CRAWLEY & BRIGHTON AREA FAMILY FUNDAY- 21ST SEPTEMBER

It's back - the Family Fun Day will be taking place on Sunday September 21st from 12:00 at the Wingspan Club in Crawley.

There will be lots to do and see, including:

• Demonstrations
• Face-painting
• Football & Golf Challenge
• Nintendo Wii Sports Challenge
• Video & Book Sale
• Lucky Dip - Tombola - Cake Sale
• Inflatables
• "Soak the Sensei"

Updated 03/09/08

INTER-DOJO TOURNAMENT - 30TH AUGUST

Well done to everybody who took part in the weekend's event at Horsham, and thanks to the small but enthusiastic group of spectators who could stay on to the end to watch the Instructor events and were rewarded with some of the best action of the day.

Full results are here and a collection of all the photos taken on the day by Sensei Dave Blackley will be available, on CD, for a nominal donation of £2 to the World Cup Fund.

Updated 31/08/08

TAIKENKO-SU BIKE RIDE - 17TH AUGUST

The 4th Taikenko-su went extremely well, with the greatest number ever completing the ride. Thanks to all those involved on the day and an extra special thanks to those who managed to raised pots of cash - over £500 has so far been confirmed, with a predicted final total in excess of £1,000.

Thanks to Life Pure Water company for supplying hydration for thirsty riders - Life have also created an independant charity called drop4drop - for every litre of Life water sold they pledge to fund the delivery of at least a litre of clean water to a developing world community.

Updated 31/08/08

SEMINAR WITH KANCHO ROBERT SULLIVAN

GKR's Founder and Chief Instructor, Kancho Sullivan will be holding a public class on Friday 22nd August at Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre in Aldershot - please see the Events section for more details

Updated 07/08/08

24-HOUR KARATE MARATHON

Last Friday and Saturday, Roffey Youth Centre in Horsham played host to more than 60 people who trained in our 24-hour karate session, to raise funds to send students to the 2009 World Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

28 people started the marathon at 6pm on Friday evening, and 34 more joined them overnight (when the normal Friday classes finished), as 22 of the region's instructors put them through a range of basics, self defence, kata, kumite and a few games.

Between 9 and 27 students trained in each session, apart from the moment at the beginning of Sensei Andy Lulham's class at 7am on Saturday, when everyone smelled the bacon cooking and tried to grab breakfast at the same time.

We haven't finished collecting sponsorship money yet, but we have raised at least £1300 so far. A big "thank you" to everyone who gave their time to make this marathon such a success.

Special mentions: The kitchen crew who kept everyone well fed and watered; Sensei Lauren Alford, who raised £500 sponsorship; Sensei Brian Lawson, who raised over £200 sponsorship; and Liam Raven from Littlehampton dojo, who trained for the entire 24 hours.

Updated 30/07/08

CRAWLEY & BRIGHTON - THE SUMMER PROGRAMME IS HERE!

Now that the schools are out, it's time to look forward to the holidays. GKR in Crawley and Brighton have lots of special events lined up to make your Karate summer go with a swing. Every week there will be something new and exciting to try.

Thursday 14th August
Beach Training, 19:00-20:30 Littlehampton Beach
Tuesday 19th August
Special Kata Class, 19:30-21:00 Millais School, Horsham
Saturday 30th August
Crawley & Brighton Inter-dojo Tournament, 09:30 Millais School, Horsham
Sunday 7th September
Karate in the Pool, 16:00-17:30 Eastwick Infants School, Bookham

All except the Kata class are £6 per head, payable in advance. For the Kata Class, normal class fees apply and you can use your pre-paid training fee (PTF). For Inter-dojo details, please see our Tournaments section.

Please speak to your instructor in class for further details and to book your places.

Crawley & Brighton will also be running Bring-a-Friend Week from 1st-7th September. Bring a friend and you pay £3 (your friend pays £7 to cover class and insurance). No booking required, just turn up with your friend (or anyone, really...) After class a reduced registration will be available so they can commit to train with you on a more regular basis.

Updated 23/07/08

CRAWLEY & BRIGHTON - NEW BLACK BELTS

Congratulations to Sensei Lauren Alford, Sensei Deirdre Quillinan and Paul Davison who yesterday became the newest members of the Crawley & Brighton Black Belts Club.

