Birchwood’s Karate Kids Claim Medals

12th April 2006
– The Welwyn and Hatfield Times have reported on Birchwood Karate Club’s most recent competition success.

Welwyn and Hatfield Times – 12 April 2006

Students from the Birchwood Karate Club enjoyed success as part of the ESKA national squad in Nottingham. Robert Nutter, Luke Mascall and Charlie Fisher all fought at the AMA International Championships last month. And the English Shotokan Karate Association squad came away with one gold and four bronze medals, having competed against some of the best students from seven countries.
Robert Nutter came third in the weapons category of the Amateur Martial Arts Association event after performing an excellent Chinese sword kata.
Luke Mascall fought hard in the under 65kg group, eventually winning through to claim third place. Charlie Fisher just missed out of a medal, coming fourth in the under-13 brown belt kata.
Sensei John Gillespie, squad coach and senior instructor at Birchwood, had some success of his own a few weeks later at the Karate England National Championships in Sheffield.
He struck gold in the masters kata event and bronze in the masters kumite the following day. New students are welcome at Birchwood Leisure Centre on Saturdays from 11.00 am to noon and Fridays from 7-8pm and at the Jim McDonald Centre on Tuesdays from 8-9pm.
Photo: Luke Mascall, John Gillespie, Robert Nutter and Charlie Fisher.