Kenbu Dojo collect medals from virtual Championship event

» IN late 2020, Kenbu Dojo’s instructor Sinead Byrne and 16 students had hoped to compete abroad in Europe at the Kenpo Karate World Championships.

But due to the pandemic it was cancelled and made a virtual tournament instead, so Sinead and her students, ranging from five years old to adult, recorded video entries to compete in Kata, Weapons Kata and Team Kata events.

It was worth the effort as they won seven bronze medals, 10 silvers and seven golds, winning one senior and six junior titles.

Instructor Sinead took a gold and two silvers with assistant instructor Eden Howells taking a gold and bronze.

Students: Lucy, one silver and two bronzes; Jay, one gold; Gabriel, two bronzes; Finley, one gold, one silver; Grace, one gold; James, one gold, two silvers; Nathan, one gold, one silver; Alyssa, one silver; Jasmine, one silver; Eddie (aged six), one gold, one bronze; Seren, one bronze; Lucas (aged six), one silver; Xander, one silver; Josh, one bronze; Rhys didn’t place, but put in an amazing effort in a very tough division.

Kenbu Dojo, which has been based in Gloucester since 2012, is a fully inclusive club to all abilities.

Sinead, previously an eight-times world champion, works hard to tailor the lessons to fit the children’s needs and they have something to suit everyone.

Sinead hopes to take her students to Holland in October this year to represent Great Britain and compete in person at the IKKA Kenpo European Championships 2021.