MEMBERS of the Launceston Shotokan Karate Club were among enthusiasts from across Europe who traveled to Blackpool to participate in a two-day karate and kobudo seminar conducted by Nobuaki Kanazawa — the Grand Master of the Shotokan Karate International Federation.

The course started promptly at 10am on the Saturday morning and lasted four and a half hours with a half hour break, covering basics, set forms, and fighting techniques.

This was then followed by the Kobudo course and Bojutsu gradings with Richard Currah, third Dan, being the only one on the course to be successful in gaining a black belt in Bojutsu.

On the second day there was another two hours of karate training followed by the karate gradings. Those from Launceston that were successful were Chris Sargent from Lifton who gained his black belt first Dan, and Steven Sheilds from St Austell who gained his first kyu brown belt.

The Launceston Karate Club train every Wednesday with Roger Carpenter seventh Dan kyoshi at the crunch gym and everyone is welcome to come along from 7.30-9.30pm.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.