As we head into the heart of summer, it's a great moment to reflect on what has been another outstanding month for the club. July brought with it a flurry of activity—grading preparations, competition success, and plenty of hard work from students and instructors alike. With all that accomplished, we’re now entering a well-deserved quieter period, offering a chance to rest, recharge, and look ahead to what's next.

World Champion!

Earlier this month, Laila travelled to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the TI World Championships—and returned with incredible results! We’re thrilled to share that she won GOLD in Cadet Girls Individual Patterns and BRONZE in Individual Sparring.

Laila’s achievement is the result of months of focused training and dedication. Her performance on the international stage is something she—and all of us—can be incredibly proud of. Congratulations, Laila!

We hope her success serves as inspiration to others in the club who may be considering taking part in national or international competitions in the future. With hard work and perseverance, these kinds of goals are well within reach.

Colour Belt Grading Success!

This month also saw another successful colour belt grading. Despite a shorter preparation window than usual, 14 of our students stepped up and demonstrated their skills—and all 14 passed! A huge well done to everyone who took part.

Promotions:

9th Kup: Faryn, Jasper, Lauren, Tristan
7th Kup: Matilda, Amelie, Thomas, Aga, Peter, Adam
6th Kup: Lucy, Henry
5th Kup: Luna
4th Kup: Sarah

Special congratulations to our A-pass recipients: Faryn, Jasper, Aga, Peter, and Lucy.

And an extra round of applause to Lucy, who was awarded the Grading Award—fantastic work!

Summer Holidays

With schools now out for summer, many of you will be taking time to relax and enjoy a break. We’ll be running a reduced timetable throughout August, so please check the updated calendar to stay informed.

For those who want to maintain their training over the holidays, don’t worry—there are still plenty of sessions running each week.

A number of you have asked about a beach training session—and yes, we’d love to do one! Due to the famously unpredictable British weather, we’ll make this decision on the day. Keep an eye on the group chat for last-minute updates if the sun makes an appearance and we decide to head to Exmouth.

Teaching Interest Survey

Earlier this week, we sent out an email to all black stripes and above regarding their interest in supporting the teaching and development of classes moving forward. If you haven't already, please take a moment to read through the email and complete the short form linked inside. Whether you're already involved in teaching or considering getting started, we'd love to hear from you. Your response will help us understand how best to support your goals and the wider club. 

Upcoming Events

Summer BBQ

Our much-loved summer BBQ is back! On Saturday 30th of August from 3pm onwards, join us for an afternoon of great food, fun activities, and of course, our traditional game of rounders. It’s always a brilliant day out for the whole club, and we’d love to see as many of you there as possible.

Please RSVP as soon as you can using the form below:
BBQ RSVP Form

Dates for the Diary – Second Half of 2025

General Events:

• Black Belt Pre-Grading – Sunday, 21st September

• Southern Championships – Saturday, 4th October

• Colour Belt Grading – Sunday, 2nd November

• British Championships – Sunday, 30th November

Black Belts:

• Black Belt Training – Sunday, 5th October & Sunday, 18th October

• Black Belt Grading – 24th–26th October

• Umpires & Referees Course – Saturday, 8th November

Looking Ahead

The summer break offers the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset. Whether you're heading off on holiday or just enjoying a slower pace for a few weeks, we hope you get the rest you’ve earned.

When we return, the final few months of the year will be packed with exciting events—from gradings to championships—so take this opportunity to review your progress so far and start thinking about your goals for the remainder of 2025. Whether that means aiming for your next belt, stepping into the ring at a competition, or simply continuing to grow in confidence and skill—we’ll be right there with you.

Enjoy the summer!