GKR Karate

07/10/2026

We hit an amazing milestone at Monday’s class with total numbers reaching 20 for the first time since the dojo moved across to Region 22. My thanks to every one of you: I am so grateful that you choose to train with me and so proud of the progress you are all making. 👏👏
Class was again aimed primarily at the lower grades with yet more students joining us for their first class. Welcome to Isaac M and Tim to the start of your exciting journey. Both received a certificate to mark the occssion.
After an energetic warm up of shuttle runs in teams, we focused on basic kihon strikes and blocks, first from Heiko Dachi and then with partners wielding noodles. Great focus and effort all round.
For the last 20 minutes we ran through katas from Taigyoku Shodan up to Seiunchin with an impressive display from the higher grades.
At the finish, everyone congratulated Emma, who graded to 6th Kyu Green belt at last Sunday’s grading session (but wore her Purple belt just to confuse us all!). Emma was also awarded Student of the Month for September for her tenacity in preparing for her grading, knowing she will be shortly be undergoing surgery on her knees.
Finally, Student of the Week went to Aksel who has put lots of effort into his training since he joined us only a couple of weeks ago.
Thank you all for coming and I hope to see you again next time.
Regards
Sensei David 🥋

30/09/2026

For the third consecutive week, numbers for Monday’s class were boosted by a new arrival. This week it was Brandon who joined the GKR family and was given the usual warm welcome.
After the warm up, everyone performed kihon based on rank, with white and yellow belts stationary in heiko dachi, and the rest on the move. It was great to see all the lower grades trying really hard with some isuccess even among our newest recruits. My thanks to Daisy for being out front demonstrating each technique as it should be performed. And the higher grades all showed excellent focus and good strength.
The we moved on to 1st and 2nd kata with Noah leading the lower grades. Again, great effort all round.
We finished off with an elimination game which I call ‘touch the wall’ with David sealing the victory 👏.
At the close, Brandon was awarded a certificate for an awesome first class, completed with a big smile 🙂. Eloise was graded to 5th Kyu-Ho. And last but not least, David was awarded Student of the Week. Well done to all of you. Fully deserved 👏👏👏.
Thank you for coming and I hope to see you again next time, when we shall be into October and the GKR Purple Belt charity campaign and, of course, Student of Month.
Good luck to all going to grading on Sunday.
Best wishes
Sensei David 🥋

22/09/2026

Really good attendance for a school night class last night. It was great to welcome back Cora, Austin and Caroline for their second class, and all still with big smiles! Fantastic also to extend a warm welcome into the GKR family and to Uttoxeter Heath dojo to Aksel for his very first class.
We got underway with a regulation warm up before moving straight into kihon basics, strikes, blocks and stances. Great effort all round and warm work, especially for the higher grades doing doubles!
Then there was even more exertion as we tested our reflexes with a few rounds of ‘punch the mitt’, working with partners. A surprising number of ten out of ten scores - must make it more challenging next time… 🤔.
We finished with a couple of rounds of ‘Cross the Dojo’, Noah B choosing Strike, Block or Kick to establish who got sent back to the start 👉! Winners for each round were Cal and then Austin! Well done to you both!
After bowing out, Aksel was awarded a certificate for an amazing first class. Very well done Aksel: you listened very well and will pick things up really quickly I think.
Student of the Week was awarded to Austin for following on with the higher grades most impressively. Thanks to Noah for acting as Aksel’s ‘buddy’ for his first class.
Thank you all for coming and I look forward to seeing you again next time.
Check online for details of our next Regional tournament on 10 October and also our Purple Belt charity campaign throughout October.
Best wishes
Sensei David

16/09/2026

This Monday’s class comprised an induction session for our two new students, Caroline and her son Austin, and our returning student Cora. All three did an amazing job of following on and keeping up, earning a well deserved certificate. Massive thanks to all the coloured belts for their excellent partner work, acting as the lower grades’ ‘mirrors’ and demonstrating the application of techniques using noodles in place of punches. 👍
After kihon basics, we ran through 1st and 2nd kata, finishing on a game of ‘Steal the Noodle’ which ended in a draw between Isaac and David. Great fun.
Student of the Week was awarded to Emma who demonstrates real commitment to her training and always with a smile 🙂.
Thank you all for coming and I hope to see you again next time.
Regards
Sensei David 🥋

08/09/2026

Great class last night.
We began by congratulating both Adam for levelling up to 4th Kyu Red belt at grading on Sunday and Charlie for achieving 2nd Kyu (a bit of black tape on his brown belt). Well done to you both: I am so proud of you for your hard work and commitment 👏👏.
After the warm up, it was back to basics with kihon from Heiko Datchi, the white and yellow belts doing one technique to each count, orange and green belts doing doubles, and 4th Kyu and above triples 🥵. Really pleasing that everyone took note of the feedback on offer and made an effort to implement changes.
We moved on to kata paying particular attention to the grade katas of those students who are, or soon will be, eligible to be considered for grading to their next belt. More of this in the coming weeks - I am keen to get students up to the required standard asap.
We finished with an elimination running game won by Daisy with impressive speed.
Daisy was also awarded Student of the Week for all round effort. Finally, Tabitha picked up the Student of the Month trophy for August as reward for her excellent commitment to her karate, tackling everything thrown at her without complaint and always with a massive smile on her face 😊.
Don’t forget the next Central Zone tournament is scheduled for 10 October and there will be a Judging and Refereeing seminar on 27 September.
Thank you all for coming and I hope to see you again next time.
Regards
Sensei David 🥋

