2008 has been a knockout year for Club Deportivo Washinkai Karate of Javea, seeing it grow to become the largest karate club in the whole of the Community of Valencia with more than 160 registered students. Instructors Ray Sweeney and Geovanny Sanchez had the honour of being introduced to the Spanish Karate Federation President, Faustino Soria Morales at a special ceremony in Alicante.
New Clubs
Washinkai karate opened new dojos in The Laude Lady Elizabeth School at Lliber, Xabia International College, Colegio el Arenal, Javea Municipal Sports Centre and the Colegio at Benitachell. Morning classes for ladies were introduced by Sarah Lakin late in 2008 which went from strength to strength combining fitness, confidence building and also a social network.
New Black Belts
During the year, Chief Instructor Ray Sweeney successfully passed his 4th Dan Black Belt, whilst both his wife Nikki and student Jose Sellitti Rangel achieved their 2nd Dan Black Belts. Elizabeth Sellitti Rangel gained her 1st Dan Black Belt, bringing the total number of Black Belts in the Club to 11. All Washinkai Karate Instructors are fully qualified, registered and licenced with the Spanish Karate Federation.
Medal Winners
The reputation of the Club was enhanced by winning over 40 medals in several competitions and further cemented when they won 9 Golds in the British Traditional Karate National Championships.
New Courses for Kids
December saw many students successfully pass their end of year gradings. Over 30 juniors, aged between 4 and 8 years old, took exams in the new Junior Syllabus which has been especially created to instil important principles such as respect, honesty, self-discipline, self-control, self-esteem, focus and goal-setting whilst still being great fun for the kids. This mixture of play-based scenarios and karate helps children improve hand/eye coordination and build the confidence they need to help them make good friends both inside and outside of karate. This Junior Syllabus is unique to Washinkai Karate and has proved highly popular with kids and parents too. Seniors up to the age of 82 years old also gained their new belts from Orange right through to Brown belt with many families training side by side.
To finish off a very successful year over fifty club members celebrated the end of 2008 at local restaurant Meson de Paco.
Washinkai Karate is the Municipal Karate School of Javea and Benitachell and the new season commences on 7th January in Colegio el Arenal, Laude Lady Elizabeth and Javea Municipal Sports Centre.
For more information contact Ray Sweeney on 637564416 or Sarah Lakin on 679055990 or visit http://www.washinkai.org |
