The standard of karate competitors in Ards, Bangor & Holywood continues to grow. At the recent Karate Northern Ireland Championships held in Dungiven Leisure Centre over thirty athletes from the Mizukara Karate clubs were in the hunt for medals. Their supporters were not disappointed as the team returned at the top of the medal table with fourteen golds, ten silver and twelve bronze medals. First up in the morning were the team kata (patterns) events. Mizukara students took gold and silver in the under age 14 event. Team members were Helena Stitt, Bella Cordner, Oliver Prohaszka, Harrison Stitt and Dylan McBride. In the Senior Team kata Mizukara competitors took gold… Read More
Continue ReadingFour British medals for Karate duo
Local karate athletes, Levi Kane and Amy Adair both from Conlig, recently travelled to the British Open Karate Championship in Harlow, Essex. The championships, hosted by Karate England, attracted karateka from across the UK and Republic of Ireland. In the individual events both ladies shone. In the Wado-Ryu kata category Levi collected a silver medal and was closely followed in the bronze medal position by Amy. Levi then went on to add anther British silver medal to her growing collection in the All-Styles individual kata event. Current IKU world bronze medallist Amy, then collected another bronze medal. This time it was in her Sanbon Kumite (three-point sparring) event. Coach David… Read More
Continue Reading30th anniversary celebrations for karate clubs
It’s been a massively successful year on the international competition circuit for students from the Mizukara Karate clubs in Ards and Bangor. To top it all of, 2024 is their thirtieth anniversary. They recently celebrated this in Scrabo Golf Club and had a number of very special guests in attendance. These were Sensei Ian Cuthbert (Director of Kumite for Karate England), Sensei Patsy Whelan (Chairman of Karate Ireland), Sensei Terry Boyle (Chairman for Karate Northern Ireland). Sifu Michele Gibson (Director of Tai Chi NI) and Sensei Jack Gould (WUKF European Silver medallist). Additionally former senseis of the Mizukara clubs, Kevin and Sam Lewis were also in attendance. Sensei David Brashaw… Read More
Continue ReadingNew Black belts awarded by Karate England & Karate Ireland senseis
The Mizukara Karate clubs in Ards and Bangor recently hosted a kumite (sparring) course in Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Centre. The course was attended by members of the local clubs and members of JB Karate from County Kildare. Sensei Ian Cuthbert (Director of Kumite for Karate England) was assisted by Sensei Jack Gould, (European Silver medallist) and one of the current top athletes in the Karate England squad. The morning began with the children’s session. This involved sparring drills, speed training and finished with some sumo wrestling fun. In the senior session, once the warn-up was completed the main focus was footwork drills, then applying them in a kumite situation.… Read More
Continue ReadingFour Irish champions for Mizukara Karate athletes
At the recent Karate Ireland national Championships that took place in the SETU arena, Waterford athletes from the Ards and Bangor Mizukara karate clubs excelled. A team of six, led and coached by World Kumite bronze medallist, Amy Adair collected four Irish titles and a number of silver and bronze medals. In addition to Amy the team was made up of four children from two families and teenager Ben Ritchie. All five of them claimed medals. First up, following on from her British title was Helena Stitt. Not only did Helena win her individual kata (patterns), but she also doubled it up by winning her individual kumite (sparring) too. An Irish double… Read More
Continue ReadingAmy shines at World Karate Championships
Amy Adair from Conlig has recently returned from the IKU World Karate Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina with her first ever individual world kumite (sparring) medal. Amy was selected months ago to represent Karate Northern Ireland at this prestigious event and did not disappoint. Additionally, Amy just missed out on collecting a second medal in her Ippon Kumite category. Nevertheless, she was delighted and commented “This was my best result at world level to date. I have been training hard and competing on the international circuit since my last world championships, the WUKF event in Dundee last year, and am really pleased with my progress.” Coach David Brashaw added “This… Read More
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