Ken-Bu-Kan Squad Cause Havoc At London Open Championships!!!

Post date: Jun 12, 2013 1:55:1 AM

8 members of Ken-Bu-Kan’s Sport Karate team travelled to East London to compete at the London Open Championships.  The squad were in awesome form winning reaching 10 finals of the 14 categories entered and winning 8 of them.  The squad finished the day with 8 Golds, 2 Silvers and 2 Bronze medals and finished 2nd in the medal table for the second successive year.  An amazing achievement for only a handful of competitors!!

First to compete was Ken-Bu-Kan’s newest competitor Oliver Ocak.   Oliver fought well and with great courage but couldn’t take a medal on his first outing.  Jack Ward (Current All Styles English Champion) was next to compete and without a competition in nearly 3 months, Jack needed a few rounds to warm up.  Unfortunately, Jack lost in the semi-final and settled for the Bronze medal but had team event to come and his awesome legs were just started to warm up.  Another new member to the squad was Romahn Flemmings, who was unlucky in the semi-final not to have his perfectly timed head kick awarded.  Romahn took a Bronze medal for his competition in the club.  Finally, Charlie Coulson and Brandon Wilkins (Current WIKF European Champion) were both in action in the male under 5’3 event.  Both boys took their opponents apart in each round to set up a final against each other.  The final was tense with Brandon taking the lead to win Gold and Charlie settled for the Silver on this occasion.

Onto the girls now, and with our final newcomer and youngest competitor Nya Enver, aged just 7 years old.  Nya fought superbly scoring multiple head kicks in the rounds and winning with ease.  Nya not only took Gold in her section but also in the category above.  Nya - Double Gold Medallist! 

Danielle Kirby (Current All Styles National Champion) was also in awesome form winning her section, but also won the Female Junior event beating England’s No.1 in the Final!  This is a huge win for Daneille who was nearly four years younger and less experienced than her opponent.  Another Double Gold Medallist! 

Joe Kellaway (Current English & British Champion) began has campaign in style winning the Male Junior event and then at just 16 years of age, went onto win the Male Senior event too.  Joe then entered the Champions Cup prize money event, hoping to follow on from Gavin Bailey success in 2012.  Joe fought well beating England’s lightweight Champion in the semi-final but then lost in the final to yet another English Heavyweight Champion, who returned to success after last year’s defeat to Jerome Brown.

Finally, in the Male team event, Jack Ward and Brandon Wilkins made light work to win all their bouts and the team took Gold medal without having to contest any 3rd bout.  Impressive results!

Congratulations to all the medallists:

CHAMPIONS: Nya Enver x2, Danielle Kirby x2, Joe Kellaway x2, Brandon Wilkins, Jack Ward/Brandon Wilkins

SILVER:            Joe Kellaway and Charlie Coulson

BRONZE:           Jack Ward and Romahn Flemmings