The ESKA European championships took place recently in the picturesque German town of Koblenz and five club members were there to witness this festival of world class karate. The standard was phenomenal across the board. Cadets, juniors, seniors, men, women, kata and kumite; just phenomenal!
The blue riband event, the senior men’s team kumite, was taken (just!) by the host nation. The German national side are good. Very good. But the England team so very nearly seized victory in a nail biting final that went to the last moments of the final fight! Joe Rawcliffe, one of the KUGB’s young rising stars, took the lead against Christian Gruner, the 29 year old German ace, only to get caught by an unfathomably quick face punch which clinched it for the home side. Joe was decidedly ‘down in the mouth’ after his loss but I’m sure there were many people to remind him that he played a pivotal role in getting the team to the final in the first place. In fact he was crowned U21 European Champion not 24hrs earlier following an outstanding performance in the junior individual kumite event where he won 6 fights with stunning ippons as he walked through all before him! He was also a member of the U21 male kumite team who went one better than the senior team by winning gold!
The 2011 tournament will take place in Poland and we plan to be there!
SOUTH NOTTS KARATE 