01/09/2026

Good turnout for last night’s class.
The warm up was extended to incorporate a flavour of the breathing technique promoted by Shihan Bob at Black Belt Camp at the weekend, which both Leila and myself attended.
We moved on to extracts from the Kyu grades’ grading format ahead of the upcoming grading event. We rounded off class with katas from 1st to Seiunchin.
Student of the week was awarded to Ruby who is definitely ‘growing into’ her brown belt very nicely.
Good luck to Charlie and Adam at grading. Thank you all for turning out on a Bank Holiday and I hope to see you again in the dojo soon.
Regards
Sensei David 🥋

24/08/2026

Yvonne started karate with her son to give him the confidence she missed as a child. 21 years later and in the midst of cancer treatment, the thought of returning to karate keeps her on track.
Read Yvonne’s GKR Story here: https://www.gkrkarate.com/articles/gkr-stories-yvonne-cooke/

05/08/2026

Smaller than usual class again this Monday due to holiday absences etc.
We began by congratulating Noah R on achieving his 8th Kyu Yellow belt at Sunday’s grading. Well done Noah. You have made a very good start to your karate journey 👏. Keep it up.
The kihon section of class this week consisted of extracts from the grading format from orange to green belt as a first look at several students who now have a red tick against their name and so are eligible to be considered to go to grading. More on this in the next couple of weeks.
Then we moved on to partner work testing speed of reactions using a tennis ball 🎾. A hint of cheating here and there perhaps but everyone seemed to get better as we progressed.
To finish we put focus and speed of reactions to the test again in an elimination shuttle run race with Joe coming out on top.
Student of the Week was Joe for good focus and effort. Student of the Month for similar reasons was awarded to George. Well done George - now keep it up! 👏. Apologies again for my failure to produce the relevant certificates - I will have these for you next week 🤞.
Thank you for coming and i hope to see you next time.
Best regards
Sensei David 🥋

04/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 World Cup an unforgettable tournament. We can't wait to see you at the next one!

Just a reminder:
📸 Photos from the event are now available to purchase from our official event photographers Quick Pics: https://www.quickpics.co.uk/site/gkrwc2026

🏆 Head to our website to view the full tournament results: https://www.gkrkarate.com/tournaments/2026-world-cup/

03/08/2026

Another very warm session on Saturday at the Leisure Centre standing in for Sensei Richard.
After the bow in and warm up we moved onto kihon basics from Heiko Datchi. We followed this with partner work using strike shields focusing on kicks.
We finished with an elimination shuttle run with James coming out the winner with his speed, focus and fast reaction time. Well done James 👏.
I overlooked to award Student of the Week but, for the record, for amazing kicks, Eloise took the honours. Very well done 👏. A big thank you also to her mum Anit for her help when one student felt unwell during class. Greatly appreciated 🙏.
Then yesterday was grading day! Huge congratulations to the following Uttoxeter students on levelling up to their next rank:
Noah R - 8th Kyu Yellow;
Bradley - 7th Kyu Orange;
Ollie - 3rd Kyu Brown;
James - 2nd Kyu First black tip.
Classes should be back to normal this week and, of course, it’s Student of the Month time. So if last month’s winners could please return the trophies, they can be re-awarded.
I look forward to seeing some of you at the Community Centre tonight at 6:00.
Best regards
Sensei David 🥋

30/07/2026

What an incredible weekend!
The very best of GKR Karate competitors came together in Telford UK to showcase their skill, determination and spirit at the 2026 GKR Karate World Cup.

Every student who stepped onto the mat represented themselves, their dojo and GKR Karate with pride. Their sportsmanship and outstanding performances made their families, friends and Sensei incredibly proud. A huge congratulations to every competitor, official, volunteer and supporter who helped make this event such a memorable success.
Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 World Cup an unforgettable tournament. We can't wait to see you at the next one!

📸 Photos from the event are now available to purchase from our official event photographers Quick Pics: https://www.quickpics.co.uk/site/gkrwc2026

🏆 Head to our website to view the full tournament results: https://www.gkrkarate.com/tournaments/2026-world-cup/

29/07/2026

Smaller class size this Monday but plenty of effort on display.
After the warm up, we went through a brief set of kihon drills using close range techniques. It was not possible to do kumite as planned due to the mix of students, so instead we did some pad work in partners, building on our kihon exercises.
We then spent some time working our way down the kata list looking to see what tweaks are needed to get students grading-ready as several are now eligible to be considered for grading.
Student of the Week for excellent focus and solid effort was George. Well done George 👏
Remember, grading takes place this Sunday and all students are welcome to come along to train and get used to the experience even if they are not being tested for their next belt.
I would like to fit in some kumite when possible so always bring sparring kit if you have it.
See you Sunday or next time.
Regards
Sensei David 🥋

26/07/2026

🏆 Championship Sunday is here!

