Mens Senior Karate

The mens senior semi contact points sparring proved to be an excellent event as well. The best fight of the event came in the preliminaries between Mr Ben Thatcher and Mr Simon Walker. However, there were also alot of other good prelims. On the left are Mr Thatcher and Mr Ash Hudson. Ben can be seen moving away from one of Ash's punches. Ash was unlucky to have drawn Ben in both senior fighting events, which would always be an uphill struggle. But to Ash's credit he did himself and CMA proud. Then I myself faught Mr Darryl Bedford. My nerves got the better of me as we went on the mat, but once fight was called all nerves went. Darryl scored some early points and I knew that with a one minute time limit, time was something I did not have. Instinctively I used the reverse punch to counter, but unfortunetly jodan reverse punch does not score. I did manage to land a couple of chudan gyaku zuki and jodan urakens, but the difference between us was the head kick that Darryl scored. I did see it as it came up, but was powerless to stop the inevitable, a three point score to Darryl, which was the difference between us. I was very annoyed with myself for recieving a head kick, but on the day Darryl was the better man and deserved his victory. There is always next year for me to try again. Mr Phil Dyson then faught Mr Neil Davies (left). Here Neil can be seen blocking Phil's mawashi geri and lining up a right hand jodan strike. The contest was well faught, but ultimately Neil used his extensive height and reach advantage to excellent effect. He kept Phil out of range by use of his long legs and scored some good points. Phil though gave a good account of himself by never giving up and never loosing heart. Had Phil faught someone who was not so much taller than himself he could have made it further. Then Ben faught Simon in what was the best fight of the event. Ben used his superior height advantage to his benefit and Simon counter acted this by coming underneath with his counters. The fight was one that was a pleasure to watch and because I had been knocked out of the tournament already, I had no agenda to my cheering, I only wanted to see a good fight and the two men on the mat provided this. The action went back and forth, with Ben gaining a lead and Simon clawing his way back into the fold. To win a fighter must score 10 points. Well the score in extra time came to 9 points a piece and the next score would win, well to the exitement of all involved the fighters scored iuchi - a simultaneous strike and therby forcing the score to 10 points each. The action at the end of the second extra time period was 15 points each, so with the next point claiming victory it was Simon who one with a super counter. Simon can be seen here in the left moving inside Ben mwashi geri and setting up a gyaku zuki chudan of his own to score the point. Then came the final in which Ben faught Neil. As Simon proved against Ben, he knows exactly how to deal with tall oponents and used his counters to great effect to score the vicory and become the 20o7 mens senior semi contact kumite champion. Well done Simon, but remeber there are 8 or 9 other blokes who want that title next year. You are a true champion and deserve your victory, well done.

Senior Mens Kickboxing

There many opinions about which was the best section and highlight of the day, most would argue that their section was the best, but overall, the most entertaining and enjoyable event was the mens senior kick boxing final. All the rounds were well faught and everyone showed true fighting spirit. Everyone who entered the event will testify of each and every other competitors skills and determination during the fights, to go as far as to say there were no easy victory's, each and every competitor gave it their best, as all cometitiors had been doing all day.
The action started earlier on with the preliminary rounds.
One of the main highlights from the pre lims were Mr Hudson against Mr ThatcherMr Hudson was unfortunate enough to be drawn against Mr Thatcher again (as he had in the karate event). Mr Hudson has to be credited even before he started, for a 15 year old to compete in the senior karate and kickboxing fighting sections is truely praiseworthy and is another example of the indomitable spirit that embodies one of the Chuldow principles. Mr Hudson delivered an excellent kick to Mr Thatchers mid section that made him not want to take another. A fine effort, but in the end Mr Thatcher came out on top and proceeded to next round.
Mr Bedford was drawn against Mr Zatowski in the 2nd round and was on the recieving end of one of martin's awesome axe kicks. Where Martin gets them from is truely a wonder as they seem to just appear from no where. Mr Bedford could have easily just given up under such a barrage of attacks, but to his immense credit, he carried on and completed the bout in true spirit, not believing it was over until STOP was called.
These are just two of the highlights from the pre lims, I apologies if I have left anyone out, please drop me aline and a few words and I will add to the write up.
So it was only fitting then that the Mens Senior Kickboxing Final was the last event of the tournament, and boy, it did not disappoint. The action started thick and fast, Ben did not ever take one step back, which I do not think Martin was expecting. Ben stood his ground and threw some awesome combination punches that found their mark. However, not be outdone, Martin still brought those lightning fast high kicks from out of nowhere. No quarter was asked and none was given, in what was on round of truely magnficant action, which was a pleasure to watch. After Stop was called, Ben thought he had lost and procede to remove his head guard to get some well earned deep breaths of air. However, when called upon the 3 judges gave their virdicts and it was a spilt decsion, and a suprise to Ben, who had quickly re guard up ready for the next 30 secs of action. If the first minute and a half was awesome, the last 30 secs could be descrbed as awe inspiring. Clearly phased by the hits he was taking Ben still managed to land excellent punches and kicks. Martin also managed to compose himself for the extra time and you would expect came up with equally as good scoring techniques. But in the end Martins' offensive won the day and he was crowned champion.
Well done Martin, it just goes to show what a supreme athlete you are. Ben took all that was thrown at him and more, he faught with spirit, pride and a never sat die attitude, that will one day take him to a world class level. The crowd also appreciated it, giving it the biggest cheer of the night.

