On Saturday, June 29, 2024, 28 dedicated students from the Ballymena and Rasharkin CKA clubs successfully completed their Kyu belt examinations, showcasing their hard work, skill, and determination.

In attendance to facilitate the examination was CKA chief coach Sensei Dan Redmond (7th Dan) , along with club coaches Sean Wisener (2nd Dan) and Jamie Neill (1st Dan), and trainee coach Kathy Archer (1st Dan).

Here’s a breakdown of the grades achieved:

• 9th Kyu Yellow Belt: 8 members
• 8th Kyu Red Belt: 7 members
• 7th Kyu Orange Belt: 2 members
• 6th Kyu Green Belt: 8 members
• 5th Kyu Blue Belt: 2 members
• 4th Kyu Purple Belt: 1 member

The grading was a comprehensive test of various karate techniques. All participants demonstrated great proficiency in kumite (sparring) and kata (formal exercises), along with elements of self-defense in some sessions. The senior members, in particular, showed a solid understanding of their basic blocks, highlighting their commitment.

Sensei Redmond would like to congrtualte all the students for their remarkable efforts!

Session 1 - 18 Junior members and their coaches after being presented with their certificates. The belts earned were Yellow, Red, Orange, Green & Purple

Session 2 - 7 Senior members and 3 Junior members with their coaches after being presented with their certificates. The belts earned were Red, Orange, Green & Blue.

On Saturday 27th April 2024, 3 CKA members participated in the Karate Northern Ireland (KNI) Northern Ireland Open championships in Belfast, with all three members bringing home medals.

The members were Mark Healy (5th Kyu), David Lennox (7th Kyu) and Jamie Neill (1st Dan).

The event commenced with the Senior Individual Male Brown/Black Kata category, where Jamie Neill secured a commendable second place, setting a high standard for the day.

The young Mark Healy demonstrated versatility by competing in both Kata and Kumite events. His performance in the Individual 8-U10 G,B,P Kata earned him a second-place finish, and he later clinched third place in the Individual Kumite 8-U10, 145cm+ division, showcasing his potential as a rising star in the sport.

David Lennox’s debut was nothing short of spectacular, as he claimed the top spot in the Male Individual Senior Kata W,Y,O event. His victory was a testament to his unwavering commitment to training.

Sensei Redmond congratulates all three of them and would also like to thank Karate Northern Ireland for organizing the event.

Left to Right: David Lennox, Mark Healy, Jamie Neill