UKF
Latest News Items - 2008
UKF Club Championships - February 2008
The UKF held its annual Club
Championships on 17th February 2008. The Aileach Social and Community Centre,
Burnfoot was the location. On the 16th Feb, Columba held a WUKO Rules Course
to update the UKF Referee Panel. This course was well attended by 19 UKF
Officials. All of the UKF Officials did a written examination and then they
gained excellent practical experience at the UKF Club championships the
following day. Almost 200 students took part in the event and it provided
good refereeing and organisational practice for the forthcoming 1st UKF
Invitation event that is due to be held in April 2008. Thanks to all the UKF
Clubs, Officials and Parents for making the day a success.
WUKO Referee's Course - Norcia, Italy - March 2008
The WUKO Referee Commission decided
to invite a total of 20 Refereeing officials from Worldwide to a special
Referee Course in Norcia in Italy. Both Columba McLaughlin (UKF) and Joe
Smith (NKFI) were invited to attend. Other officials from Europe, America and
Africa were in attendance. The Referee seminar was held in conjunction with
the Italian Senior and Junior Squad training sessions. These squad members
provided the practical aspect fo the course. It was an excellent course by
any standards and it was an achievement in itself by being selected for it.
UKF Invitation Tournament - April 2008
This was the 1st year of this event.
Organisations came from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and
from Wales. On the Saturday before the event, Columba, as UKF Senior
Referee, held a Referee course on the WUKO Rules. Participants completed
a written examination and then had a practical exam at the event
the following day. While the referee course was open to all organisations,
only members of the UKF were being assessed as to their Association
Refereeing status. Almost 300 karate-ka took part in the event and
it proved very successful.
Results of the
event HERE
WUKO European Champs for Seniors and Veterans in Liege,
Belgium - May 2008
The UKF sent a small delegation
to this event. Columba would be refereeing and Shawn Barron and
Mary Doherty would both Referee and also compete. Whilst Mary got
into the final 8 in the Senior Wado Ry Kata, was unlucky and narrowly
lost out on a 3rd place in the Male Veteran Kata. However, all was
not lost as Shawn was awarded WUKO Judge status at the event. A
brilliant achievement. For more Photos click
HERE
Shawn being presented WUKO Judge by Sever
Cucu WUKO Referee Commission
Shawn being congratulated on achieving WUKO
Judge status by Mr. Osvaldo Messias de Olivera - President WUKO
UKF Dan Grading - June 2008
Rarely does the UKF ever have a Dan
grading outside of its normal schedule. This was the case on this occasion as
Cormac McEleny attempted his 1st Dan grading. Congratulations to Cormac on
his achievement and we wish him well as he prepares for University life in
September of this year. That's providing he comes home from the WUKO World
champs for Children and Juniors in Jesolo, Italy this year and doesn't seek
asylum instead.
WUKO World Champs for Juniors and Children in Jesolo,
Italy - 14th - 19th October 2008
The UKF sent a large delegation
to this event. Thanks to all the UKF members who helped to raise
funds for the children and juniors attending. All of the UKF Technical
Committee attended without exception. Prior to the event, the UKF
Senior members trained with Shihan Shibamori Sensei. This was a
good outing for the UKF Junior Squad and gave them and the UKF Coaches
a glimpse of the standard at World and European level. The UKF did
not bring home any medals at this event but did bring home a wealth
of experience. In addition, all UKF Officials attended the Referees'
Course and helped Referee during the course of the event. Columba
was awarded WUKO Referee status, Denis, Mary and Brian were awarded
WUKO Judge status and Chris, Gerry and Dermott were awarded WUKO
Kata Judge status. For some more photos of the event HERE
The UKF delegation at the 2008 WUKO World
Champs for Children and Juniors
After training with Shihan Kando Shibamori
Sensei, Jesolo, Italy - October 2008
UKF
Annual Course and Grading - November 2008
It was unfortunate that Shihan Ritchie Noblett
8th Dan was unable to make this year's annual course. Shihan has been ill for
some time and our thoughts are with him, his family and with our fellow
Karate-Ka in the Welsh Bushi-Kai. Discussion was held among the UKF Technical
Committee and it had been decided that we go ahead with the course in his
absence. The course was held as it always was and after the final training
session on Sunday, a total of 4 students attempted their Dan grading.
Congratulations are extended to Matthew Spain (1st Dan), Paul Taylor (2nd
Dan), Dean Barron (2nd Dan) and Stephanie Houston (2nd Dan).
