Harrogate karate club wins 12 medals at English championships

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A Harrogate karate club has triumphed at the English Karate Federation National Championships, bringing back a total of 12 medals.

Harrogate Shotokan Karate Club, based at Harrogate High School, competed in the tournament at Ponds Forge in Sheffield over two days, from April 12-13.

Only the country’s elite are invited to compete in the prestigious tournament, which is the biggest event on the domestic English calendar. A total of 584 competitors from 58 karate associations entered the event to compete for 88 different titles.

Competitors are divided into various categories based on age, gender and belt rank.

Events are split into four categories: kata (pre-arranged forms performed individually); kumite (sparring matches between competitors); team events (team kata and team kumite competitions); and special events (power breaking and special technique demonstrations).

The first day consisted of the cadet and junior competitors, followed by the seniors on day two.

Dating back to the early 20th century, Shotokan is one of the most popular forms of karate and focuses on strikes, blocks and kicks.

It is made up of three disciplines: kihon (basic and fundamental movements), kata (forms and pre-arranged movement training), and kumite (sparring).

Harrogate Shotokan Club represented JKS England, which is the country's official representative of the Japan Karate Shotokan Federation.

With an impressive input of five gold and seven bronze medals from 14 competitors, Harrogate Shotokan Club helped JKS England to second place in the overall medal table.

Harrogate chief instructor Sensei Matt Price, who is a 6th Dan black belt, has led the JKS England squad for 13 years, and his training paid off, as the men’s senior kumite team achieved their first ever win at this event.

Sensei Price was also awarded the 2025 'Fair Play' award, for upholding the true spirit of karate in England.

Results

The full list of results:

• Gold: Remi Jurgilaitis and Isaac Mitchell - Men's Team Kumite
• Gold: Anya Holmes-Ellerker - U21 -55kg Kumite
• Gold: Kate Hambleton - U21 +68kg Kumite
• Gold: Eilidh Owens, Anya Holmes-Ellerker, and Isobel McGowan - Senior Female Team Kata
• Gold: Zarana Gilthorpe, Eilidh Owens, and Isobel McGowan - Cadet and Junior Team Kata
• Bronze: Isobel McGowan - Female Junior Kata
• Bronze: Emily Harrison - 12-13 years Female Kumite
• Bronze: Zarana Gilthorpe - Female Cadet -47kg Kumite
• Bronze: Isobel McGowan - Female Junior -68kg Kumite
• Bronze: Oliver Ulanski - Male Junior +76kg Kumite
• Bronze: Kate Hambleton - Female Senior +68kg Kumite
• Bronze: Kate Hambleton and Anya Holmes-Ellerker - Female Senior Team Kumite

If you are interested in joining Harrogate Shotokan Karate Club, free trials are currently available. Please contact Zoe Price at zblackb@aol.com or on 07864 888149.