NI takes a fistful of medals at Scottish karate op - 18th April 2010 Top karate international, James Brunton, added another championship title to his repertoire when he took a gold medal at the Scottish Open at the Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh at the weekend. Despite the British Isles being closed off to air travel, elite fighters from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland descended on the Scottish capital, with a Dutch team travelling by land and sea to make it to the event. Hot on the heels of his success in Montenegro fighting for the British team, Brunton displayed many of the winning techniques which have earned him a strong fan base from within these islands. Making his way through the preliminary rounds, he came up against top Irish competitor, Sean O’Hara in the final. Drawing on his armoury of moves, Brunton clinched the championship title, underlining his reputation as Ireland’s top fighter. In the underage events, British and Commonwealth champion, Lisburn’s 13 year old Craig Ryan, took a silver medal in his weight category, and a bronze in the open weight event. Also making a name for himself in the British arena, is 14 year old Ross Dinsmore who took bronze in the male cadet event, while Sophie Rodgers (15) from Holywood took bronze in the female cadet section. The fighters are all trained by Irish karate legend and World Karate Federation official, Oliver Brunton at the Karate Centre of Excellence in Belfast City Centre. With almost 50 years experience teaching karate, and numerous accolades to his name, Brunton senior has created an atmosphere of dedication and achievement amongst his students. “Success breeds success,” he said. “James is accumulating a catalogue of titles around the world, from British to American Open champion. He is a role model for our younger fighters, who want to emulate his successes. “By taking them outside Ireland, we can put their training to the test,” Oliver continued. “Our team were able to hold their own, and beat some of the top athletes from across the British Isles. “Later on this summer, we are taking a team to the World Wado Cup in Nagoya, Japan,” he said. “The event in Edinburgh was one of the preparatory competitions I have selected for this world event, and I am happy with the team’s progress. They will have a further opportunity to test their mettle at the British Open competition in July.” For further information on training with Oliver and James Brunton, visit www.irishkarate.com or call 028 90 616453.   James is selected for British Squad - 5th March James Brunton has set another record for karate in N.Ireland James has just become the first competitor from Northern Ireland to be sleceted on the British Karate Squad. James along with others from England and Scotland and Wales was picked to compete in an International competition in Montranegro at the weekend James had 3 fights on the team against Montranagro, Italy, and serbera and wan all three fights securing a place in the future James father commented '' I am very proud to have trained the first karate fighter to have been sleceted onto the British Squad '' This is an indication of the hard work and dedacation that James has shown in his training over the years and it will be a great boost for Northern Ireland Karate. James this weekend heads off to the Dutch open for more competition   spring camp - 19th to 21st march 2010 NORTHERN IRELAND KARATE-DO WADO-KAI Press Release Kildress welcomes the return of Irish karate ace The rugged countryside of Mid Ulster merited a return visit from the Northern Ireland Karate-Do Wado-Kai (NIKW) for their annual spring camp. Kileenan Parish Centre, the home of the NIKW’s Kildress club was the venue for four workshops of intensive technical karate training. Course tutor was Irish karate ace, Oliver Brunton, who demonstrated to participant’s the refined movements which he has honed to produce dynamic karate which can produce devastating effect. Over the past 50 some years, Oliver has trained at karate daily, at times for up to eight hours, making him Ireland’s most skilful practitioner. He has travelled frequently to Japan to learn more about the art to which he has dedicated his entire adult life. Oliver’s proficiency at pure wado karate has been recognised on many occasions by the Japanese Karate Federation (JKF) He became the first European to become a Technical Examiner with JKF, and was honoured with the title of Kyoshi or Doctor by the Japanese Federation. Two years ago Oliver obtained another first when he travelled to Japan to do a rigorous grading examination in front of a board of Japanese masters, resulting in him being unanimously passed to the grade of 7th Dan with the JKF, the first non-Japanese national to be awarded this grade. The Irish man’s pioneering instinct began as a young man when he took responsibility for introducing karate to Northern Ireland. He was the first man from the country to qualify as a European Karate Federation (EKF) official and also the only one to ever hold the rank of Referee and Technical Judge with the World Karate Federation (WKF). For 13 years he served as Secretary of the Referee Commission of both these international bodies. Oliver has used his knowledge in the competition arena to bring on many young competitors’ here. Most note worthy is his son James who has won many international championships and holds British and American Open titles. Last month, James became the first karate