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March - Little Ninjas Martial Arts Test
On Sunday March 9th, nearly 50 little ninjas from Jamie Woodlands Black Belt Academy performed their martial arts skills to a panel of judges to be promoted up through the martial arts ranks.
Children from as young as 4 up to 7 demonstrated their skills of martial arts techniques and self defence which they had worked hard to achieve in their regular classes. Some of the students demonstrated their martial arts routines and even the use of the long staff, a weapon that the more advanced among the group have started to learn.
Academy instructor Jamie Woodland said of the group “It was fantastic to see as a group, even the youngest, most nervous students step up onto the mats to demonstrate their skills. As a professional club we aren’t merely concerned with just developing the students physically but also mentally with attributes such as confidence. To see this confidence on the day improving in all of the children marks a great achievement all round, well done to them all and their families for their continued support” Pictured are the first group up on the day.
November - Black belt success
Pictured are (back row left to right) Jamie, Liam Snow, George Bowen, Chloe Davis, Megan Davis, Sensei John Turley, Sensei Mark Junday.
Front row Jack Presley, Jed Matthews, Bethany Grimstead, Ross Oneill.
On Saturday 10th November, 8 students from Jamie Woodlands Black Belt Academy travelled to Coventry to take their Black Belt Fitness test to prove themselves able to become the coveted black belt. Amongst other academies including World Champion Mark Jundays, they began their timed mile run followed by 100 push ups, sit ups and squat thrust exercises. The students were then, without rest moved onto their heavy punch bags. At this point with the world champion watching they had to complete 10 rounds of various strikes and kicks all with power, speed and intensity. This was where the regular training the students had put in would be needed.
With all 8 students passing this section it meant a return to Coventry two weeks later for the main part of the black belt test.
On that day the students were tested in various sections. First was the demonstration of the techniques they had been taught over the 4 to 5 years they had trained. This section lasted hours with demonstration of Taekwondo, Kickboxing, boxing and Karate techniques. Following this were sections on self defence, forms or patterns, power kicking, weapons and musical forms, sparring and theory. The 8 students were thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day, but to be informed that they had all passed, made it all worth it. A special ‘A’ pass went to George Bowen for outstanding performance on the day. Another special achievement for the academy came in the form of Bethany Grimstead (9) who became the first of the ‘Little Ninjas’ group to have moved on to juniors and to gain the Black Belt.
The day was the end of a successful month for the Academy. Over 60 junior and adult students passed their coloured belt test a few weeks back and academy instructor Jamie Woodland gained his 4th degree black belt within the same month passing with the highest grade on the day.
November - Talent show triumph
During his summer holidays at a well known family holiday park , Lewis Harrison took part in a recent talent show performing his weapons routine he practices at Jamie Woodlands Black Belt Academy. He did well enough to win and earn his family a weekend break at the same holiday park to come back for the grand finals.
In October he travelled back and again won the overall finals with a stunning performance that wowed the judges who couldn't believe, that at the age of six, he did what he did. A video was taken of the performance and posted on YouTube under Lewis Harrison.
Harvey Miller, who also took part in another talent show at a different site, and he too came away with a win performing a martial arts and weapons display. Academy Instructor, Jamie Woodland would like to congratulate the pair who showed such a high level of confidence and skill at such young ages and made all at the academy proud of their achievements.
October - Open British Championships
On Saturday 6th October, students from the Jamie Woodlands Black Belt Academy travelled to Thornbury to take part in the open British Martial Arts Championships. This was the first taste of major competition for all who entered so nerves were high.
First up was Ben Coles, who just a short while ago would never have got up in front of so many people, but showed his determination and confidence performing two routines, one of which was weapons and narrowly missed out on the top slot. Taylor Young performed in the black belt forms and took a well deserved silver, again narrowly missing the top spot. Next Becky Shakespeare took bronze in the ladies forms/routines.
Later the Ladies were in the sparring. Three of the academy's ladies were in the group but unfortunately two were drawn against each other in the first round. Emma Rodger and Becky Shakespeare fought each other in a tight contest which saw Becky advance. Sarah Rowlatt was demonstrating excellent skill to win her matches and then came another meet for the academy's ladies with Becky against Sarah. The overall outcome was a bronze position for Sarah and Becky going on to win the division.
Academy instructor Jamie Woodland would like to congratulate the students on their success on the day.