​Lockdown is well underway and looks set to remain in place for a considerable length of time.  Unfortunately, our Karate clubs and school clubs will remain closed until government advice changes.  The safety of our members, their families and the wider public remains our priority. In the meantime we were thinking, what can we do to help keep your Karate alive during this lockdown?  How can we prevent the rot setting in and the lethargy, resistance to exercise and good practice winning over? Fear not. A solution is being sought out and is being tried and tested among the senior members.   Our solution during social distancing laws is online training. Something that would have been unthinkable only a few moths ago but so far it has been successful.  Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) has given a series of excellent, specially designed live training sessions from his living room with as many as 25 students of all ages taking part in the trial.  Ronnie hopes to be able to open this to all members very soon.  All you need is a smartphone, ipad or computer.
If you are interested in the online training please register your interest and we will notify you when a space becomes available and how to join in.

 
We have arranged  three courses for people who wish to grade in April 2020
Cults Academy 10.00-12.00 noon
 
2nd Feb Squad Training and Kumite Assessment all members for Grading
 
1st Mar Squad Training Kata Special for All members Grading.
 
Squad -   Open Championships to be arranged
 
Weekend of 4th April Grading for all taking part in the above courses.
 
April Club Kumite Championships.
 
Please bring your up to date licence for Signing- remember to have your Licence Promotion record as well as your Licence Attendance record signed for attending.
 
I look forward to seeing you and again and congratulate you for your wonderful contribution towards keeping our premier club at the top of the game, outperforming many well- funded world organisations.
 
With thanks
Ronnie Watt Shihan

​Our December Karate Course was an eventful weekend with an array of international karate expertise. A major event for karate in the North east of Scotland.  Held at Cults Academy in Aberdeen we had two days of Karate organised for all students participating. The visiting instructors were Alf-Ronnie Fagerland (7th Dan) from Norway.  Willfried Achillies (8th Dan) from Germany. Leading the course was our very own Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) and Jock Calder (6th Dan) all taking the lessons, and we were delighted to welcome the foreign karate-ka who travelled with their Sensei to Aberdeen.  
The Saturday morning course encompassed three halls at the Cults Academy and Sports Centre where karate-ka were put through their paces in a gruelling training and grading session.  The training focused on basic, Kata and Kumite techniques. Senior gradings lasted around 2 hours with almost non-stop activity and concentration. 
The Sunday saw all the Karateka training together in the large hall, and each instructor gave in-depth advanced kata training. Looking into the detail of the movements and the meaning behind it. Jion, Gojushiho-sho and Meikyo. 

Congratulations to all students who passed their kyu gradings and a special thanks and recognition to our new Dan grades.  

Several NKI awards were given to some of our junior members who have shown dedication and exceptional improvement through their training. 
The NKI Karate-do Kids of Active Excellence

The OSS Cadet Samurai awards were presented to Owen Douglas, Jacob Adam and Charlotte Adam by Lord Charles Bruce, Benedict Bruce and Ronnie Watt.

Sensei Willfried Achillies from Germany was presented by Ronnie Watt and Alf-Ronnie with a much-coveted Samurai award for his contribution to the martial arts.  

We have an amazing karate course planned for December this year.  Six hours of Karate training over 2 days with some of the finest and most experienced Karate Masters in Europe.    Our very own Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) OBE ORS and David Calder (6th Dan) will be joined with two visiting  instructors from Europe. Sensei Alf Ronnie Fagerland (7th Dan) will take a break from his busy schedule to make a special trip from Norway to visit Aberdeen.   Also by special invitation, travelling from Germany, Sensei Willfried Achillies (8th Dan) will also be on hand to teach at our course.   Each instructor will be bringing some of their finest squad members making this course and extra special blend of Karate training and friendship.  The course will also give students a chance to grade to their next belt and there will also be a Dan grading on Sunday. Spaces are limited so register now and reserve your place.

Book now to avoid disappointment.

​The 12th of September was an exceptional occasion for us this year. Our club had the honour of a visit from 2 great karate-ka from Nagasaki.  Sensei Fumio Shiki and Sensei Hatsumi Kataoka, chairman and Chief referee of the Nagasaki Karate Association.   It was the first time the gentlemen had visited Aberdeen and Scotland. It was a great honour for us to have them visit our Karate club, travelling from Japan.

​The previous evening a special Samurai Dinner was held at the Trinity Hall where Lord Charles Bruce and Ronnie Watt presented the Japanese instructors with Samurai Awards.  The Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh Mr Takaoka also travelled up to join them at the dinner.  Mr Takaoka is a great supporter of our Karate. 

​Sunday, September 1st, 2019.  After a lovely summer, the club took off with the first pre-grading course and Dan Grading in preparation for the many events planned before the end of the year.     The session focused on multiple Kumite techniques using the legs. With tips on how to score quickly by enticing your opponent to move, so you can score a quick point using fast punching and kicking combinations.   Of course, this is important, so you don't waste energy fighting for a full match chasing an opponent.  The summer holidays meant some of us had missed some of the regular karate training sessions, because of holidays or other family commitments.  So the emphasis on exercising and stretching the legs muscles was significant.   You will likely be feeling your muscles and hips remind you not to miss any more training sessions.  Karate is very beneficial for your body and training regularly is essential to your development, suppleness and well-being.    A few weeks away without discipline, and you will start to feel these benefits slipping away.  If you do go away, remember to keep training.  Every little helps.  

​Congratulations to the students who passed their black belt Shodan gradings today.  Your hard work and improvement is an inspiration to the whole club and gives us all confidence that there is a future for real karate in Aberdeen.  Wear your belts with pride; you deserve them. Keep training and aiming higher.  You have the foundations to become great masters one day.  "Your body is a temple" Don't leave the foundations bare, build on them. One day you will look back and see how high you have built the walls of your temple and feel the true spirit that resides inside.  This is Karate.

​We have a visit from some special guest Japanese Karate masters who will be training our students along with Ronnie Watt (9th dan) on September 12th and a grading on October 6th.  

Our national championships are on November 3rd. 
 There will be a self-defence course held on November 17th. 
December 1st - will be a pre-grading course.
December 21st and 22nd we have karateka from Norway and Germany joining us for a special course and grading with  Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) and special  guest instructor Paul Kee (7th Dan) from Sweden.