athlete from Northern Ireland to be selected onto the British squad, and travelled to Montenegro where he won all of his fights for the British team. Karate practitioners from all over Ireland travelled to Kildress to learn from this great Irish martial art legend. The seminar covered all aspects of karate from basics to more advanced techniques. Oliver showed the students the importance of applying the proper technical criteria to make their karate work. “Many years of intensive study has shown me that teaching the movements is only the beginning of a person’s journey to learn karate technique,” he said. “They need to apply the proper skills to make these movements come to life.” A special feature of the weekend’s training was a session with James Brunton who showed the fighting skills required to be successful in the competition arena. Evidence of how the camp was enjoyed by participant’s is that the NIKW’s summer training camp, which is overseen by Oliver, is now almost fully booked. Kildress club’s coach, Martin Gilmore, who trains regularly with Oliver at the Karate Centre of Excellence is Belfast City Centre was honoured that his instructor was able to visit the mid-Ulster club. “I am delighted that Oliver has taken the time to come here and impart his knowledge to people here,” he remarked. “For someone of his stature to instruct my students is an encouragement for me, and is a great plus for the Kildress club.” Kildress Karate Club trains at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Kildress on Tuesday night’s from 7.30pm to 9pm. For further information visit www.irishkarate.com or call 07879413202.   Scottish Open - 4&5 April 2009 Over 800 competitors converged on the medowbank stadum in edenbrough to watch karate at international level 16 countries partisipeted in the annual event and the audeance was given a fantistic didplay of karate competition N.Ireland being so small came away with their heads held high by taking 2 Gold and 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal International fighter james Brunton fought his way to the finial in great form beating arch rival Glen Mundell in the semi finials by a clear 4 points It seemed like pay back time as Glen had put James out on a split decision in Tokyo at the WKF world championships in november last. This placed him in the finial against Colin Robb who is current World Wado champion James showed great fighting ability and healed the 6ft 5'' 180kg fighter to a 1 point decision leaving James with the silver position. N.Irelands other young competitors performed well with Young Craig Ryan taking the Gold position having fought his way through 38 competitors from the 16 countries, and team mate Daniel Parke from Antrin also taking the gold in the boys 12 to 13 years catagory Also on the medal rostrum was Connor O Boyle from KUNI Newcastle having taken his first international medlel in the boys 14 to 15years which was also a very demanding catagory. All in all N.Ireland is moveing from strength to strength in the karate world which the president attributes to the great harmony and techicinal exellence which excists within the NIKB   N.Ireland gets woman kumite judge - 31st May 2009 Violet Brown has successfully passed the europien karate federation judges quilification After completing the riggerous test in spain violet was granted EKF judge B this leaves Northern Ireland with Irelands only europien kumite qulified woman official and the NIKW and the NIKB wish her well in the future now that she has reached the 1st step on the long road to refereeing success in the World karate federation   European Wado-Cup 2009 Dublin 2009 - 24th October 2009 12 year old Martina Gilmore from Kildress has returned from her first international karate tournament with two bronze medals. The Holy Trinity College pupil was in Dublin last weekend to take partand in the European Wado Cup, which attracted teams from ten countries including Russia, Romania, Macedonia, Italy and Spain. Martina has been training with Irish karate ace, Oliver Brunton, for just under two years, and this is her first major outing. Staving off stiff competition from her European opponents, Martina made it to the semi-finals of the girl’s technical event to her take her first bronze of the tournament. In the afternoon, she worked hard to gain a place in the semi finals of the free fighting section, where she took her second medal of the championships. “I am pleased with Martina’s performance, and that of her team mates,” Oliver commented. “She has been working hard and, if she continues in this vein, I can see her taking more international medals in the future.” Martina’s team mate, 12 year old Craig Ryan, who has Commonwealth and British titles to his name, took championship titles in both the boys technical and free fighting events; while former USA open and British champion, James Brunton, took his fifth successive free fighting championship title at the in the adult male section, and a bronze in the adult male technical event. Kildress karate club trains at St Joseph’s Hall, Killeenan, Kildress on Tuesday evenings from 8 to 9pm. It will also be the venue of Oliver Brunton’s Spring Training Camp in March, when Oliver, a 7th Dan and Technical Examiner with the Japanese Karate Federation, will display the techiques which have made Ireland’s top karate instructor. For further information visit www.irishkarate.com Northern Ireland team The Northern Ireland karate team were in top form at the