Date: Saturday 11th April 2026
Time: 11:00 – 1:00pm
Venue: St Bede’s Catholic College, Bristol (BS11)
Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo hosted a Squad Development Session on Saturday 11th April, bringing together students preparing for the upcoming 47th SKIF-GB Shiro Asano National Karate Championships.
🥋 Focused Competition Preparation
The session was specifically organised to support competitors in their final preparation ahead of the national championships on the following day, providing:
- Final technical coaching and refinement
- Guidance on competition etiquette and tatami protocol
- Tactical understanding for kumite and kata performance
Sessions such as this play an important role in preparing students for competition at regional and national level.
⚡ Kumite Training & Tactics
The first hour was led by Sensei Dave Griffiths (7th Dan), SKIF-GB Wales & Southwest Regional Coach, focusing on reaction-based kumite drills.
The second half of the session was led by Sensei Steve Ashby, assisted by Sensei Nick Bruce-Jones, with a focus on:
- Creating openings for Kizami Zuki attacks
- Drawing opponents into scoring opportunities
- Understanding positioning on the tatami
- Adapting tactics based on score and time remaining
Sensei Nick’s in-depth refereeing knowledge provided valuable insight into what techniques are likely to score under competition rules.
🏯 Kata Preparation
The session concluded with kata training across multiple levels:
- Heian Yondan – junior competition kata
- Bassai Dai – brown belt kata for advanced competitors
- Nijushiho – black belt kata for senior competitors
Focus was placed not only on technical execution, but also:
- Correct starting position on the tatami
- Maintaining embusen (movement line)
- Avoiding penalties for stepping outside the competition area
🎯 Preparing for Competition
In addition to technical training, the session also covered:
- Tatami etiquette (bowing, entering/leaving the area)
- Competition awareness for first-time competitors
- Final logistical checks ahead of the event
This ensured all competitors were fully prepared both technically and mentally for the following day.
🤝 Supporting the SKIF-GB Squad
Sessions such as this form part of the wider SKIF-GB squad development programme.
A small training fee is applied to these sessions, with proceeds (after hall costs) contributing to the SKIF-GB Squad Fund, which supports:
- International competition entry fees
- Coach/Team passes
- Team equipment and kit
All instructors and coaches give their time on a voluntary basis, reflecting their commitment to supporting athlete development within the organisation.
🏯 Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo
Kyoto continues to support the development of its students through structured squad training, preparing them for competition at regional and national level.