Barbara O'Brien attacks with mawashi empi under the watchful eyes of KUGB senior instructor Sensei Bob Rhodes 7th Dan

Senseis Jennifer Madden and Peter O'Brien, along with the rest of the O'Brien family comprising Ed, Bill and Barbara attended the KUGB Spring Camp in Paington, Devon this week. Students were split according to grade and trained twice daily under senior KUGB instructors Senseis Andy Sherry 8th Dan, Terry O'Neill 7th Dan, Bob Poynton 7th Dan, Bob Rhodes 7th Dan, Billy Higgins 7th Dan and Frank Brennan 7th Dan.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, after the second session, some USKFI members also attended the special Dan training sessions held by senseis Sherry and Brennan. These rigorous sessions, for students taking a Dan grading imminently, focused on the grading syllabus specific to the Dan grade being taken. Students who took part brought their total tally of sessions during the week to 11! USKFI members also took part in the annual kata competition and attended lectures as well as taking part in Bo classes.

USKFI members agreed they had an excellent week learning and improving on several different areas of karate and they look forward to the KUGB Summer School in Lancaster in August.