Junior Squad

Hiya

Two posts in one day obviously means I am procrastinating in University, Karate posts are so much more exciting than the current Genocide in Syria and the ongoing war crimes in Paypa New Guinea. Trust me, Criminal Law is not as exciting as it sounds.

Junior Squad - is an opportuntity for our students who are interested in competing at Local, National and International Level to train together in a 3 hour intense training session, once a month in Coleraine and once a month in Fudoshin Karate Club.
Twice a year, selections will take place whilst Yasmin takes the squad on one half of the hall, Sensei Terry will call students into the other half to basically "Show him what they are made of" so to speak.

I want to make clear, that although local compeitions are open to every student who trains on the squad (in the sessions) national and international competitions are for the team only (those selected in, well, selections) and it is unlikely that, if a student is below the grade of 5th Kyu (Purple Belt)  they will be chosen unless they are the decenant of Bruce Lee. Which doesn't happen very often trust me.

 Parents think that 3 hours is a very long time for training, but for us to complete kata and kumite sessions each needs to be 1.5 hours each!

Another point to highlight is that most students train to achieve positions on the kumite and kata squad, but those who dislike one area will most likely train to only be selected in a particular area and this is harder to achieve, because in perspective, if the club is to travel to a national compeititon and the student who is only in one category is put out in the first round, it is basically a waste of a journey and also disheartens the student. Therefore trying for the both is better than trying for only one!

All of our Junior Squad members compete in both areas in compeitions, bar one person.

Bring on Squad this weekend.

Coleraine West Community Centre 12pm-3pm.
I am taking the kata lesson this week :)

Remember, if you just want to train under the squad for extra training that is ok:) Come along for a good fun sweat session.

 

Theres the lads ^ Kevin Diamond "Chicken Kev" , Thomas "Hollister" Currie and Dilly Willy.


Yasmin :)
3rd Dan

Grading with Sensei F Brennan Feburary 2014

Heyyyy!

The first grading of the year took place last weekend, and I was surprised and happy at how many of the students and parents read my blog weekly! Thank you so much for all your support and compliments! - Maybe I should give up law and become a writer ! Haha.

89 Students graded last Saturday in Magherafelt! The whole day was buzzing with highs and lows all throughout the day.
The schedule was on time throughout the day, although parents should be warned that my time estimation is really, really, really awful so ask Lisa or something because I most  likely won't even know the current time, let alone when your children will be finished their grading.

The training session with Sensei Brennan was fantastic as usual, there is nothing better than a training session which covers all areas and his excellent time distrubution meant that every area of a grading was covered equally.

For those Karate Novices the 3 main areas of a karate grading are:

Kata
Kumite
Kihon (Basics)

This was the first time (since the club has membershipped more than 300 students) that a grading has been held in one day! and I am not looking forward to the next one.
Of course I will do my best to request a better location, as all the parents sitting in the cafe and squashed during registration does not only bother you, it gets me all hot and flustered and everyone knows that when I am hot and flustered I get angry. haha.

But I would like to say congratulations to all those who successfully graded on the day, the club is extremely proud of all of your commitment since the Christmas break, so on wards and up wards to the next event, which I believe is the Riverside Theatre Demonstration. My favourite time of the year.

I would personally, since this is my blog and does not reflect the views of my father, Sensei Terry Geddis or any of the other instructors of the club a special congratulations to my student Dylan McCloskey who is training very hard for his 2nd Dan and completed his mock on Saturday also! As well as Laura Diamond who is training really hard to improve her Kumite!

Every member of my Junior Squad is contuning to do me proud.
You's will be beating Andrew and Zachary in no time ;)

Do you like our new banner?


Yasmin :)
3rd Dan

Munich News

Hello All,

As you all know from previous posts, Andrew Mills was in Munich competing in the WORLD (mistake from an earlier post) Karate Championships. I kept up to date with him via Whatsapp during the weekend, to make sure he would not forget anything.
Andrew is the type of person that would contemplate continuing to play the playstation if his house was on fire. So keeping routine is important with him and the team has a particular routine. Since Zachary and I were absent from the compeition a vivid Whatsapp was sent to him when he notified me that he arrived!
Having travelled from Friday morning, he arrived on Friday in his hotel room. Its Zanshin routine to bath before compeititons and after them to relax our muscles. THERE WAS NO BATH.
This made us very sad.
Other routine features are:

• Yasmin and Zachary being very hyperactive and laughing at every single thing that is not remotely funny!
• Sensei Terry cracking up several times before we get to the hotel
• Hanging up of the Karate Suits and belts  - This is a very important moment, and is mostly done by me for both the boys (most likely trying to find an iron for Zachary as well- as he couldnt be bothered to iron his suit)
• The collection of energy drinks, 3 each exactly
• The distribution of numbers - the numbers will be displayed on the back of our karate suits and it is important we have them the night before

Whether Andrew abided by any of this is unknown to me at the moment, maybe I am just controlling.

