After a very fraught last two weeks when, as always, I haven’t managed to do all the tasks I have set myself. We finally left home at 3.30am in the morning for Stansted airport leaving a house that burglars would have to tidy up for us (actually my dad is dog sitting for us, so sorry dad!!). After the class finished at 8.30pm on Tuesday at Garendon High School I had driven like a mad thing over to Leicester to pick up David newly lengthened Black belt from Dave at Leicester Karate Club. Dave is also the owner of Martial Arts Superstore. Many thanks to Lauren his wife as the resultant job is great.

I had meant to leave at 2.30am so we were an hour late leaving and by this time I had become all green with a ripped shirt. Matthew and David had received the sharp end of my tongue for just breathing, blinking and generally being alive (sorry Guys!). We arrived at Stansted at 5.05am only just with enough time to check in. At the Ryan Air check in we met up with a load of other competitors from North Oxford WIKF and Sensei Roy. I duly presented a glowing Emma Mullan with her England tracksuit as we waited in the queue. We were the very last people to check in and the guy on the desk said to make sure you run to the gate which we duly did having to forgo the pleasure of the duty free area, food and especially toilets. Why is it that the gate is always as far away as possible? I settled into my seat with a real sense of relief although the trip to the toilet once in the air provided more!

We arrived at Porto airport bang on time and I rushed through arrivals to the car rental base although I could have taken my time as it took well over an hour to finally be handed the keys. I am now the proud driver of a brand new Corsa. Fortunately Sensei Roy has lent me a SatNav and we found the drive to Braga fairly easy (as much as driving a unfamiliar car, on the wrong side of the road, not sure of the road signs with so much luggage you cant see the other occupants (the only way I knew David was in the car was little groans every time we hit a bump) can be easy.

The Comfort hotel is just on the outskirts of Braga and very clean with Air-conditioning although the weather is patchy cloud as we speak and it’s not really needed at the moment. As soon as we could we got back in to the car and explored the town centre where we found a little cafe and had some lunch.

Matthew, David and Joan enjoy a welcome meal Alfresco in Braga

Me with a stupid grin after feeding my face.

The lack of sleep then showed and we all voted to return to the hotel for Siesta!

Thursday 

Lucy and Family had finally arrived at the hotel at 11.30 after a very long day but the rest of the party had gone to a restaurant for a meal and finally got to bed at well past 1pm as the flight had been delayed. In the morning we were due to register and weigh in for the competition at the Hotel Turismo so I dropped Mat, David and Lucy at the team hotel and the full team including Emma walked together to the Turismo for 11am. We then visited the venue before joining them.

The outside of the building was a real shock as it looked very run down

Inside again before the event it had a very 1950 eastern block feel

The venue empty and very sad looking

As we pulled up outside the Turismo, to my delight, we met Brody Burns, Dale Gatlan and Matt from the American team outside the Turismo.   After catching up on lost time the American team boarded a mini bus to visit a local cathedral. I decided to find out what was happening with the team as I was informed that all the licences had to have photo’s and was worried as neither Mat or David did so.

Choosing the fit option I decided to take the stairs to the 8th floor. By the time I got to the top I couldn’t speak so I could only wave to sensei Suzuki as I met him on the stairs. At the top of the building, though, paradise awaited in the form of a roof top bar and a perfectly inviting swimming pool. I hastily took the lift to the ground and summoned Joan and the rest of the parents to the roof.

Adults in the Bar while the Kids roast at registration

I did check on the boys and everything was fine. So the parents relaxed in the bar while the guys stood around in a hot stuffy room.After an hour the team joined us and it didn’t take long before a couple had been thrown in the pool.

The UKKW representatives by the Pool

A telling off from the manager followed but we had had a good laugh in the mean time.True to form after the registration most of the squad retired to McDonald's in the town square for lunch.

Members of the team try the local food

The food is slightly more expensive than home so McDonald's was a low cost option. After lunch we explored the town centre which is very pretty.

The fantastic fountain in the city square

Every twenty seconds the pattern changed

When the fountain did this a deliciously refreshing mist cooled you down

The City really got behing the event. this was the turist office

The window of the turist office complete with Gi and posters

Although the second biggest city in Portugal it’s really exciting for Braga to host such a big event and there are posters all over town. At every roundabout there are posters in the middle. In the evening the squad joined together for a light training session at the venue. 

England squad warm up

Claire practising Kushanku

Friday. 

SCKS members leave the Comfort Inn for the Kata competition

We had a late breakfast and lazy morning before meeting at the Venue for the start of the Kata event at 3pm.

The Team line up during the opening ceremony

Lucy and Emma at the head of the England deligation for the opening cerimony

This was run on all six mats with the juniors first. Emma and Lucy were first up, Emma scored a creditable 6.8 all round giving her a score of 20.4 Lucy followed however a slip on the first move played on her mind and she wasn’t quite as good as she could be, she went on  to gain straight 7.0’s for an overall mark of 21.0. This was to prove not quite enough to get into the next round with 21.1 the cut off mark however Lucy was a very creditable 9th with Emma 14th.

