Ryukyukan International
This year's Ryukyukan tournament calendar has really grown. There will be tournaments in: Argentina, America, Belgium, England, Puerto Rico and off course Okinawa which is the longest running Ryukyukan tournament, now in its 21st year.

Any students that are interested in representing Ryukyukan UK at these tournaments, please contact Finch Sensei

Out with the old and in with new
The 16th of February was the end of our 20th year and the start of our 21st, so we celebrated our anniversary with a one day seminar and presentation evening. Guest sensei for the events were: Mally Holmes Hanshi 8th Dan Jujitsu, Jim Ernest Sensei 6th Dan Shorinryu Karate, Gru Paul Wheel Muay Thai, Allen Tottman Sensei 6th Dan Karate, and Steve Cook Sensei 3rd Dan Bujitsu. The training which lasted for 5 hours covered, striking, throwing and grappling, it was good to see our some of our newer students training with teachers that have been associated with our dojo since we started in 1992.

That evening we continued the celebration with presentations for student of the year awards. The results for Branch Dojo students of the year are: Noah Vintiner, Mark Chapman, Jamie Miller, Luke Haluwa, Archie Osbourne, Aaron Plummer, Zoe Power, Cameron White, Anthony Katsapaou, Kayte Oakes. Matsuri students of the year are:
Miguel Silva (junior), Chloe Gale (Cadet), Luke Jolliffe (Adult). A 10 year award went to Kevin Emmons and our first 20 year award went to Graham Rowlands.

Kobe Osaka England Tournament
On the 24th of March we took a small group of students to Dorset to compete at the Kobe Osaka tournament hosted by the Blackmore Vale Karate Club. Our team comprised of, Kate Huddleston, Jeffrey Bryant and Sahma Choudhury managed to win 2 Golds, 1 Silver and a bronze. Well done to all three students and thank you to Steffan Frost Sensei and the Blackmore Vale Karate Club for making us feel very welcome, we all had a great day and look forward to attending next year.

EU-Okinawa Tournament
This year's Ryukyukan International Open Karate and Kobudo Tournaments got off to a great start with the first ever Ryukyukan Belgium tournament held on the 13th April. The event which had competitors from Belgium, England, Japan and Okinawa was opened by Nohara Hanshi 9th Dan, President of Ryukyukan International and Jean-Luc Burggraeve the event organiser. Jeffrey Bryant from Ryukyukan Matsuri Dojo continued our unbroken tournament success by winning first place in Kata and first place in the Full Contact Kumite, Hiro Ire and Mamoru Toda from Ryukyukan Honbu and Tokyo dojo also won first places in Kobudo kata and Full Contact Kumite.

Nohara Hanshi stayed in Belgium for a week teaching seminars before travelling to England for the next EU-Okinawa Tournament on the 21st at Snaresbrook London. This was our 7th Ryukyukan International Open Karate and Kobudo Tournament and our most successful with over 160 entries. A long with regulars like Andrew Ramsey of Hidayat Shotokan who brought a coach load of students, there were also 3 new groups this year. On an international level we had groups from Ryukyukan Okinawa, Japan, America and Belgium making the tournament our busiest and toughest tournament so far. Well done to students and parents from Ryukyukan UK Dojo for all your hard work and a big thank you to Jim Ernest Sensei, Kathy Ernest Sensei, Susan Flynn Sensei of Ryukyukan California and Jason Adams Sensei of Ryukyukan North Carolina for all your help judging.

Winners from the 7th Ryukyukan International Open Karate and Kobudo Tournament Full Contact Kumite

Following the tournament we had a few days to get some much deserved training and socialising with Nohara Hanshi and the international Ryukyukan members. The visit ended on a high with Zoe Power from Ryukyukan Walthamstow Dojo passing her Shodan, well done Zoe.

The next international event will be the 21st All Ryukyus tournament held in Okinawa on the 30th June 2013.

Shisa Club Student of the month
Aadam Rahman aged 6 has won February's Shisa Club student of the month. Aadam trains at the Friday class under Karren Janata Sensei.

Student of the month
Ewan Linsdall aged 9 has won January's student of the month. Ewan always trains with spirit and works hard at his karate.

Karate training is not just about good technique; it is also about good character. It is difficult each month to decide who wins student of the month as all of our students work hard, because of this we are looking for students that stand out with good attitude and mutual respect.

Shisa Grading Results 28/04/2013
9th Kyu
Alexandra Livadaru Nechifor
Lily Walker
Isla Ladbury
Nojus Eastwood
Haroon Thaheem

8th Kyu
Isabella Taylor
George Watkinson
Celeste Shaw

7th Kyu
Renee Wilson
Aadam Rahman
Caleb Wright
Thai Leon
Dawson White 
Amy Foley

Grading Results 19/05/2013
9th Kyu
David Pirtea
Isaac Hewins
Okan Uzun
Besime Uzun
Kelvin Masla
Joshua Masla

8th Kyu
Kiran Okai-Safo (A pass)
Conor Dunne
Kazia Safo
Daniel Gale
Joe Mattock
Jamal Essadgui
Ethan Millen
Siddharth Nair
Tianna Theodore
Sonia Dormer
Amy Goillau (A pass)

7th Kyu
Noah Vintiner
Marina Scanlon
Anastasia Petryk
Kyren Wallace
Louie Onisiforou
Ruby Golbourn-Smith
Alfie Murray
Ciara Costelloe
Alice Jarvis
Freddie Walker
Charlie Dulieu
Robert Djabaliev
Eloise James
Alastair Strelley - Jones
Millie Dulieu
Lauren Ibbott
George Allcock
Renee James
Saira Latif

6th Kyu
Koral Nejat
George Murray
Alexander Adolphus
Thomas Adolphus
Luke Bedding
Anthony Ikemefuna

5th Kyu
Isabel Waldron
Jamie Tyzack
Lillie Ryan
Jessica Licheri
Alexander Miller
Sonny Nash
Maya Edwards

4th Kyu
Shanai Laronde-Thomas
Michael Skurr

2nd Kyu
Lisa Smith
James Lowe

Next Grading is Sunday 15th September
10.00am Honbu Dojo,
E4 Health & Fitness Club, Hickman Avenue Highams Park E4 9JG

Photos from Grading exams are posted on the Ryukyukan Matsuri Dojo Facebook Group