Sensei Andy Lulham also successfully passed his assessment to become the second new Shodan in the area this year after Sensei Donnie Muir.

Well done everyone, and thanks to Sensei Andrew Ward and all the Senior Instructors for an awesome seminar.

Updated 20/07/08

TOURNAMENT NEWS

For details of the next GKR Tournaments for Crawley & Brighton students, please see the Tournaments section

Update - 07/08/08

WORLD CUP FUND RAISING
It's time to start supporting the efforts of Crawley and Brighton Area students and instructors as fund-raising begins in earnest. The big event so far is the 24-hour marathon class, 25th-26th July from 18:00 at the Roffey Youth Centre in Horsham. Sensei Simon has pledged to do all 24 hours with other senior students and instructors lending extended support. You'll be able to take part or sponsor anyone to train through the night and the next day.

Following that on August 17th will be the Taikenko-su Bike Ride, from Haywards Heath to Crawley - 100 miles in a day. A gruelling test of endurance, at least half a dozen of the Region's finest (and most insane) will be braving hot weather and hard saddles. Be sure to look out in class and pledge to sponsor them - how about a penny-a-mile?

Update - 18/06/08

CLASS CANCELLED - LANCING

Lancing Methodist Church is being used for a summer fayre on 12th July and will be moving to Lancing Tabernacle Hall, 105 North Road, Lancing BN15 9BB (between Somerfield & Police Station) - the entrance to the hall is right down the left hand side of the building, not the main doors at the front.

Update - 02/07/08

BROWN BELT CLASSES CANCELLED - GODALMING
The fort-nightly Brown Belt Classes with Sensei Adrew Ward have had to be cancelled (from 2nd July) until further noticed due to loss of venue. Please check back for further news about when they will be restarting.

Update - 30/06/08

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN THE CRAWLEY & BRIGHTON AREA
For the first time a Region Tournament is to be held in the Crawley and Brighton Area, on the 5th July at the Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill. At Reading last week, our 29 competitors brought home 42 medals - this time we can really clean up.

Even if you don't think you can enter this time, it's close enough to come along and give some local support - and if you want to try it out for the first time, get along to Tournament Training each Monday at the Keys Community Centre, Court Lodge Road in Horley from 18:30-20:00, where you can learn how to improve and adapt your kata and kumite with the help of senior instructors and proven medal winners.

Full Details:
Olympos Leisure Centre
Triangle Way
Burgess Hill
RH15 8WA
Competitor Entry Fees: £12 first event, £6 each subsequent event.

Entry forms are available in class now.
Update - 14/04/08

READING REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
Great success again for Crawley and Brighton at the first tournament of the year. Well done to all those who took part and made it run smoothly - as ever the standard of entrants was high, but we can't all go home with a medal, so sorry if you came home with nothing more than experience and a determination to try again next time.

There was a double gold triumph for the Ladies Senior Teams, as they took gold in both disciplines. Senseis Helen & Amy Lulham and Jenny Parkin came through in the Kata and were then joined by Tina Crow and Kiri Simons to power to the Kumite title.

The Men's Senior Team brought home silver and bronze in their team events as well. Earlier in the day, Amy and Ross Crow were outstanding for Crawley and Brighton in the Open, winning gold and silver and gold and bronze respectively. Helen won gold and silver in the 3rd Kyu and above, Tina gold and silver in the 6th-4th Kyu and Kiri a silver her division.

There were also individual medals for Steve Wilson, Leo Melville, Darren Hickman, Jenny Smith, Jacob Richardson, Bill Thompson, Mary Lefebour, James Ford and Josh Wheels. If you have any news of medal winners not listed here, or any photos of the day, please let us know!
Update - 10/04/08

CRAWLEY & BRIGHTON - BLACK BELT ASSESSMENTS...
Well done to all those who took part in last Saturday's black belt assessment - it was an achievement to get there and everyone worked very hard.

Special congratulations go to Sensei Diane Ward and Sensei Donnie Muir who graded to their Nidan and Shodan respectively.

There were also celebrations for members of the Crawley and Brighton Black Belt club, welcoming Sensei Helen Lulham, Sensei Jenny Parkin, Sensei Paul Williams, Sensei Bill Thompson, Sensei Kev Robinson and Craig Robinson as the area's newest Shodan Ho's
Update - 17/03/08