A QUARTET from Kenshinkan Karate Club have returned to York with medals from a top national tournament.

Ian Tate, chief instructor at the Canon Lee School-based club, led the charge at the JKA England Championships by finishing joint-third in the senior male individual fighting category ‘A’ competition, which is for the more experienced black belts of second Dan and above.

He was topped, though, by Nick Richards, from Acomb, who is rated a first Kyu, one grading below black belt.

The 21-year-old came first in the senior male fighting category ‘B’ competition for those fighters below second Dan, not only beating rivals of a higher grading along the way but also finishing with a karate clean sheet – no opponent having scored a point against him.

Richards has previously spent three months at the world famous Takushoku Karate Club in Japan – Westerners rarely get to study there – and this triumph will no doubt boost his confidence as he bids to gain black belt status on July 18.

Kenshinkan clubmate Aron Blair, 14, a Millthorpe School pupil from Foxwood, who is already a first Dan black belt, also came third in the individual fighting category for boys aged from 12 to 15, while Tate and Richards joined forces with Laurence Denett to finish joint-third in the team fighting event.

Tate, 38, from Haxby, said: “We did really well. It was a quite a feat by Nick – he won the individual national title without being scored on all day, which is impressive.”

Anyone wanting more details on Kenshinkan Karate Club can visit www.yorkkarateclub.com