Thomas Gilbert achieved his Shodan (1st dan) and Garreth Walton achieved his Nidan (2nd dan) black belts at a grading exam recently at Weston-Super-Mare.
The hour long grading followed a very tiring black and brown belt training session and both students maintained a high standard and work rate throughout both the training and grading.
Thomas, now 16, has been training with the Lux Park Karate Club for about six years and now joins his mother as a black belt. Brenda Gilbert achieved her Shodan last December.
The family has always been strong supports of the club and their achievements are a fine reward for the years of hard work they have put in.
Garreth started his training at the age of five with the Highland Shotokan and has now put in 12 years of sustained training to achieve this high standard. He reached the grade of Shodan in the surnmer of 95 and since then has established himself as an excellent karateka and formidable competitor.
He is now training hard to gain a place alongside his older brother Daniel in the SEKU National Squad. Garreth is pictured alongside Tracy Corby Shodan another club member who achieved 5th place at the BUSA Karate National Championships (University Students) on 27 February at Nottingham.
The next major event for the club is the SEKU National Championships in Portsmouth on 4 March and the cub instructors are delighted to be able to take a team of around 40 competitors and spectators. The ethos of the club at these events is to compete to the best of your own ability and be totally focussed on a win, accept any medals or trophies graciously but to accept a defeat with dignity. The attitude of the competitors and their conduct is always a top priority and in the past has contributed towards a good set of results.
The club always welcomes new students and the traimng is aimed at all levels of ability to ensure everyone is able to reach their maximum potential. However, as instructors we recognise that the style and approach required in a formal karate class does not suite everyone and therefore Ann Walton (Nidan) is planning to run a self defence class for women towards the end of March.
Anyone interested in this 4 week course on a Friday evening should contact either Paul or Ann Marie Walton on 01579 346256 for more information.