The 3-day International Winter Course brought together karateka from across the country for an inspiring weekend of training with JKA England Chief Instructor Ohta Sensei (8th Dan) and guest instructors from JKA Headquarters—Taniyama Sensei (7th Dan), Ueda Sensei (5th Dan), and world Kata champion Hakizume Kaishi Sensei (4th Dan).
Across the event, participants trained in grade-specific groups, rotating through sessions focused on Kihon, Kumite, and a wide range of Kata including the Heian series, Tekki 2 & 3, Bassai Sho & Dai, Jion, Sochin, Meikyo, Gankaku and more. Special highlights included an exclusive judging seminar led by Ueda Sensei and a dedicated national-team Kata session with Hakizume Sensei, who also performed Gankaku—the Kata that earned him gold at the Funakoshi Gichin Cup.
Thank you to everyone who took part and to our guest instructors for making this year’s course educational, memorable, and a fantastic end to 2025!
Many congratulations to JKA members who passed their Dan Grading at the JKA England Winter International Course.
Godan
Francis Mussai - Oxford University KC
Nidan
Tala Calil - The Budokwai
Lorenzo Costantin - Newark Shotokan Karate Club
Lara Jones - TSKC
Vanessa Emily Ryborz - Oxford University KC
Sayed-Ahmad Shekouhi - The Budokwai
Shodan
Lamees Al-Maliki - Westminster SKC
Angelina Bogdan - Westminster SKC
Alessandro Ceccarelli - Oasis SKC
Emerson Easterbrook - Portsmouth JKA
Horatio Easterbrook - Portsmouth JKA
Jasmine Gingles - The Budokwai
Nicola Howard - Bromley & SE London JKA Karate Club
Amanda Kalogroulis - Ethos SKC
Sofia Kerr - Beckenham SKC
Pieter Kriel - Invicta Karate Academy
Conor Moriarty - Harpenden JKA
Matthew Moriarty - Harpenden JKA
Juwairiyyah Ramdjan - Kazokudai Karate
Joost Ridder - Kyoushinkai
Lily Sexton - TSKC - Tairyoku
Hidayah Allinson Siddiqi - Kazokudai Karate
Akshara Sharma - Stratford Karate Club
Hana Sueyoshi - Kyoushinkai
Patrick Tschorn - Invicta Karate Academy
Danni Vu - Plymouth SKC
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