Welcome to the first newsletter of 2010. There will be three editions of the newsletter throughout the year. These will cover the following periods:

Jan - Mar Apr - Aug Sep - Dec

The newsletter will cover various aspects of the club including forthcoming events (gradings, seminars, con-tests etc).

As well as traditional karate we pride ourselves in training competitors for sports karate from Regional to World Level. During late 2008 and into 2009 Shitokai was proud to see so many of our competitors become champions at Regional, National, British and Commonwealth.

In 2009 Shiokai had seven competitors represent Scotland at European and World Championships to-gether with five members of our coaching staff in the Scotland squad for coaching duties at these events.

Shitokai competitors also attended competitions in Israel, England, Paris, Turkey, Morocco, Tokyo, Serbia and Italy.

Shitokai are the leading club in Scotland for Kata and have been National Kata Champions for 9 years in suc-cession.

We are looking forward to 2010 as it brings along new challenges for the competitors. One of the main highlights for 2010 will be the British Karate Federation International Open which will be held in the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow over the weekend of 10/11th July. This is a world class event in which Shitokai will be putting forward a strong team of competitors.

For information on the club please visit our new website www.shitoryu.co.uk

Terry Connell7th Dan Shitokai Scotland

Japan Trip 2012 Shitokai Scotland are planning a trip to the home of Shitokai in Japan to take part in the Shitokai World Championships during August/September 2012.

More information on this event will be published when exact dates are known but if you are interested please let us as there will be a great deal of planning having to go into this trip.

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Shitokai

Club NewsletterIssue 1 January 2010

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Gradings

During 2009 the club had over 300 children and adults take part in their gradings. These gradings form and important part of Shitokai as it rewards the members for all the hard work they have done. Dates for the 2010 children and adult gradings can be found on the back page of the newsletter

Japan Karate

Junior Grading Renfrew Nov 09

Parents Information Meetings

Terry Connell will be holding a week of information meetings aimed at giving parents an overview of the club’s plans for 2010. Dates and times as follows :

Renfrew Leisure Centre Saturday 23/01/10 10.15 to 11am

Giffnock (St Ninian’s) Monday 25/01/10 6 to 6.30 and 6.30 to 7.15

Giffnock (St Ninian’s) Wednesday 27/01/10 6 to 6.30 and 6.30 to 7.15

Renfrew Leisure Centre Thursday 28/01/10 5.30 to 6.15

It is important that you try and attend these meetings as they have proved to be very informative to those who attended in the past and there will be an opportunity to ask Terry questions on the topics covered at the end of the meeting.

Club Website

The new club website is now up and running. Please pay it a visit and checkout the various sections including the gallery which has photographs from the Club Championship and other events.

The website is being updated on a regular basis so please bookmark it.

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UNICEF

The World Karate Federation Presi-dent, Antono Espinos has appointed the British Karate Federation presi-dent, Terry Connell, as the WKF rep-resentative for UNICEF, the charity that aims to feed,  protect, and edu-cate, needy children all over the world.

Recently, Terry proposed that the BKF International Open, due to take

place on the 10-11 July 2010, in Glasgow, should take the opportunity to raise awareness of the  plight of these children, and act as a fund-raiser for UNICEF.

Since then Terry has been in talks with UNICEF UK and has met with them at their London office to discuss the way forward worldwide for UNICEF and the WKF to be ac-cepted in all 209 WKF member coun-tries.

Terry stated that "This is a great honour for British Karate, and we should all be proud of this British initiative.

I believe this can only work if Britain takes the lead. Other  countries will then follow, I have no doubt of that. Success will be a team effort, amassive team effort Involving every student  from white belt to black belt and their families to work on this worthy cause.

Sport Karate

All of the club competitors started off by attending the Club Championship then taking part in the Wishaw Grand Prix which is an excellent training ground for children who would like to take part in contests.

The Wishaw Grand Prix is held 4 times a year and the dates can be found on the back page of the newsletter.

