |
AKAI RYUU |
MADDIE VAUGHAN |
AKAI RYUU |
ORLA WAITE |
SHIN GI TAI |
ELLA CORMACK |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
KU 3 |
EVAN KENNEDY |
WELSH KYOKUSHINKAI |
THEO GANDERTON |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
MASON-COLE HOLLOWAY |
OKAMI |
LOGAN FERNQUEST |
CHIKARA |
KU 4 |
MADISYN RHOOMS |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
DEMI-LEIGH JONES |
TORA SHIN |
ELLA-RAE DAVIES |
KEN BU KAN |
KERIS PROSSER |
AKAI RYUU |
KU 5 |
ALISTAIR HOROBIN |
SHIN GI TAI |
CORI THOMAS |
TORA SHIN |
LEE WILLIAMS |
AKAI RYUU |
LEO PRITCHARD |
AKAI RYUU |
KU 6 |
CALLAN WRAGG |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
GREGORY JAMES |
VALE KARATE |
JED CARROLL |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
THOMAS JAGO |
OKAMI |
KU 7 |
NADINE BARNES |
TORA SHIN |
NANCY HAYES |
CHIKARA |
MINDY JAMES |
TALBOT |
KIZZY BROWN |
TALBOT |
KU 8 |
SKY McGUIGAN |
SAMURAI |
ANNA HARRISON |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
EMILLIE THOMPSON |
VALE KARATE |
ROSIE WRAGG |
SHIN GI TAI |
KU 9 |
BILLY ALVIS |
KEN BU KAN |
CAMERON CLAGUE |
ENGLAND SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO FEDERATION |
LEX-JAY ADAMS |
SHIN GI TAI |
CAMERAN BROWN |
AKAI RYUU |
TEAM KUMITE 1 |
AKA 3 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
AKA 1 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
SHIN GI TAI AVENGERS |
SHIN GI TAI |
SHIN GI TAI PREDATORS |
SHIN GI TAI |
TAM KUMITE 2 |
SHIN GI TAI JEDI |
SHIN GI TAI |
SAMURAI |
SAMURAI CYMRU |
|
|||
TEAM KUMITE 5 |
TALBOT |
TALBOT |
TORA SHIN |
TORA SHIN |
SHIN GI TAI BLACK WIDOWS |
SHIN GI TAI |
AKA 4 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
TEAM KUMITE 6 |
AKA 6 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
AKA 7 |
ALL-STYLES KARATE ALLIANCE |
AKAI RYUU |
AKAI RYUU |
|
KW Closed Championships
KARATE WALES CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020 - RESULTS
Click here for category results
KW Open 2018 results
Karate Wales Open 2018 Results
More World Champions for Karate Wales at the 8th WUKF World Championships
More World Champions for Karate Wales at the 8th WUKF World Championships
Karate Wales recently sent a squad of 38 athletes, along with coaches and referees, to compete in the 8th WUKF World Championships held in Bratislava, Slovakia. The tournament was held from the 20th to 23rd of June and also incorporated the 1st WUKF World Kobudo Championships. This made it one of the largest events that WUKF have hosted with roughly 2600 competitors taking part. With that many competitors it was a case of early starts and late nights. Despite this, and also battling brand new slippery mats, our squad stood up to the challenge and powered through to success.
Karate Wales entered in 71 categories at the tournament bringing home 17 medals, including 7 gold. Karate Wales proudly finished 14th in the medal table out of 83 countries, another fantastic achievement for our squad.
As always, a huge thanks goes to our team of coaches for their administration, support and advice during the championships. Karate Wales head coach David Godfrey, Tubbo, Hugh Gallagher, Andrew Tanaka Lewis and Barrie Rees made sure that no competitor was left on their own whilst on the mat and ran around the stadium more than the competitors! They were there first each morning and stayed until the last competitor finished each night, I’m sure all our athletes are grateful for all their efforts.
Our team of referees; Andrew Jones, Doru Grad and Tak Chan represented Karate Wales with distinction, again having early starts and long days. Well done all.
The Karate Wales equivalent of the Barmy Army, the travelling parents and supporters, maintained our ranking as the loudest team with their frequent renditions of Oggy! Oggy! Oggy!
