South Tyneside karate club delivers gold standard on the national stage
Huge success for South Tyneside karate club in two national competitions.
South Tyneside karate kids have proved top of the chops by helping their club win podium glory in two national competitions.
Youngsters at Dokan Club racked up a staggering 144 medals between them from a hit squad of just 36 members.
Their medal-strewn run began at the Leeds Open tournament, where they finished ahead of the field with 16 golds, 15 silver and 34 bronze.
To gain their competition prizes, they overcame approximately 370 other entries.
And they followed that up with similar success at the Scottish International tournament in Dundee.
Against 32 competitor clubs, they claimed a magnificent 29 gold medals, 26 silver and 24 bronzes.
Club chief instructor Kevan Mitchinson heralded the double success as “impressive” for such a small club.
He said: “The Scottish International event was a very prestigious tournament, and we finished second in the medal table, a great achievement for the youngsters.
“The host association, Kanzen Karate Scotland, is an enormous outfit which entered over 85 competitors and topped the medal table.
“Our Dokan karate squad is mostly made up of youngsters, but the majority won multiple medals at both competitions.”
Kevan added: “We have a reputation for bringing quality and quantity to competitions.
“We are also known for our sportsmanship, good manners and good karate etiquette, which is installed in the club.
“Both competitions were phenomenally successful for our youngsters and a fabulous experience as they all got together and supported each other.
“It is a very young squad, but a very strong one.”
In South Tyneside, the club usually holds classes at Cleadon All Saints and other venues in the village.
But members also come from Sunderland and training is held at the city’s Seaburn New Church, Red House Community Centre and St Cuthbert's Church, both Hylton Red House.
The squad now has a grading, a summer presentation day and another tournament to look forward to, and training is planned throughout the summer holidays.
Dokan Club holds classes for all age groups – and specific beginner-friendly classes – seven days a week.
It teaches Shotokan karate, which is considered a traditional and influential form of the sport.
More information is at www.dokan.co.uk.