Next up was David, I didn’t recognise any of the judges which I always find worrying as we meet all the top people in the WIKF on the courses we attend. His first round score was a very puzzling 7.0, 6.9, and 6.9. Some very high marks were awarded to sharp Kata which were technically very poor. He just made the next round but was in last place. An excellent Pinnan Shodan again saw a mixture of marking. There were five judges in the Final and they scored 8.2, 8.2, 8.0, 8.0 and 7.9 not enough for a medal and he had to settle for 5th place. 

David just about to start Pinan Sandan

Matthew was last up from the club in the senior Kata event.

Matthew lines up for senior Kata event

There were over 35 competitors in this section and the competition was hard. Matthew managed straight 6.9’s but was bitterly disappointed with that.

Matthew performing Wansu

The general feeling was that the Kata was rushed but much to my dismay when Matthew was called I had just nipped to the loo and couldn’t get to the video in time to record it. I was so nervous for him although I watched it I cant remember a thing about it! All was not lost though for England as Andy Michelaedies took Gold to become World Senior Kata champion. 

Danny Hollister in nrelaxed mode on Kata day

It had been raining all day and after the medal ceremony at 8pm the team walked wearily back to the Hotel.  A very late dinner followed and we finally got to bed at about 12.30. Or rather some of us did, The more stupid of us stayed in the bar before finding out that three badges had to be stitched to Gi’s so I finally got to bed at after 3am.  

Saturday 

No lazy breakfast this morning as we were up at 6am (it felt as if I hadn’t been in bed at all) for Breakfast at 7am and down to the venue for 8am. David was first on the mat but unfortunately lost in his first fight 3-0 to Mamagulashuli Nik from Georgia. A score line that didn’t reflect the fight at all as all the Georgian did was counter punch and four kicks to the back were not scored. However the Georgian got to the final so David was called back to the mat for repechage. In his first fight he won easily 5-0 against Mirko Barrera from Italy for a bronze medal fight with Jerome Brown also from England. David and Jerome have met previously at the WIKF British Championships with David loosing 2-1 in extra time after leading 1-0 until the last 10 seconds when Jerome scored a point. After a very close fought battle for the second time of meeting again Jerome emerged victorious again 2-0. David coming 4th overall. 

Matthew Coope was fighting in the seniors section only as there is no Junior (18-20 years) section.

Mat with a perfect gyakazuki

 This is a real jump in standard in his first fight he met Augustin Velozquez from Spain a very experienced competitor.

Mat goes for a mawash

Matthew was the more aggressive fighter pushing the Spaniard back all the time however the score remained 0-0

mat tries a mawash but the Spaniard was faster

until the last 15 seconds when a stunning ura-mawash from the Spaniard scored three points and the fight was over.

Danny Hollister with a stunning Gyakazuki which took his opponents legs away

Danny hollister with a brilliant Ura-mawashi Geri on his way to individual bronz

Sunday, 27 July 2008 Team event day:

David was captain of the England Boys 12-13 B team. The first team up was Georgia; David was first man up and made a tentative start with the score at the end 0-0. In the next fight David Ward fought the fighter David Coope has fought in his very first fight in the individuals. The final score was Georgia 5 England 1. This meant that Joe Bagnassimosso now had to win the next fight with 6 points clear. Joe started like a Tiger but couldn’t convince the judges to give him points and although finally he won 1-0 this meant that Georgia were victorious as all scores are added together if the teams are even on victories. All was not lost though in the hunt for medals though as Georgia easily defeated all opposition until they reached the final to face England A.

Gavin powering his way to individual gold.

With the Georgians reaching the final this meant a return for England B in the repecharge. This time they were facing the Portuguese A team for the Bronze place. The first fight was a moral victory for Joe but score wise it was 0-0. David Ward was next up but again although David was all over his Portuguese opponent the score again was 0-0. This left David with the captain’s role and he went to it with a will. Two excellent head kicks went unrewarded and innumerable punches were clean and on target but the score remained 0-0 to the bitter end.  Extra time was awarded. This was to be a fight for another 2 minutes not just entrosan and the coaches were asked to chose there fighters. The result was a rematch between the last Portuguese and David Coope. David was like a man possessed and delivered techniques after techniques but again none were scored by the totally Portuguese judging panel. His Portuguese opponent in the meantime had become totally despondent and hardly threw a technique. With increasing frustration David tried to score and eventually just brushed his opponent who fell to the floor as if hit by a hammer. Immediately this was taken as excessive contact and a point was awarded to Portugal. David carried on but couldn’t break the Portuguese element to the fight and at full time the score remained 1-0. This fight reflected on a great many of the fights where penalty points were the only ones awarded and decided the medals. 

Matthew was fighting in the England B team at no3 however the first two members were beaten so Matthew never got to fight.

Rob Eley from Mansfield was first up for the Cadets and fought a very tachtical battle but could't score. the team then lost the next fight and lost overall. Fortunately there opponents made it to the final and they re entered the competition for Bronze. The order of the fighters was changed and Rob moved to number three. as the first two won there fights Rob didn't get on the mat again but did get a Bronze medal. 

After the medals the photoes

Matts first beer of the weekend after the event was typically at McDonalds (yes they do sell Beer in McDonalds in Portugal) Actually Mat ended up leaving it as McDonalds and Beer really don't go together very well!

Lucy Ann and Tom arrive at the Hotel Turismo for the after event party

 Monday

relaxing on the beach after the event in sunshine, perfect!

Beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The boys and Lucy relaxed finally in bright sunlight on the local beach to end a great weekend.