So as another World Championships finishes, Karate Wales can reflect on some of our established athletes adding more World medals to their tally, cementing their place amongst the elite of WUKF athletes. Also, some new young talent coming into the spotlight which bodes well for the future. And several athletes competing at this level of competition for the first time who will take away some valuable experience.
Congratulations goes to the whole squad who I’m sure will have already turned their eyes towards the upcoming WUKF European Championships
in Denmark in October and we wish them all the best.
Full results:
Gold medallists:
Jacob DenhamWado kata 16-17 years
Sophia Poolekumite 7 years open weight
Theo Poole kumite 10 years over 145cm
Morgan Harveykumite 14-15 years 65-75kg
Sasha Hugheskumite 14-15 years open weight
Lauren Gallagherkumite 18-20 years under 55kg
Gareth Rowekumite 51-60 years open weight
Silver medallists:
Owen Roekata all-styles brown-black belt 8 years
Lauren Gallagherkumite 18-20 years open weight
Connor Wills/Jac Tucker/Theo Poole kumite team boys under 11 years
Bronze medallists:
Corey Joneskata all-styles green-purple belt under 7 years
Poppy Vaughankumite 7 years open weight
Maddison Loveridgekumite 13 years over 60kg
Ffion Davieskumite 14-15 years open weight
Callum Lewiskumite 16-17 years 55-65 kg
Jacob Denhamkumite 16-17 years open weight
Cain Franciskumite senior men open weight
THE 10th WUKF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: A MILESTONE FOR KARATE WALES!
THE 10th WUKF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
A MILESTONE FOR KARATE WALES!
Karate Wales can reflect on the 10th WUKF European Championships For All Ages, held in Malta from 24-27th October as a milestone.
From humble beginnings, being one of WUKF’s smaller federations with only a few top level competitors at their WUKF debut in 2012 to establishing Karate Wales, in Malta, as being among WUKF’s strongest nations, with a squad full of winners!
Finishing the Championships ranked eighth of fifty-five federations present and with a squad of forty-nine athletes, six coaches and our Chief Referee, amongst the almost two thousand total entries, Karate Wales earned their best ever tally of ten gold, four silver and eight bronze medals, which could have been an even more impressive tally, as there were many Welsh Karate athletes who shone, but were unable to clear the final hurdle to reach the podium.
Welsh Highlights were liberally sprinkled throughout the four days of competition from the smallest and youngest children, Jakob Bartush & Talia Efstathiou of Vale Karate and Lily Rosser & Jac Tucker of Akaizen through the 13-14 year-old mini-cadets Tia Lewis & Molly Salter (Akaizen) Sasha Hughes (Wattstown) and Ffion Gallagher (WKU) and cadets (15-17 years) Lauren Gallagher and Ffion Davies (WKU) Alysha Lee & Grace McIntosh (Vale Karate) Jacob Denham & Morgan Harvey (WKA) and Callum Lewis (Akaizen) to the adult Juniors (18-20) Sam Cana and Brandon Harvey and of course the seniors, Cain Francis (Talbot) Steffan Rees (Wattstown) and veterans, Barrie Rees (Wattstown) and Kay Powell (Akaizen)
Four of Wales’ Kumite teams found the podium; the female mini-cadets (13-14 years) and the senior men took gold medals, the men beating the current WUKF World Champions, Slovakia, in a hugely exciting final.
Wales’ first win in this, probably the toughest, most exciting and hotly contested event.
The squad will look to next June’s WUKF World Championships in Slovakia and October’s EUKF European’s in Denmark with excitement and confidence.