The Chuldow Champion

At the finish of the trophy presentations a special award was given to the competitior of the tournament. This was to be given to the most outstanding competitor of the entire tournament. There were many people who could have been nominated for the award, for many reasons.
Mr Thatcher could have won the award for the imense bravery he showed in his spirit in the final of the Mens Senior Light Contact Kickboxing by taking everything Martin had to give, as well as giving plenty back. Mr Bedford won the Senior Kata, placed in the top three in Weapons Kata, Mens Senior Kumite and Mens Senior Light Contact Kick Boxing. Miss Moss Won Laies Senior Light contact Kick Boxing and placed in the top three in Senior Kata, Weapons Kata and Ladies Senior Semi Contact Kumite.
There were also many other students who won/ placed top three in one or more event, but it is not all about winning. Let's face it, at some point in our lives we will all win something, whether a martial arts contest, a spelling or maths contsest, a rugby, football, cricket match etc. But there are some people, who are more disadvantaged than alot of us, to whom, competing is winning enough in itself. As Mr Hauer said in the presentation, it is not about winning, but about overcoming adversity that shows the true spirit of martial arts. For many people who are physically or mentally impaired, the notion of doing martial arts, until recently, was unimaginable. But fortunately there are some associations and academies, like Chuldow, who believe that everyone has a right to practice martial arts, and to this end Mr Hauer made the presentation to the Chuldow Champion.
The Chuldow Champion is Miss Michelle Collins who competed in the kickboxing and did herself proud. I was privalidged to witness her bout and, the most striking thing about it was the sheer joy in her face as she was competing, win or lose she was happy to be doing something that she probably never thought possible until she joined Chudow Martial Arts. Unless you were there, it is hard to imagine the feelings and emotions that were present when the announcement was made. Michelle herself was so excited that I am sure she is still smilling today. The audience realised the sense of occasion and one of the biggest round of applause of the night was heard.
I will admit here in writing, to whoever reads this, that it brought a lump to my throat. It was one of the truely most touching moments I have seen at a martial arts tournament and I defy anyone who was there to disagree with me. When I told my wife of this when I got home, she even had a tear in here eye.
This embodies the true spirit of Chuldow Martial Arts and what we all believe in and stand for. WELL DONE MICHELLE YOU ARE A TRUE FIGHTER AND TRUELY REPRESENT THE PRINCIPLES OF CHULDOW MARTIAL ARTS AND, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL AT CMA.

Michelle with MR and Mrs Hauer and Miss Rock

The Chuldow Championships

This past Sunday Chuldow Martial Arts Academy held its 1st independant competition. It was a tournament for Chuldow, organised by Chuldow, presided over by Chuldow and Enjoyed by Chuldow. The day ran so smoothly the organisation rivalled and even bettered some national level competitions I have attended in the distant past. For all readers who where not there and have not visited the main CMA Online web site, please go there and read all the comments in the guest book written by the participants and staff involved in the day. Go to http://www.chuldow.com/ and click on the guest book. Remember these comments were not left by the organisers, they are genuine heart felt thanks given by students and CIT for what was one of the most truely memorable moments in Chuldow's history, THESE COMMENTS ARE REAL. No amount of thanks can be given to Mr and Mrs Hauer, along with Miss Rock that has not already been said. Your students, one and all are truely proud to be called your students and have you as not only insturctors, but as role models and mentors as well.
This sub blog will be updated when I have information and photo's in the usual blog style. I will ask for help in write ups from others, purely because I did not see some categories, when I was competing or refereeing in other sections. I want the write up and sub blog to represent the tournament in the best way possible.
Again for instant pictures of the event visit http://www.chuldow.com/ and check out the photo's in the gallery, but remember to be patient, it will take a while to load up. Mr Martin Bell did an excellent job on the day as Chuldow photographer, thanks must go to him for taking so many excellent shots, when he could have easily been distracted by the fantastic action that was taking place on the mats, well done Mr Bell. Thanks must also go to Mr Bedford who has spent time out of his busy schedule to upload them on the website, as well as do a small re design in the process, it is looking good and a credit to you, thank you.
As well as it being a pleasure to take part in it was also an honour to be asked to referee in. To think I was asked to be part of the adjudcating team, which acted so proffesionally was truely an honour, and I now like to think the I have given something back to CMA, which has, over the past year, given me so much pleasure.