MARTIAL ARTS

Kyokushinkai Karate

THE SCOTTISH Open Knockdown tournament which is held in Glasgow each year and organised by Iain Rodger is fast approaching. This year’s event is on February 24 and club members are involved in helping the day go smoothly.

There are currently fighters entered from seven different countries and from 14 different organisations.

Also on the day there will be certificate and embroidered belt presentations to IKKU members who successfully passed their dan grades towards the end of last year, six from England and four from Scotland.

Darryl McLaughlin from the Oban dojo is in training for the Kyokushin Cup Knockdown Tournament in April and will be representing IKKU Scotland at the event, also representing the union will be Jodie Robertson from the Lochgilphead dojo, both are entered in the Cadet section which is for 16- and 17- year-olds.

Kyokushinkai Karate was the brainchild of Sosai Mas Oyama, who, after studying Judo and other styles of karate to very high levels, decided to formulate his own style which incorporates several styles of fighting including knockdown, which is a bare-knuckle full contact style of tournament fighting. Anyone training in this style of karate will gain strength and confidence with practise.

A non-contact junior tournament is currently being planned for the Argyll area and will probably be held during May in Lochgilphead.

Anyone interested in learning Kyokushinkai Karate, can contact Iain Rodger on: 07584 166542 or iain@ikku.co.uk

Kickboxing

TRAINING continues as usual: Wednesdays juniors 4.30pm and seniors 6pm, Fridays 4.30pm and seniors 6pm, and Sunday junior session at 11am.

Anyone who is thinking of learning this sport should contact Wullie Rodger on: shihanwill@gmail.com or 07588 513618

Shukokai Karate

TRAINING is in full flow with all the clubs taking on beginners at this time, anyone looking for more details should contact Kenny Gray on: kenni.gray@btinternet.com

BJJ

OBAN BJJ had its yearly interclub meet with other MNBJJ (Marcos Nardini Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) affiliated clubs on Saturday February 10.

This is a day where all teams come together to train and swap ideas and methods of training. Club-wise the team has grown since the start of the year with the Friday beginners’ sessions proving popular for all ages and body types.

The club are sending a team to compete in Motherwell at the end of the month and hope to continue their successful run in these ever busier and harder tournaments.

Anyone looking for more information about BJJ and MMA classes should contact club coach Iain (Coogie) Potter on coogiepots@ gmail.com