European Wado Cup last weekend, bringing home three gold and two bronze medals. The Dublin based championships attracted teams from ten countries including Russia, Macedonia, Ital and Spain. In the underage events, 12 year old Craig Ryan, who holds Commonwealth and British titles, sucessfully secured a place in the finals of the boy’s technical event, where he took his first gold medal of the tournament. Craig then went on to fight his way through the heats of the free fighting boy’s section, making his way to the finals, where he gained his second championship title. His team mate, 12 year old Martina Gilmore, was making her debut on the international circuit. The wily youngster gained a place in the semi-finals of both the girl’s technical and kumite events, taking a bronze medal in both categories. The highlight of the championships was when Belfast man, James Brunton, skillfully fought his way to the finals, staving off the top fighters from Romania and the Republic of Ireland in the quarters and semis. Brunton, who holds USA Open and British titles among his repertoire, was on top form when he met Italy’s top athlete, and secured his fifth European Wado championship title. The team train with Irish karate ace, Oliver Brunton, who is delighted with the way they performed. “James and Craig continue to go from strength to strength, while young Martina showed great promise in her first international tournament,” he said. Anyone who would like to train with Oliver should visit www.irishkarate.com   North And South Results - 6th February 2010 CATEGORY 1ST PLACE 2ND PLACE 3RD PLACE 3RD PLACE BOYS 8-10YRS KUMITE Sean black Martin o donachadha Ethan montgomery Thomas allen GIRLS 8-10YRS KUMITE Megan o boyle Caitlan phipps Rioghnach mc guigan Sarah Conway BOYS 10-12YRS KUMITE Dominic Mulholland Jason roe Michael mclarnon Niall dynan GIRLS10-12YRS KUMITE Rachel ni donnachadha Emma thompson ----------- -------------- BOYS 12-14YRS KUMITE Craig ryan t.j. morris Ross dinsmore Benjamin mc kee GIRLS 12-14YRS KUMITE Jade patterson Martina gilmore Clare clelland Shannon ni donnachadha BOYS 14 16YRS KUMITE Craig ryan ???????? Gareth mckeown Kevin mullan MALE SENIOR KUMITE James brunton Tony herdman Eamon yore Patrick Bradley FEMALE SENIOR KUMITE Sophie rodgers Mary marcus Levi kane WHITE BELT KATA 10TH – 7TH KYU Martin o donnachadha Emma thompson catherine marcus Thomas allen COLOURED BELT KATA 6TH KYU -4TH KYU Sophie rodgers Jade patterson Jason roe Faisal ahned COLOURED BELT KATA 3RD KYU & ABOVE Luke millington Craig ryan Marcus yeatman Ross dinsmore SPECIAL KATA CATEGORY Jim ferguson David lambe Laura o hare ------------ MALE CADET KATA 16-18YRS James reed Shaun reed Donal lavery Rohan iqbal FEMALE CADETKATA 16-18YRS Levi kane Rebecca burns MALE SENIOR KATA Eamon yore James brunton Dan radford Chris marks FEMALE SENIOR KATA Jessica morrow Nicola lamont Laura burns Mary marcus TEAM KUMITE NIKW/KUNI CKA   British Open 2010 results - 10th june 2010 Brunton is top gun at the British Karate Open Belfast’s James Brunton proved he was the top gun at the British Karate International Open this weekend when he clinched the men’s open weight championship title. Top karate athletes from Europe, the Middle East, and from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand, descended on Glasgow to fight it out in this prestigious tournament. The Kelvin Hall Sports arena was packed on Saturday evening for the showcase event of the tournament. In this modern day Clash of the Titan’s Brunton’s easily brushed aside the opposition, in one instance winning by the maximum eight clear points, on his path to the semi-finals. As Brunton was the last British fighter left standing, the home crowd got behind him as he faced Australia’s finest, and drawing on his repertoire of fighting techniques, shone through to secure a place in the championship final. The Belfast boy faced Egypt’s top fighter and, displaying the courage and guile he has become synonymous for, Brunton won by a clear 3-0, taking Northern Ireland’s only gold of the championships This is the latest title in a long list of international successes for Brunton, including an American Open title. Earlier this year, he made history by becoming the first person from Northern Ireland to be chosen as part of the British squad, who took part in a special event in Montenegro. Brunton also took a bronze medal in his individual weight category at the Glasgow championships. 15 year old Sophie Rodgers from Holywood took bronze in the female cadet section, her second medal this year as she also won bronze at the Scottish Open event held at the Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh in April. Meanwhile, in the children’s section, 13 year old T J Morris from Banbridge won bronze in the boy’s 12-13 category. The Northern Ireland team’s performance was witnessed by President of karate here, Oliver Brunton, who is delighted by their success. “James’ path to eventual victory was remarkable, considering the standard of fighters in the British Open event,” he commented. “The devastating way he deals with his opponents is sensational, and has proven to be inspirational to the youngsters in Northern Ireland. “I am pleased with both Sophie and TJ, who have shown that young people can compete at a high level in this fighting art without injuring themselves,” Oliver said. Anyone wishing to learn karate at the Brunton Schools of Karate Excellence should call 028 90 616453 or visit www.irishkarate.com