Members from Merthyr Shotokan travelled up to London for a course and Dan grading last weekend 11 year old Kai Jones, 10 year old Alice Jones passed their 1st dan Black belt and 14 year old Emily Kahl passed her 2nd dan under Chief Instructors Sensei Andy Sherry 9th dan and Sensei Frank Brennan 8thdan of the Karate Union of Great Britain.
Kai and Alice started training at the age of seven and have been competing for the past two years achieving medals in the Welsh Shotokan Championships and the North Wales Open.
Emily Kahl has recently been selected for the Welsh Squad for 2016 and is hoping to be picked for the European Championships in Athens, Greece next November.
In the senior class Kirsty James 4th dan gained a Bronze medal in the senior ladies team kumite in the European Championships in Crawley last month, Kirst has won numerous titles all over the country and has been a member of the Welsh squad for over 10 years.
Martyn Humphreys Club Chief Instructor commented, all four have worked extremely hard over the past year and it was a fantastic achievement especially for Kai and Alice as they are so young and are totally dedicated to developing the art of Shotokan Karate. We are all so proud them all.
The Merthyr Tydfil Shotokan Karate Academy train at Dowlais Community Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact www.merthyrshotokankarate.com
