Hastings & Bexhill BKK

Sam Woods earned his second call up for the England Team to fly abroad to Kriens in Switzerland. He competed in the Junior Clicker event and fought his way through 5 fights to take home 2nd place! From all accounts, Sam fought tremendously to get through a large field of competitors, one of the biggest categories!

Sam earned his place in the England Team late last year when he represented England for the first time in the annual Severn Challenge which involves four teams from England, Ireland, Wales and Switzerland. Sam also placed 2nd in the Boys Individual Clicker division in the event. Making a good name for himself with these results, Sam has firmly established himself as a regular member for the England Team. Welldone!

Sam 2nd place.

In this years annual battle between England and Wales our club had 3 members representing us and all 3 won their respective fights, they all did us proud! Sempai Lucy Wilson was selected for the Women's Clicker team, Sami Mehio (1st Kyu) for the Junior Clicker team and Sarah Clark (2nd Kyu) for the Knockdown team.

Sami was first to fight. In his last outing for the England Team in the Severn Challenge last year, Sami became champion in the Boys Individual Clicker division. Determined and confident as always his style, put on a great display with fast and accurate scoring to win his fight helping the England Junior team win. Sempai Lucy was up next in the England Women's team, she was also in the team at last years Wales v England. Superb head shots from Lucy gained her three ippons from mawashi geri jodans and a clear win over her opponent, but unfortunately overall the team lost. Sarah was last to represent the club in the climax of the tournament...the knockdown event! Sarah fought tremendously and won with 2 wazari's giving her the ippon to win the fight over 2 rounds. She stopped her opponent twice with strong punching and spot on hiza geri's and showed great strength overwhelming her opponent. Fantastic fight for her first senior debut! This adds to her 2nd place in the Belgium Cadet Open last year.

Overall England claimed victory on the day winning the Junior Team Clicker, Men's Team Clicker and Knockdown. Wales won the Women's Team Clicker and Cadets Team Clicker. 3-2 England!

Men's and Women's Clicker Teams, Lucy bottom row centre left.

Junior and Cadet Clicker Teams, Sami top row first right

Hastings & Bexhill took a team of 6 fighters to this years Regional Knockdown Tournament. Murray Truelove mens novice lightweight, Peter Evans mens novice middleweight, Sarah Clark womens novice heavyweight, Senpai Lucy Wilson womens open lightweight, Lorraine Garniss womens open heavyweight and Senpai Derek Lowers mens open heavyweight.

Senpai Derek was first out to represent the club looking strong he dominated his fight and wowed the crowd with a jodan mawashi geri to defeat his opponent in the 2nd round of his first fight. He advanced to the quarter finals and came up against a very experienced Irish team fighter and forced the fight to the 3rd round before losing to decision. Lorraine Garniss, competing in her first open, came up against a very experienced Britsh team fighter from Tonbridge (a finalist from the world tournament no less!) Lorraine gave her best performance to date, forcing her fight to a 3rd round before losing on decison. Amazing fight! Very well fought! She earned herself 3rd place.

Sarah Clark earned herself a walk over victory in her semi final when her opponent resigned the fight. Sarah was very strong and overwhelmed the Welsh fighter with sheer power. She met another Welsh fighter in final and was awarded the fight and crowned champion after 2nd round decision. Great first tournament for her proving she was the strongest fighter in her category by far!  Murray Truelove stepped out onto the mat into the final for his first knockdown competition against a fighter from East Yorkshire. He gave an excellent account of himself and proved very determined. The fight went onto the 4th round and he was awarded the decision and won a well earned 1st place!

Peter Evans came up against another strong Irish opponent and won convincingly on a 2nd round decision. Composed and determined fight for Peter advancing him to the final where he met a fighter from Milton Keynes. Unfortuantely after a 3rd round he lost the decision. He earned himself a very hard, well deserved 2nd place!. Last to fight from the club was Senpai Lucy in her first open. She went straight in the final against another very experienced British team fighter from Dunmow who was also last years champion. Strongest performance from Lucy to date she forced her opponent to the 4th round. She remained composed and in control throughout and won by unanimous decision crowning her Regional Champion!

Excellent performances from all six fighters they all did us proud!

Lorraine Garniss - Regional Womens Heavyweight 3rd place

Peter Evans - Mens Novice Middleweight 2nd place

Sarah Clark - Womens Novice Heavyweight Champion

Murray Truelove - Mens Novice Lightweight Champion

Senpai Lucy Wilson - Regional Womens Lightweight Champion

Another day at Reading for the National Clicker tournament. Sempai Peter competed in the Men's High Grade Category, and Dan and Martin tasted their 1st tournament experience in the Men's Low Grade Category! For the Junior's we had Todd, Tobias and Oliver competing in the Junior Boys Low Grade Category, also their 1st competition at individual level. Sami competed in the Junior Boy's High Grade Category. The boys categories were also divided by height.

Sami, Todd and Oliver all brought home some well earned trophies well done! Sami  3rd, Todd Champion, Oliver 3rd.

Sami 3rd Place, adding to his Severn Challenge England Team 1st Place in October.

Todd 1st Place, Oliver 3rd Place.

Great day for the boys! Todd adding to his National Team Clicker 3rd Place and National Kata 3rd, Oliver adding to his National Kata 3rd. Very promising!

Sempai Lucy represented England for the first time in knockdown abroad this weekend at the International tournament in Zevenbergen. The competition was extremely tough and filled with champions in Lucy's category. 1st fight Lucy faced the reigning British Open Champion and Dutch Open Champion, Canan Yorulmaz, who also happens to be a professional fighter! Aware of her opponents strong punching ability and relentless style, unfortunately Lucy was unable to withstand her attacks for long, and after the 1st minute Canan was awarded Ippon for her combination of punches.

Lucy was fortunate enough to continue in the tournament due to draw errors. 2nd fight, semi finals, Lucy faced a Polish Champion. This fight was very even and Lucy worked far better than the 1st, kept composed and answered her attacks well. Unfortunately the Pole scored a wazari for a mae geri jodan and Lucy was unable to make up the point. 3rd fight, for 3rd & 4th place, Lucy went up against a more experienced fighter from Belgium. This fight went the full 3 rounds with both fighters giving it their all and there was nothing in it at the end. Lucy lost the decision in the ensho-san, but it was her best fight to date and she was commended by the Belgian team for her strong techniques, determination and spirit!