Torashin Shotokan Karate Club

*** IMPORTANT POST ***

Usually on Thursdays we share Throwback Thursday posts but this post is important.

Many of you know Mayon—a familiar face at KUGB courses and competitions, and our current national kumite champion (12-13 years). Mayon’s dedication to karate has been clear from a young age, and now he’s earned the honour of representing England at the European Shotokan Karate-do Association (ESKA) Championships. However, his chance to compete is now in jeopardy due to a long, unresolved citizenship application.

Mayon's parents are assylum seekers from Sri Lanka, and although Mayon was born here in the UK, he is also classed as an assylum seeker. Mayon applied for citizenship at the age of 7 and again in 2020. Despite years of waiting, he still does not have a passport—meaning he may be unable to compete in Portugal on 22 November.

Yet, Mayon’s spirit remains strong. “Nothing’s going to stop me,” he says. With time running short, we’re reaching out to the KUGB Family to support him and ensure he doesn’t miss this incredible opportunity.

Here’s how you can help Mayon:

* Share this post to raise awareness among our karate family.

* Reach out to local MPs on social media, tagging , , , and , asking them to look into Mayon’s application.

Sensei Frank Brennan told BBC News Yorkshire “This situation is jeopardising his attendance at the European championship and the opportunity to represent his country.”

You can read the full interview here : https://bit.ly/MayonESKA2024

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/olympics/karate-at-tokyo-2021-the-new-olympic-event-rules-and-when-to-watch/ar-AAMbBpT?fbclid=IwAR0kmSet2OwquH3n523jkN8ZlYXR2QN2NvnJvyYMAYsLBgE_boP29SaJNkc

Karate at Tokyo 2020: the new Olympic event rules and when to watch Karate at Tokyo 2020: the new Olympic event rules and when to watch

We’ve been delighted to be getting back in the dojo over the last few weeks!
- Tuesdays 19:00-21:00 Huby Memorial Hall
- Thursdays 19:30-21:30 Easingwold
(First hour aimed at junior grades and second hour for senior grades).

New members always welcome 😊
- First session is always free!

If you've had a gap in training the new year is a good opportunity to shake the dust off your gi and get back to the dojo.

We know it's hard both mentally and physically to come back after a break. You're worried about your fitness, about not remembering your katas, about being embarrassed by people who you used to train with seeing you struggle. Many of us have been there too, we know what it's like, and if you do the hard part by turning up and training, we'll all do our bit to support you through those tough first few weeks until you're back in the saddle. We can't promise it'll be easy, but it will be worth it.

If you're returning to training after a break, here's another great tip from Dr Tim Baker from South Notts Shotokan Karate Club.

The first training session of 2018 will be tomorrow (Thursday 4th January), 7.30pm at Huntington Memorial Hall.

Whether you've been training regularly, you're a beginner, or you've had a break from training, get yourselves to the dojo and start 2018 as you mean to go on with lots of high quality, effective, traditional Shotokan. Guaranteed antidote to excess mince pies. May contain headbutts.

It has been another great year for Torashin, we've been pleased to welcome lots of new people to the club and many of our members (both new and existing) have done fantastically well in their gradings. Everyone has seen their hard work turn into real progress.

We wish everyone a fantastic Christmas break and we'll see all of you in the dojo in January (first session is Thursday 4th)!