U21 & Junior European Championships, Turkey

Kaizen Central had five competitors representing England at these championships all of whom we are very proud, Jake Langley place 5th over all with a very commendable performance, Charlotte Westall and Heidi Jay on their European debut, Carla Burkitt winning a silver medal (one better than her bronze last year) and last but not least of the Kaizen Central newcomers Gold medal winner and two times European Champion Ryan Jay.

Jordan Thomas was selected for the Championships but had to withdraw after breaking a bone in his hand. Obviously he is still upset but all things for a reason as he is a great talent and his time will come.

Well done to all of the the competitors who as always represent kaizen Central with distinction.

Williie Thomas
Chief instructor

Squad Sessions

The following clips are segmants of a series of step by step drills from the unoppossed to opposed and programmed to decision making. There is no set time for individual mastery however months of repeated trials my enable one to competently include them as part of a fighters repertoire. Below are 4 of 10 coaching drills designed to develop evasion skill.

Step 2 - programmed evasion drills

Step 4 - programmed opposed evasion drills

Step 6 - Opposed evasion drills

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Step 8 - Two against one training drill

Coaching Seminar - Hertfordshire University

Each year I am invited to undertake a coaching session at Hertfordshire University by my old lecturer and coaching mentor David Turner - (Principle lecturer in sports science coaching). These seminars are different to thet norm' as I am there to for my coaching style/s to be analysed by first, second and third year students in scheduled breaks during and after each session. It's good to get feedback on the coaching techniques used and their effectiveness. What is always of particular importance is mapping coaching theory into the practical. Above I'm seen here coaching the larger of the groups with the traditional autocratic coaching style familiar to most karate-ka.

The vast majority of the participnants were first times but I still had to show the basic rudiments of coaching an activity session. Health & Safety requirements, verbal PARQ, dynamic warm up, progression and both programmed and external stimuli agility based drills. In addition good demonstrations, explanations, feedback and encouraged mixed in at appropriate times.

Willie Thomas' coaching mentor David Turner MSc,
Principle Lecturer Herts University

My special thanks goes out to my son Jordan, Carla Burkitt and Jovan for their kind assistance throughout. I hope they gained from the experience too.



Thanks again David