Children from the age of 7 can enter the Wishaw Grand Prix for Kumite, Kata and Team Kata. If you are interested see the coaching staff for further information.

The club championships were great success with 126 children from 7 clubs taking part in 207 categories.

For many of the children and parents this was their first step into the world of competition karate.

The main idea of the day for the children was not winning but the taking part as it shows great courage for them to get up to the mat and either take part in Kumite or Kata in front of hundreds of people.

Looking ahead the date for this years club Championship is Sunday 5th December 2010

Visit the www.shitoryu.co.uk for more photos

New Club Blackbelts

Ten adults and seven children achieved their black belts during 2009.

Congratulations to all of them who have put in a lot of work and effort over the years.

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Shitokai Scotland Club Championships 2009 Report

Club Results 2009

As well as traditional style of karate, the club also has a group of children who take part in sport karate. They attend various competitions throughout the year in Scotland and England.

In 2009 the competitors did very well at Regional, Scottish and British levels.

The contest calendar is already starting to take shape for this year with the highlight being the British Karate Federation International Open to be held in The Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, Glasgow over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of July 2010.

Medals Won During 2009

Kumite - Individual Gold - 20 Silver - 20 Bronze - 31Kumite - Team Gold - 4 Silver - 5 Bronze - 7Kata - Individual Gold - 25 Silver - 18 Bronze - 32Kata - Team Gold - 3 Silver - 4 Bronze - 7

Total Gold - 52 Silver - 47 Bronze – 77

Total Medals Won - 176 from 15 contests

Private TuitionThe association has now been running private tuition for almost a year. The classes incorporate both Kata and Kumite. Private classes are also great for children who want to compete or for those who want to enhance self-confidence and work towards their next grade.

Due to demand, private classes will now be extended to included classes for children under 8 years. Most of the competitors attend private classes on a regular basis and the results have been fantastic. This is where we see the future of top Shitokai competitors.

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Calendar Of Events 2010

Feb Mar13 Sat Kata Seminar Paisley Dojo 6 Sat Junior & Adult Grading 21 Sun Wishaw Regional Grand Prix Renfrew Leisure Ctr 27/28 Sa/Su AMA International Sheffield 7 Sun Penrith Open Children/Cadet 15 Mon Junior Grading - St Ninain’s Giff 17 Wed Junior Grading - St Ninain’s Giff

Apr May17/18 Sa/Su Scottish Int Open - Edinburgh 1 Sat Jo Seminar - Renfrew Leisure Ctr

Jun Jul6 Sun Wishaw Grand Prix 10/11 Sa/Su BKF International Open Glasgow7 Mon Junior Grading - St Ninian’s Giff9 Wed Junior Grading - St Ninian’s Giff12 Sat Junior & Adult Grading Renfrew Leisure Ctr

Aug Sep29 Sun Wishaw Grand Prix 11/12 Sa/Sun British National Edinburgh

Oct Nov31 Sun Wishaw Grand Prix 22 Mon Junior Grading - St Ninian’s Giff 24 Wed Junior Grading - St Ninian’s GiffDec4 Sat Junior & Adult Grading Renfrew Leisure Ctr5 Sun Shitokai Club Championships

Dates are subject to change so please check nearer the time

Club Times and Locations

Giffnock Days Kids 3 - 6yrs Juniors 7 - 12yrs Youths/AdultsSt Ninians High School Monday & 6.00pm - 6.30pm 6.30pm - 7.25pm 7.30pm - 8.45pm Wednesday

Renfrew Kids 3 - 6yrs Juniors/Youths/AdultsKing George V Pavillion Tuesday 6.00pm - 6.45pm 6.45pm - 8.15pm

Renfrew All Ages All AgesRenfrew Leisure Centre Thursday 5.30pm - 6.30pm 6.30pm - 7.30pm Renfrew All Ages Kata Only All Ages TraditionalRenfrew Leisure Centre Saturday 9.15am - 10.15am 10.15am - 11.15am

For further information contact Stephanie Connell on 07834421837