Training back in Northern Ireland continued as normal on Saturday. 1pm-3pm in Coleraine West Community Centre.
Every time my phone sounded I was permitted by Sensei Terry to look at the notification incase it was Andrew.
Zachary and I attempted to perform Unsu, in the type of manner that could convince someone we were 1. Confident in the kata   2. Remotely interested.
Anyone who does any type of competitive sport, that involves training with the same people day in and day out will know, training just is not the same when either: Friends/training partners/team mates are missing. Or even worse: When they are compeiting without you being present, you just want to be there to support them.

3pm - Trainings over. Sensei Terrys phone rings.

ANDREW MILLS WON BOTH KATA AND KUMITE!!!

I am buzzing, Zachary is buzzing, Sensei Terry is so proud. It couldn't have happened to a more dedicated student:)
Well Done Andrew, you did yourself and the club proud.

I then call Aiden who is training with our long time friends, The Junior English Squad in the Liverpool Red Triangle and he is estatic too :)
Aidan has broken his thumb, when it got caught in his karate suit when performing a kata..... Yes really....awkward.

Andrew is now safely home, leaving that event behind and preparing for the next event. Just how it should be.

Yasmin Geddis
3rd Dan

Munich

Hello:)

After previous annoucements of Andrew heading to compete in Munich, you may all wonder in why the other team mates are simply not going.

The WKC (World Karate Confederation) - is not a shotokan compeititon. We, Zanshin Northern Ireland, are a Shotokan Karate Club teaching in the oldest and most disciplined of the Martial Arts.

Andrew along with Zachary, after their performance at the Karate Northern Ireland Championships in Carryduff in November 2013 (2x Gold and 1x Gold 1x Silver), were asked by another club to attend squad training in preparation for this competition with the permission of Sensei Terry (who will not be attending this compeititon with Andrew).

Zachary is currently in recovery, but will resume competing at this years Grandslam Championships in Chesterfield in March 2014, therefore he was unable to attend any squad training to accept the offer.

Andrew has been training with the WKC Northern Ireland Squad several Sundays and is looking forward to compeititing in a different style of compeititon but remains dedicated to Shotokan Compeititons.

Squad members must remember that the more you compete the better you become at performing on the matt under the pressures of attempting to score on your opponent. Therefore any compeititons that open up this opportunity are taken by our Senior Members. I am currently searching for other compeititons in Ireland to take our Junior members too, this will allow them to get familiar with the process of winning and losing.

The WKC compeition will be avaliable to watch live and the Geddis household will be in full force watching their teammate compete next saturday...along with popcorn.
When I am notified with the information I will post it on here and on the ZSNI facebook page.

I will also get details of Andrews trip to post a blog when he returns home.

We are with you in Karate Spirit.
Lets go Andrew Lets go!

If the compeition is successful, I can predict that further attendance from more members of the squad will be innicated.

Oss

Yasmin
3rd Dan

Squad training

As you all know. My favourite training is squad training. I somehow pushes me to my limit every time and it is exciting when a competition is coming up! 

In 2014 we are happy to announce that we are joining forces with Fudoshin Karate Club in hope of increasing our Northern Ireland Squad! Both senior and junior teams! 

A squad training session in fudoshin club is held once a month. Followed by a squad training session the next week in coleraine west! Students from each club are welcome to train at both these sessions.  Selection will take place in coleraine west twice per year with both clubs present! 

Sensei's holding the sessions are: 

Sensei Terry Geddis 5th Dan - fudoshin and zanshin sessions 

Sensei Yasmin Geddis 3rd Dan - Zanshin Sessions 

New interests welcome all year round.  Full attendance is necessary.  

OSS 

Yasmin Geddis 

3rd Dan 

Publicising!

Hello everyone!! 

Welcome back after the new year! Hope you all enjoyed your holidays.  Unfortunately mine all are soaked up with endless revision for my final year exams :( 

But have a look at our pretty new poster for publicising the club! 

Please like and share our information as the new members is what makes the club function! 

OSS.  

Sensei Yasmin 

3rd Dan 

HAPPY NEW YEARRR

Hello All,

I hope that your Christmas's and New years were exceptional and you are all looking forward to returning back to training.
Remember the grading with Sensei Brennan will be on Saturday 1st Feb, it will be an all day grading and training, as will the rest of the gradings this year.
This years calendar of events is avaliable on the club facebook page and website for date clarification.
Everyone who has paid membership into the club will recieve a welcome back letter, membership card and calendar in the post. For those who do not recieve it, you have not paid your annual membership and therefore you are not a member of ZSNI.

I am in the process of trying to obtain enterance into different competitions this year in Ireland for more experience for our Junior Squad. So this year, in a compeition sense is very exciting.

Andrew Mills heads off to Munich later on this month so I would like to wish him the very best of luck for that :)

Also, I am busy talking with Holly Sterling to try and get her across for later this year, for an all girls course as per usual :)

SENSEI LISA'S HAVING A BABYYY!! So I am looking to recruit some members of the club to help out at gradings etc. Let me know if you are interested.

As usual I will be taking private lesson bookings: 07563612088 - I am alright at private lessons I think *cough* Dylan *cough*

Hahah

See you all soon.

Yasmin 3rd Dan