Dingwall Academy Mats

Martial Arts mats (instead of school gym mats) are now available for SKA students to train on at Dingwall Academy on a Tuesday evening! Pictured are Sempai Stephen Campbell and Shihan Helen Beattie with the mats which were stored at the gym today. Many thanks to Dingwall Academy for allowing the SKA to store Martial Arts mats on their premises.

Sensei Award

Congratulations to Sempai Anna Bell-Higgs from Avoch on being promoted to the teaching title of Sensei (teacher) at the Kempo Seminar in Inverness this evening! Sensei is pictured being presented with her award and new embroidered Black Belt from the SKA Senior Coach: Shihan Helen Beattie, 6th Dan.

1st Dan Award

Here's a group photo of Katie Gagan with her 1st Degree Black Belt Kempo certificates. Katie, who lives in Edderton, is flanked (from the rear left) by Shihan Helen Beattie, Ruth Gagan (Katie's mum), Shihan Darren Gandy (Katie's instructor) & Rachel Benson. And (from the front left) Neil Fleming and Ben Gagan (Katie's brother).

Katie Gagan

Congratulations to Tain SKA member: Katie Gagan, who passed her 1st Degree Black Belt exam in Kempo at the Seaboard Hall in Balintore this afternoon! Katie, who is 13 years old, started training in our Lil' Dragons class when she was 6 years old. Katie is holding her SKA certificate and I'm holding her NBA certificate.

1st Dan Teen!

Here's a group photo of our Inverness teen member: Ross Elder, with his NBA and SKA 1st Degree Black Belt certificates. Ross is flanked (from the left) by Sensei David Robertson, Rhys Stuart, Ryan Murphy and Shihan Helen Beattie.

Sempai Campbell

Congratulations go to Sempai Stephen Campbell who passed his 2nd Degree Black Belt exam in the Highland capital this afternoon! Sempai, who lives in Tain, helps teach at various SKA dojos.

Ross Elder

Well done to 13 year old Ross Elder who passed his 1st Degree Black Belt Kempo exam at Hilton Community Centre this afternoon! Ross, who has been training with the SKA since he was 6 years old, lives in Inverness.

Sensei Blyth

Congratulations to Sensei Kevin Blyth, instructor of the Kempo dojo at Dingwall Leisure Centre, who passed his 2nd Degree Black Belt exam in Kempo at Inverness today after a hard-fought exam! Sensei, who lives in Dingwall, is pictured with his SKA and NBA certificates and is flanked (from the left) by Timmy Frantz, myself, Sensei David Robertson and Shihan Helen Beattie.

Grading Weekend

Best wishes to everyone who are grading for Kempo exams at Inverness and Balintore this weekend, especially to the following possible candidates...

Sensei Kevin Blyth (for 2nd Dan)

Sempai Stephen Campbell (for 2nd Dan)

Katie Gagan (for 1st Dan)

Ross Elder (for 1st Dan)

Kempo Seminar

I'm delighted to announce that the SKA is running a Kempo Seminar for members on Wednesday 21st December 2011 at the Hilton Community Centre, Inverness!

The seminar will run from 6.15pm - 8.15pm and I'll be teaching dynamic Kempo hand striking techniques (Kempo Hands).

Further details will be in the forthcoming Kempo News (newsletter).

Sensei Colin!

Congratulations go to Mr. Colin Robertson, whom I promoted to Sensei (instructor) at the Inverness Kempo School this evening! Sensei Robertson is Sensei David Robertson's brother - both guys are great young Martial Artists and are a fantastic asset to the Scottish Kempo Academy!

Shihan Helen Beattie and I are proud to see the 2nd Dan brothers grow from young boys to men in our Budo circle.