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The 1999 Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy United Kingdom National Championships took place in Guildford on the 26th September 1999, and the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Association came away with no less than eight trophies, more than any other club participating in the event. The event was presided over by M. Shiomitsu Hanshi 8th Dan, Chief Instructor of the Wado-Ryu Academy.
In the adult Kata event, where the number of entrants had doubled from the previous year, Christopher Gibbs from the W.K.A. took first place. The Kata Chris performed in the final round demonstrated a focused, relaxed and smooth karate technique. Adam Flint from the W.K.A. also reached the finals taking third place. Chris, who came second in the same event last year, said afterwards "Coming first in the Kata event made me very proud and very excited. I always enjoy my karate and would continue to practise whether or not there were competitions to enter. I enjoy both the physical and mental challenge. But having spent many hours practising for this event it was an honour to win. I owe much of this success to my instructor, Nick Quilliam. With karate, as with so many things in life, it is certainly true to say that the harder you practice the luckier you get!". Adam, who won the event last year, said, "I was just happy to be able to compete this year. An accident at the end of August meant that my leg was in plaster, and the doctors said that I was going to be like that until October. However, the plaster came off a week before the competition, so being able to go and taking third place as well is a great feeling."
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The W.K.A. had its best year in the Kumite (fighting) events since 1994. In the individual male Kumite, Mark Borland came through the preliminary rounds to take second place in a very closely contested final. He was also part of the male team, along with Donny Ellis and Gary Ockwell, who came second in the male team Kumite event. Mark and Donny then teamed up with W.K.A.'s Jo Weatherall to win the last event of the day, the mixed team Kumite. The final of this event was a thrilling climax to the day for the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Association, with some excellent controlled point-scoring techniques demonstrated by all three contestants. Mark was exceptionally pleased with the results, as this was the first competition he had entered with the W.K.A. He said afterwards "I had no expectations before I entered the competition, I just wanted to gain experience and confidence for future events. I'd like to thank all of the team who supported me and fought with me. I would also like to thank Senseis Nick Quilliam and Leeroy Ellis for some excellent tuition in competition fighting."
Sensei Nick Quilliam, Chief Instructor of the W.K.A., who helped organise the event, was also pleased with the club's achievements. He commented "In addition to the silverware, this year's club members are taking away a number of valuable lessons from the experiences of the competition. I am very proud of all of their achievements as I have watched each student commit themselves to the rigorous disciplines of Wado Ryu karate".
25th August - Beginners Take Their First Step
Sensei Nick Quilliam commented "I am very pleased with the group that have just passed their first gradings to become yellow belts. This is the result of determination, hard work and, above all, practise from all of them. They demonstrated good technique and spirit throughout the exam, and all thoroughly deserved to pass." In the picture (left to right): top row - Richard Vidgen, Keith Clatworthy-Moore, Nick Jones. Bottom row - Lorna Jones, Nick Quilliam, Juliet Hankins (who will have to learn how to tie her belt correctly before the next grading!). David Boyd also passed, but escaped being photographed. For more information on gradings, visit the Wado Tech section of this website.
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The junior and adult kyu grade competition squad travelled to Chippenham to compete in the Skikukai club's summer competition. There was a strong turnout, even though the competition entry was restricted to 4th kyu and below. In the women's kumite event, WKA's Sonia Burford gave a particularly impressive display of fighting skills, narrowly loosing in the final to take silver. In the adult mixed kata event, Adam Flint and Christopher Gibbs came through tough competition to claim first and second places respectively.
The WKA also did very well in the junior events. Stephen Whittaker came second in the male 14-16 yrs kumite, and Mark Uppington came through in style to win the male 12-13 yrs kumite. Mark concentrated his efforts on controlled point scoring using good timing and distancing. In addition, Richard Thwaite came second in the male 8-9 yrs kumite group. In the female kumite, Harriet Thorpe came second in the 12-13 yrs and Chloe Witts won the 10-11 yrs.
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During the past two weeks, a number of students at the
Stroud WKA club took and passed their gradings. Peter Savage from Stroud progressed to 4th
Kyu, whilst Sonia Burford, Matthew Calvert, Marie Clucas, David Drinan, Samantha Mowles
and Steven Woodward all gained their 3rd kyu brown belt grades. 
Some of the beginner white belts from the Stroud club took their
first grading (exam) on 25th August. All of the students that took the grading passed.