The final day of the 2026 GKR Karate World Cup is about to get underway, with our World Champions set to be crowned.

🕘 Need the timetable or event information?
Head to GKRWorldCup.com for the latest schedule, venue information and other event FAQs.

🎥 Livestreams

* Roaming livestream will be available commencing at 10:30am, bringing you action from around the venue.

* Fixed ring livestreams available this afternoon, featuring the Female and Male Opens finals.

Watch all livestreams when operating will be available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com//streams

Good luck to all competitors - we can't wait to see an incredible final day of competition! 🥋🏅

25/07/2026

🏆 The 2026 GKR Karate World Cup is officially underway in Telford, UK!

Over 1,000 competitors from around the world are coming together across three action packed days to compete, connect and celebrate the spirit of karate.

📅 For live schedules, event information and answers to frequently asked questions, head to GKRWorldCup.com.

📸 Don’t forget to share your favourite moments using for the chance to have your photos featured in our official event album!

24/07/2026

We are excited to announce that we will be streaming the 2026 GKR Karate World Cup LIVE and FREE on our YouTube channel!

This allows our global community to join in and witness the premiere event on the GKR Karate International calendar.

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OFFICIAL STREAMING DETAILS

There will be 3 streams to choose from over the weekend – 2 streams covering the open female and male divisions, and a 3rd stream capturing action from around the arena.

WHERE?
Via our official YouTube channel. Subscribe to our channel via the link below to be notified when streams go live.

COST?
Absolutely FREE!

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

Protect Yourself from Fake Accounts and Streams

While we celebrate this exciting event, we want to ensure your safety and security online. Recently, we have identified numerous fake accounts, groups, and profiles on Facebook that are attempting to impersonate GKR Karate and promote fraudulent streams, or sell fake spectator tickets.

Key Points to Remember:

No Friend Requests from GKR:
GKR Karate will never send friend requests on Facebook. If you receive a request from an account claiming to be us, please block/report it immediately & inform any fellow GKR members you see interacting with these profiles for their safety.

Official Streams:
The only legitimate streams of the World Cup will via our YouTube channel. Any promotion asking for payment to view the streams is fraudulent.

Stay Informed:
Head to our official World Cup website https://gkrworldcup.com/ - for all event information including a live timetable, competitor information and other FAQ’s

We look forward to making this event accessible to everyone. If you can’t be at the event, we look forward to seeing you online!

https://www.youtube.com/live/DQZ-Bqz4Rqs?si=EDPfU8pI8piIAAQr

Roaming action from the 2026 World Cup. This stream will cover act...

22/07/2026

Distinct end of term feel about this Monday’s class in warm conditions. There was enthusiasm and lots of energy for the circuits that took the place of a conventional warm up. However, there were a number of floppy arms and legs on show throughout the kihon section of class and some half-hearted stances. This does not apply to everyone but I ask you to think about whether you really gave your best effort. As I have said before, I do not expect perfect karate, but I do expect focus and effort. I hope we can move on next week.
We finished this week with a couple of rounds of Pick a Stance which seemed to attract greater interest.
Thank you for coming - I do appreciate your attendance.
Sensei David 🥋

22/07/2026

We often see many ‘different’ ways of bowing during Karate.
Are you guilty of any of these?...

14/07/2026

Sensei David Mogford was recently featured on WIN News Canberra. Watch below as he shares the importance of self-defence education for young girls and how it helps build confidence, awareness and practical skills.

09/07/2026

In mid-June, several of our Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian senior group volunteered to complete a Homes set-up with our charity partner, RizeUp Australia.

RizeUp provides all the practical items needed for victim-survivors of family and domestic violence to make a fresh start, including furniture and other household items that help transform empty houses into homes.

When each of our GKR teams arrived at their location, they were greeted by a RizeUp driver, an empty house and a truck filled with flatpacks and homewares. The teams set about unloading the truck, assembling the flatpacks, making beds, filling pantries and carefully decorating the space. This included fitting out children’s bedrooms and providing them with the materials needed to start at a new school.

After 4+ hours of work at each location, the transformation from house to home left a lasting memory for all involved. With the knowledge that a family would be entering their newly furnished home in the coming days, each team member took comfort in knowing that they had helped create a new beginning for someone in need.

We are incredibly grateful to RizeUp for the work they do and for the opportunity to be involved in their Homes program. We also appreciate the amazing support shown by all of our students and instructors who participate in the Stop Domestic & Family Violence Purple Belt Campaign. Your involvement means a lot, not only to RizeUp and the families they help, but also to GKR Karate as a whole.

If you would like to volunteer with RizeUp to help setting up Homes, information can be found here https://www.rizeup.com.au/volunteer

05/07/2026

WORLD CUP ENTRIES CLOSE TODAY!
This is your opportunity to become a World Champion – Don’t miss out!

To enter visit: www.gkrworldcup.com