Martial arts
Kyokushinkai Karate
Club coach and chief instructor for Scotland Iain Rodger is in the process of organising a tournament for Argyll children from all the karate and kickboxing clubs to take part in. This will be held at the Mid Argyll Sports Centre in Lochgilphead on November 3. All clubs are invited to send their junior members along to take part in this. These annual tournaments have been taking place, organised by Iain, since 2003.
The club is actively seeking new members until the end of September after which time the next intake will be January 2019.
If anyone thinks this style of karate is for them please contact Iain Rodger (6th dan) for a friendly chat on: 07584 166542 or iain@ikku.co.uk, alternatively send a message to Caledonia Kyokushin on Facebook.
Kickboxing
Beginners are always welcome at Senshi Do Kick Boxing. Junior sessions, aged 5-14, are on Wednesday at 4.30pm to 6pm and senior sessions from 6pm to 7.30pm for ages 14 and over. The club is now preparing for the junior competition in Lochgilphead on November 3.
Find the club on Facebook under Senshi Do Kickboxing or email shihanwill@gmail.com for more details. The first session is free so there’s nothing to lose by trying it out.
Shukokai Karate
All the clubs are taking on new students until the end of September, and members are now starting to prepare for the competition in Lochgilphead on November 3.
Anyone looking for more details on these clubs should contact Kenny Gray (5th dan) on: kenni.gray@btinternet.com or 07884 183905.
BJJ
Oban MMA has now been in its new academy location for a year. To celebrate this milestone the club invited mixed martial arts coach James Doolan to teach at a seminar. James has coached multiple pro champions around the world and has fighters now at the pinnacle of the sport in the UFC. James took an MMA 101 seminar which looked at the basics of striking for MMA, the entry and exit from striking and setting up a take-down. The detail coming from his experience was exceptional and the 20 students in attendance came away with lots to drill and a better understanding of setting up striking.
This seminar confirms the club going back into its MMA roots and classes will reflect this with Tuesdays and Thursdays concentrating on striking and wrestling and the other weekday classes still very much Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
If anyone would like to try out BJJ or MMA, Oban BJJ can be found on Facebook or email @ coogiepots@gmail.com
Wado Kai Karate
The Park Primary School class (part of Kaishin Wado Kai) is now back open after the summer break. If anyone has a child aged seven-10 years and wants to know more about this class please contact Mike on 07709 229284 or email; m.faulkner6@btinternet.com
Kaishin Wado Kai at Dunbeg School is on a Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. All ages are welcome at the club training sessions. Mike Faulkner said: ‘We are a small and friendly club with four Black Belt trainers available to help students at any time.’ For more details contact Sensei Chris Bruce (7th Dan) at crb999@ btinternet.com
Knights Of The Tower – Medieval Combat Oban
Knights of the Tower is still looking to boost its members. Men and women are welcome to turn up and try out the sport of medieval combat. The club trains on Tuesday nights from 7pm until 9.30pm above Stoddart’s of Oban, in the old Crofters. Go down to have a look at what the group does and have a chat with members and maybe even try it out.