Martial Arts: Karate kids’ success

Jun 3 2009 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

MEMBERS from the Yamakai Karate squads recently travelled to Edinburgh and Birmingham to participate in the Meadowbank and Midlands Open Karate Championships – and returned with an impressive medal haul.

The club won a total of 12 golds, six silver and three bronze awards over both competitions.

First up was the Meadowbank Children and Cadet Open Championships held in Meadowbank Sport Centre. The group sent mostly up-and-coming members with a view to giving them a shot at open competition.

And six returned as winners of their sections. East Kilbride’s Shay McCormack won the mixed kumite under 4ft. 5ins. which also saw Chapelton’s Ainsley Rea take third in her first competition with the group. In the boys under 4ft. 10ins. section Cian Dobbie took gold, as did Holly Naismith in the girls under 4ft. 10ims. kumite.

First places continued in the boys under 5ft. 2ins. event with Mark Cupples winning this section. Yamakai members then went on to win gold in both the boys and girls over 5ft. 7ins. sections through Aedan Ross and Lisa Thomson.

In the girls under 5ft. 2ins. event, Chapelton’s Hayley Wilson took silver with another Chapelton student, Gary Rea, taking third in the boys under 4ft. '10ins. high grade section.

Next up was the Midlands Open Karate Championships held in Stourbridge. This saw a slightly depleted Yamakai squad make the long journey to the Birmingham area, but still make their presence felt by returning with three individual golds, two silvers and a bronze with two teams also winning awards.

The club also did well in the team sections which saw the Yamakai squad take second in the boys 12-15 event thanks to Mark Macauley, Cammy Gibbons and Joe Wiseman.

Also, the Senior Male team of Shaun Arrowsmith, Greg MaCaulay and Ross Leeper won gold, beating the host club P C Karate in the final 1-0.

Yamakai kept up their impressive start to the day by taking gold in the Senior Female Open Kumite in the shape of Emma Boyle. And they took gold in the Cadet Male kumite over 70 kilos with Ross Cupples and gold in the girls’ kumite 13-15 years open with Hazel Shields, while the section also saw Joanne Aarton claim a bronze. Finally, Yamakai took a silver in the Senior Male under 70 kilos kumite with Greg MaCaulay losing a close final in extra time.

Those interested in joining Yamakai can contact association chief instructor Jim Ross 5th Dan on 01698 421790 or go to www.yamakai.co.uk