WUKF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS
CAIN FRANCIS Men’s U75Kg Kumite
JAC TUCKER Boys 9 Years Kumite
JAKOB BARTUSH Boys U7 Kata
LAUREN GALLAGHER Female Cadet Kumite
LILY ROSSER Girls 8 Years Kumite
SAM CANA Male Junior Kumite U85Kg
TALIA EFSTATHIOU Female 10 Years Kata
MENS TEAM SANBON KUMITE TEAM
FEMALE MINI-CADETS ROTATION KUMITE TEAM
TYLER FOSTER Ambulatory Kata
SILVER MEDALLISTS
JAKOB BARTUSH Boys U7 Kumite Silver
MAYZI LEE Girls 7 Years Kumite Silver
SAM CANA Male Junior Open Kumite Silver
FEMALE CADETS SANBON KUMITE TEAM Silver
BRONZE MEDALLISTS
ALYSHA LEE Female Cadet Kumite Bronze
ELLE-MAI LEE Girls 9 Years Kumite Bronze
JACOB DENHAM Male Cadet Rengokai Kata Bronze
MADDISON VAUGHAN Girls 8 Years Kata Bronze
POPPY VAUGHAN Girls U7 Years Kumite Bronze
MALE CADET SANBON KUMITE TEAM Bronze
THOMAS LEWIS Boys 10 Years Kumite Bronze
TIA LEWIS Female Mini-Cadets Kumite Bronze
The 9th WUKF European Championships
The 9th WUKF European Championships
While Wales was enjoying the best weather of the year so far, the small Karate Wales squad, which attended The 9th WUKF European Karate Championships in Cluj, Transylvania in Romania from Wednesday to Sunday, 5th to 9th April experienced rain and cold weather throughout the week.
The squad comprised only three athletes, Lauren Gallagher and Ryan Williams of the WKU and Vale Karate's Leah Copeland.
The trio were accompanied in Transylvania by Karate Wales' WUKF qualified referee's Andrew Jones and Doru Grad, coach Hugh Gallagher and Coach and Karate Wales President Rob Copeland.
As well as Wales and the hosts, Romania, there were also squads from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, N.Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
As at all WUKF events, the standard overall was very good, excellent at the top end, and numbers were high, but thankfully, as the Championships were spread over four days very late finishes were avoided, and as there were no children in the squad,
This was a Championships for all ages;
Children (12 years & below)
Mini-Cadets (13-14 years)
Cadets (15-17 years)
Juniors (18-20 years)
Seniors (21-35 years)
Veterans (35+)
All categories are further divided, either by grade in children's Kata or weight in all Kumite categories except veterans, however the veterans also have different age groups, 35-40, 41-45 etc.
Veterans events, Seniors and cadets Open Style Kata and Openweight Kumite took place on the Thursday, Seniors and cadets 'style' Kata and weighted Kumite events on Friday, all children's events and mini-cadets on Saturday and the finals of the senior events on Sunday.
Ryan was competing in Men's Open weight and Men's -75Kg Kumite, Leah in Ladies Open and Shotokan Kata and Ladies -60Kg Kumite and Lauren in Female Cadet Shotokan Kata, Female Cadet Kumite -50Kg and Female Cadet Open Kumite.
On Thursday Leah took part in Ladies Open Kata and Lauren was active in both her Kata and Kumite disciplines. Unfortunately, despite good performances, neither could progress to the finals.
In the Men's Open Weight Kumite category, Ryan won his first two fights, beating good opponents, using his reverse punch to great effect.
In the last eight, he lost to an excellent Italian to end his medal hopes, however optimism was high for an equally impressive showing in his weight category the following day.
Friday was a good day for Karate Wales!
In the Men's -75Kg Kumite Ryan repeated the form of Thursday and fought at his absolute best and went all the way to the semi finals to secure a precious Bronze medal. His opponent there, the Englishman Luke Cuthbert was too fluid and experienced, and featured in Sunday's final. However Ryan can be proud of his bronze. A great achievement.
Both Lauren and Leah took part in their styles Kata and improved on their scores of Thursday with both narrowly missing places in the final.
It was the Kumite where they shone.
Lauren was in great form in the Female Cadets -50Kg category, beating the reigning World Champion in the second round, scoring with several great kicks in her fights to secure a place in the last four. Leading 2-0 early in the fight, a tough fight ensued with Lauren losing a very close match to take the bronze medal.
Leah was drawn against one of WUKF's dominant figures, Romania's Magdalena Tier in the semi final and gave one of her best ever performances, matching the Romanian in every department. A great kick from Leah had the spectators cheering, however it was not scored and at the bell, Magdalena had taken a 5-3 win. Magdalena went on to win in the final 6-3.
Three Bronze medals from three athletes has to be seen as a very good result for Wales with all three showing improvements on previous major events.
The next major International event, the IKU World Championships take place in Kilkenny, Ireland in October this year and we hope to attend with a very much bigger squad!
Next years WUKF World Championships also take place much closer to home, in Dundee in June 2018.