Dinner & Dance – English Shotokan Karate Association (ESKA)

Our annual ESKA Dinner & Dance was held on 24th November 2018 at the Needham House Hotel in Little Wymondley.

This was the 2nd year the event has been held back at the Needham House Hotel a central location which is great for most clubs to get to.

The evening was full of drinks, awards, food, dancing and most importantly fun!

2nd Year and Even Better

This was our 2nd year back at the Needhams House Hotel (Most of us still referring to it as the Blakemore)

Certificates & Awards

As is usual with our Dinner & Dance, we take this opportunity to present Dan grade certificates, Coaching qualifications and the 2 trophies; Sensei Peter Cox Karate Award and the Sensei Edward Docwra Spirit Cup. Have you checked out our Dan grade register…click here!

Coaching Qualifications

First up was Sensei Tony Stones (ESKA Coaching Officer) along with Sensei John Gillespie as Sensei Paul Grimsey was still on his Honeymoon so was unable to complete the full ESKA Coaching Team. Congratulations to the following individuals, who were awarded their ESKA Instructor certificate.

Matthew Sanderman – Hitchin
Tony Bygrave – Ickleford
Ray Smith – Stevenage
Neil Fisher – St. Albans
Graham Fountain – Knebworth
Matthew Steggles – St. Albans
Wendy Walters – Stevenage
Maddie Webb (Assistant Instructor) – Stevenage

Junior Shodan Certificates

Sensei Nursey and Sensei Gavin Paul next got up to present the junior Shodan Certificates along with the rest of the Dan grade certificates, of which there were a few!

Elliot Greenwood – Knebworth
Tabitha Greenwood – Knebworth
Adam Snowden – Knebworth
Najeeb Mohiuddin – Hitchin
Simren Sahota – St. Albans

Shodan Certificates

Matthew Steggles – St. Albans
Neil Fisher – St. Albans
Tony Bygrave – Ickleford
Nigel De Silva – Knebworth
Jenson Basa – Stevenage

Nidan Certificates

Ian Drew – St. Albans
Matthew Sanderman – Hitchin

Sandan Certificates

Sensei Warwick Gray – Hitchin

Godan Certificates

Sensei Jeff Rand – Cambridge

After all of the Dan grade certificates were awarded it was time to move onto the 2 awards. First up was the Sensei Peter Cox Karate Award, which is awarded to a karate-ka under the age of 21. Then we completed the awards with the Sensei Edward Docwra Spirit Cup.

Sensei Peter Cox – Karate Award

Georgina Harris – St. Albans

Sensei Edward Docwra – Spirit Cup

Sensei John Gillespie – Hatfield

Then it was down to partying the night away, whether it was dancing to the Macarena on the dance floor, or a cheeky Guinness at the bar, everyone was having fun! It all finished at the hotel bar with some ‘quiet’ drinks concluding at the early time of 5:30am. I’m sure there were some sore heads in the morning…