From l.:Finn Seaman, Patrick Seaman, Sue Burke, Sophia Saxby. Photo: Denise Hardy

Karate kids come out tops!

Four members of the Hastings branch of Canton Martial Arts Karate Club were victorious at the weekend when they won SIX trophies between them at the NAS UK (National All Styles) Martial Arts Tournament held in Reading, writes Chris Cormack.

The students, the youngest of whom is 7 years old, have only been studying Karate for a period of months, and this was their first ever competition.

The trophy winners. Photo Denise Hardy

The club or dojo, based in the Summerfields Leisure Centre in Bohemia Road and known as the ‘Hastings Battlers’, has classes twice a week on Mondays and Fridays for ‘Little Samurais’, aged 5 years and over, Juniors, up to 14 years and Adults of all ages,  run by Sensei Mike ‘Spud’ Hardy with his wife, Sensei Denise ‘D’ Hardy.  Mike said:

“We are immensely proud of the amazing achievements made by our students at this competition, especially given the short period of time they have been studying Karate. The competition was attended by Martial Artists from all over Southern England and beyond. and the standard was very high. We are very confident that more of our students will go on to achieve even greater successes in coming tournaments”

Canton Martial Arts, which has branch dojo’s elsewhere in Sussex and Kent, won an impressive tally of 19 Trophies between them, with the Hastings dojo winning the most.

The club is overseen by founder and owner, World Champion KIGEN Richard Canton who, himself, won three trophies at the weekend event and who will be looking to win the NAS ‘Champion of Champions’ trophy, later in the year.

NEW students of ALL ages are welcome. Please contact Canton Martial Arts Black Belt Academy on  01323 419799 to book your two FREE trial classes, or call Sensei Mike Hardy on 07799 493393

Visit the website for more details

Student/Tournament results:

Finn Seaman, (aged 7), 3rd Place in POINTS Sparring. (7 Years & under category male & female))

Patrick Seaman 2nd Place in CONTINUOUS Sparring. (Male Novice 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu Category)

Sophia Saxby (aged 9), 1st Place CONTINUOUS Sparring & 2nd Place Kata FORMS (8-9 years, 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu Category male & female)

Sue Burke 1st Place CONTINUOUS Sparring & 2nd Place POINTS Sparring (Female Novice 10th Kyu to 6th Kyu Category).

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