Orrell Shotokan Karate Club

Having had many years experience both in competitive karate and in coaching, Richard started Orrell Shotokan Karate Club to offer high quality karate instruction at an affordable price, to enable families to train together.

The club is growing steadily, as more students (and their parents!) discover the benefits that karate can bring.

Training in karate helps you to get fit and keeps you active, and it also builds self-confidence and self-esteem. It helps you to develop respect for everyone through the discipline of training, and the discipline in this club is strict but fair.

 Results

Last August Bank Holiday weekend, the JSKA World Karate Championships took place at the Velodrome in Manchester.

Orrell Shotokan Karate Club, based at Abraham Guest Specialist Sports College had some excellent results at the 4^th JSKA World Karate Championships on 23^rd & 24^th August 2008.

The competition took place at the Velodrome in Manchester and there were 600 competitors from a variety of countries, including the USA, Australia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Serbia and Azerbajan to name but a few.

Sensei Richard Pavšic, 41, chief instructor of the club, which has been based in Orrell since April 2000, took part in the competition in the 35 – 44 yrs Veterans category, and won 2 bronze medals in the Team Kata and Team Kumite (Fights), with Paul James (Wales) and Steve Palmer (Stockport) as his team-mates.  But his best achievement was 4^th place in the Individual Fights – although no medal was won, from a group of 48, Richard defeated an Italian, a Spaniard, A Pole and a German to get through to the semi-final, where he was narrowly beaten by another GB competitor.

Lewis Ward, 8, won the Gold Medal in 8-9yrs Sanbon Kumite, with Matt Ascroft taking the Silver and Owen Perkins the Bronze in the same event.  

Owen Perkins also won the Silver Medal in the Boys 8-9yrs Kata Event.

April Ascroft, 10, took a very creditable 4^th place in her only event – the 10-11yrs Individual Girls Kata, beating a number of higher graded competitors to earn her place in the semi-final. Thomas Ward, also 10, competed in three events and placed 4^th in one of them.  All the boys competed in three different events.

Richard is very proud of the children’s achievements – “The way they performed at such a big event was tremendous – this was the biggest competition they have ever been to but they went out there and did exactly what they have been taught, showing discipline & respect and giving 100% and they got the results they deserved. I could not be more delighted”

All the children attend Highfield St Matthew’s C E Primary School.

Below, Sensei Richard with Sensei George Best

Sensei Richard attended a Course with Sensei Abe in Preston.

Sensei Abe is one of the Japanese Masters and it was a great honour for Sensei Richard to meet Sensei Abe.

Richard and Danny  went to New York on 17th July to compete for Great Britain in the WTKO/JSKA World Championships, along with their families and other team members. The competition took place at Manhattan College in New York and there were competitiors from many countries, including the UK, USA, Serbia, Switzerland, South Africa and Mexico to name but a few. You can see the flags in the picture below.

Richard took 6th place in his kumite event, almost defeating the 6 times world champion Rodriguez from Mexico; Richard showed excellent spirit and technique but was pipped at the post and he just missed getting through to the kata finals - the competition in the senior groups was fierce for final places.

Danny took 3 gold medals, in the Team Kata, Team WTKF Rules kumite and IKF Rules kumite, with team-mates Ferrari & Waddah.  He gave an excellent performance with great spirit and determination and Sensei Richard was very proud of him.