As we step into October, we're embracing one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year! With gradings, competitions, new class trials, and a celebration or two on the horizon, there's something for everyone in the club to look forward to. Read on to catch up on all the latest updates, and mark your calendars so you don’t miss a thing.

Black Belt Grading Success

A huge congratulations to both Meg and Evie, who recently passed their Black Belt Grading! After putting in extensive preparation and working tirelessly, they rose to the occasion and successfully completed this challenging milestone. We are incredibly proud of their achievement—well done, Meg and Evie!

Guest Instructors

Earlier this week, we had the honour of hosting two esteemed guest instructors, Mr. and Mrs. Tombling, in our Monday class. Their visit provided valuable insight and inspiration to all who attended, and we hope you enjoyed learning from these incredible instructors as much as we did!

Colour Belt Grading (Sunday, November 10th)

The Colour Belt Grading is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to support many of you as you take on this exciting challenge. The pre-grading session will be held during the first hour of our Monday class on November 4th at St. Luke’s (6:00–7:00 pm.). Please note, there will be no training in the second hour.

The grading itself will take place at Cranbrook Education Campus (EX5 7EE), with students expected to arrive by 9:30 am. to begin at 10:00 am. Blue tags and above must remember to bring their sparring gear.

British Championships (Sunday, November 24th) 

This year’s British Championships will be held in Worcester, marking the final competition of the year. We encourage as many of you as possible to sign up and represent our club! The competition pack is available [here], and you can complete your entry using the online form [click here]. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, November 12th—don’t miss out!

Senior Grade Training

We’re excited to announce a trial run of a senior grade training class on Monday, November 25th, during the second hour (7:00–8:00 pm). Open to 1st Kups and above, this class will provide focused training for senior students. If the trial goes well, we hope to hold these sessions regularly on the last Monday of each month.

Club Kit Order

We’re preparing to place another order for our new club kit, so if you’d like to order a t-shirt or club top, please let Miss Searle know. Look out for further details from her soon, and don’t miss this chance to get your kit!

Christmas Party (Friday, December 20th)

Mark your calendars for the last Friday before Christmas—it’s time to celebrate! Our annual end-of-year Christmas party will be held at the British Legion Club in Alphington. Join us for a fantastic evening of fun and festivities as we wrap up another wonderful year together. Alongside food and entertainment, we’ll also present the club awards for the year. Keep an eye out for the links to vote for your Students of the Year!