Welcome © Yamakai Karate Association, 150 Strathaven Rd, Hamilton, Lanarkshire ML3 7UX, Tel. 01698 421790  [site index]  Our Association is very active within the competition scene, not only in Scotland but also throughout Britain. Our squads will attend at least one event per calendar month, if not two depending on availability. We have two Kumite squads which are looked after by Chief Instructor Jim Ross and a Kata squad which is in the capable hands of Julie Anne Graham. In years gone by we were no differant to other groups in that we would just through individuals into events and see what happened. If they survived and enjoyed the expierance then great if not on to the next batch. However nowadays there's more thought goes into how we approach this. Youth development in Karate is just as important as any other sport. With the amount of events now avaiable to us we hace categorised them into the following. A) Internal events, which is our Yamakai League and is only open to members of our Association. This is the first taste of competition Karate our young students get. There are six meetings throughout the year with the event based in Stonelaw High on Friday evenings. It's basically and mini competition performed on six metre area's with Association and SKGB qualified Officials. We use the current WKF competition rules which includes the red and Blue pads, gum shields and contact rules that children will come against in open events. We use the draw sheet from the Dutch open which has a repercharge system allowing each entrant a guaranteed two matches. All competitors receive a medal as encouragement. The event also incorporates a simi liar league system as the Scottish Grand Prix, in which the winners of each category receives 10 points, runner-up 8pts 3rd place 6 pts and 4th 4pts. at the end of each year the overall winner of each section keeps a shield for a year. There is also a club league, with all the main medals won logged over the year. The current Champions are East Kilbride. We don't allow any coaching at these events, encouragement yes but no coaching. Its important young competitors learn the rules for themselves. Competition Karate rules have become far more complicated in recent years. Kids have to figure out which technique will score a certain amount of points, how each technique should executed in order to receive the points (what the referee and flag judges are looking for with regards to how a technique is applied). The contact rules what is classified as excessive what is not. All under 18yrs for example are not allowed any face contact what so ever. They must learn how to throw kicks and punches to the head and face without touching. Most of our younger kids will only be allowed to participate in these events until such time as we think they're ready for a step up to a bigger stage. The sections are. Kata (open grade) Kumite (beginners section) Under 12yrs Kumite under 20 kilos, under 28kilos, under 36 kilos and over 36 kilos. We then have a 12-15yrs boys and 12-15yrs girls which are both open grade. To get the up to date league results klick onto the the League Results button at the top of the page. B) Local Events, when we think a child is ready to progress we will then introduce them to locally organised Karate competitions. They will now start to come against competitors from other Associations as well as other styles. The size of the competition area will generally be the official eight metres, but the actual competition rules will be what they have been used to within our own events. The two main differences will be the noice level, as generally these events are well supported by parents, who like any other sport can be extremely vocal and the Refereeing. This can some time's be very frustrating not only for competitors but also for the parents as well. Like every other sport in the main the referees decision is final, in some instances a decision can be over turned but not very often. I will say two things regarding this subject, first of all the overall standard is far higher than years gone by and secondly spectators must remember that referee's get a split second to make a decision. There are and will be mistakes made and there will be times when need you to bite your tongue and accept what's happened. Believe me there's nobody gets more frustrated than I do and I've had more than a few rants at officials over the years. Local events: Wishaw Grand Prix, Grangemouth Open , Meadowbank Open Edinburgh , BASKA Open Dumbarton we will generally attend most of these events through out the year C) Regional Events, by now any student being asked to attend this level of competition will be well established not only into the competition scene but will also have four or five grading's behind them. Not every competition caters for beginners or novice competitors, especially in the children sections it's not uncommon for low grade kids to find themselves against brown or black belts from other styles or Associations. We try to stress to kids not to place to much importance into what grade an opponent may be, as other groups can hand out belts like sweeties. One of the good aspects of modern day Karate competition is the Red (to the right of the referee) and Blue (to the left of the referee) system, most of the time kids have no idea what grade their up against. We also say to them not to pack their actual belt in their kit bag on competition days just the ones needed for the event. Students will now come against new challenges, first of all there's traveling involved, which can mean early starts (7am is not uncommon). By now we will be stressing to parents the importance of rest, not just the night before events but in the week building up as well. Preparation should now include watching what your eating and drinking in the week before events, fitness levels will become higher the older children's sections. Slowly but surely events are becoming weight categorist, so it's important for Karate competitors to be aware of their weight. For some time now we have kept a check on our competitors weights but we never advice anyone to diet. Competitors also have to get used to waiting for their events to start. These events attract large numbers so competitors need to learn to chill out and relax. Regional events include: Cumbrian Open Carlisle< Tyne & Weir Open Sunderland < AMA International Open Sheffield < AMA North West Open Bury < Central England Open Walsall < Ken U Kai Open Manchester < Chojinkai Youth Open Penrith <North East Open Southshields < Yorkshire Open Championships Sheffield < Utd All Styles Open Birmingham < D) National Championships & International Open Events, these events are generally attended by our more experienced competitors, the standard will be considerably higher than your normal events, your now up against serious Karate competitors who will be training three to four times per week in the club along with gym and stamina work on their own. A high percentage of competitors involved will be either part of their Association or National Squads or they will be heading in that direction. Fitness levels will now be that of professional Athletes and competitors attitudes will be very differant from lesser events. Bouts can become much more aggressive and tactically orientated,with good technique being the order of the day. Events include : Scottish National Kumite Championships Edinburgh < British Karate Championships Sheffield < Scottish Internationl Open Championships Edinburgh < English International Open Championships London < Irish International Open Dublin < Dutch International Youth Championships Amsterdam < Belgian International Open Leuven < E) European & World Karate Championships, in order to participate at this level students must be attending National Squad training at the Ratho indoor centre in Edinburgh. At present our National Coaches are Gerry Fleming & Davie Coulter. In order to be selected students must be attending these sessions on a regular basis, as well as performing to high level at the various competitions listed above. Getting into the medal positions does not guarantee selection, but it goes towards getting you there. At present the Association has two members in the under 21 squad in Emma Boyle & Greg MaCaulay. Emma has attended two Europeans and a Worlds with Greg going to the Europeans in Paris in 2009. We also have another two lads on the fringe's both of whom have worked extremely hard at training and have been consistent medal winners for a number of years. Getting into the National squad requires commitment and dedication, staying there involves increasing your dedication another notch. Our Association expects our National Squad members to be roll models to our younger students, setting good examples in training at competitions or when the squad is traveling abroad with their conduct in hotels, airports or restaurants. We have been extremely fortunate over the years in that everyone lucky enough to participate in these events have been a credit to our Association.