XVIII WKF World Championships

Tampere, Finland 12-15th Oct 2006

A karate World Championships without
England? This almost unthinkable prospect was so nearly a reality just a few
weeks ago. With the finances and management of the not-yet-a-year-old Karate
England under scrutiny, and the resultant freezing of the unified Governing
Body’s funding, there was a realistic chance that England - winners of
the first European team title, holders of two current World individual titles,
and countless titles since the inception of these championships - could not
afford to attend.

Thanks indeed then must be given to
Terry Wingrove and CyberBudo who stepped in at the eleventh hour to sponsor the
team and ensure England got its representation at the 18th World Championships
in Tampere, Finland. The CyberBudo sponsorship consisted of flights and
accommodation and customised team tracksuits for the entire coaching and
competing squad. In addition CyberBudo delivered 600 tee-shirts for the squad
and supporters, so we cut quite an arresting site in the grandstand, and in and
around Tampere. The whole package came to some £30,000, and many of the
squad sent personal messages of gratitude to Terry. Jason Ledgister former World
Games champion commented “it was a cool idea” for supporters and
team to wear matching tee-shirts and “it brought us all closer together,
and England seemed to have followers, for once”.

CyberBudo’s benevolence however
was still not enough to ensure our attendance. It seems that there was some
hiccup in the acceptance of Karate England into the World Governing Body, the
WKF. Indeed even as late as September 26th, only two weeks before we were due
to depart, WKF Secretary George Yerolimpos told me my press pass could not be
granted because “England is not member”.

Some frantic diplomacy by KE president,
Victor Charles OBE, and WKF Council member Mike Dinsdale was needed to smooth
over our acceptance, and subsequent entry into the blue riband event of world
karate. Ticky asked me to acknowledge particularly Mike’s contribution,
for which we are all most grateful.

Even so the preparations were far from
ideal, with the squad allowed less than a week’s in-country pre-train
instead of the customary three weeks. Added to this, our current European
Champion Leon Walters pulled out because of his own funding issues, and other
members of the squad withdrew injured. Nevertheless there was a definite mood
of defiant determination, coupled with a sense of the whole team rallying
around coaches Ticky Donovan, Wayne Otto and Dave Hazard.

Tampere itself, Finland’s third
city, had prepared itself well for the tournament. The city centre itself
proudly displayed banners proclaiming the championships. The spectacular
Jäähalli, ice stadium proved an excellent venue with more than
adequate parking and transport links. My hotel, the Tammer, some 15 minutes bus
ride from the Jäähalli, was an imposing Art Deco edifice with many
original 1930’s features, including the curved bar, geometric plasterwork
to the high ceilings, and magnificent dining hall. It seems Finland has the
measure of marrying the old with the modern.

Inside the Jäähalli the four
tatami arena was well equipped with large electronic scoreboards clearly
displaying category, country, and round, as well as the actual match score. An
outsize video screen at one end displayed the on-mat action as well as replays
of the interesting bits. The images were also relayed to half a dozen or more
TV screens around the stadium. A steel track for the TV cameras was installed
and the event was broadcast internationally - in Europe by Eurosport 2. Not
surprisingly then the stadium was packed for all three days, supported by a
large international - and a knowledgeable and vocal domestic - crowd.

Thursday opened with a demonstration by
the Finish National Opera Ballet School, and a display of ice breaking by local
exponent Pekka Oey. The first events of the weekend were the team kata. Like
two years ago in Monterrey the Italian team made the male final. Like two years
ago the bunkai in the finals was breathtaking. Like two years ago the Italians
took the Gold, but this year their opponents in the final were France, not
Japan, who only managed Bronze.  The male team included the commanding
Luca Valdesi whose individual performance of Gankaku gave him an individual
gold medal too. This was the same kata with which he won the title in 2004.
Silver in the male individuals went to JKF Gojukai stylist Katada of Japan,
with Annan.

England’s Jonathan Mottram was on
fine form and because he lost to World Champion Valdesi in the third round
(both men performing Enpi) was justly entered back into the draw via the
repechage. His Kanku Sho and Unsu saw off the South African and Iranian
respectively, leaving Jonathan just one win away from a medal – which
would be England’s first ever in a World Championships. Regrettably this
was not to be Mottram’s day: his performance of Gojushiho Sho was
bettered by Venezuelan Antonio Diaz, who’s Chatanyara Kushanku gave him
the Bronze medal. A sanguine Mottram was however pleased with his performance
and doubtless heartened that he had come so close. Surely he will give it
another go in two years’ time?

The female team event saw a French team
in the final against holders Japan. This year France’s Laetitia Guesnel
and the Buil sisters’ performance of Gojushiho Sho got the better of the
Japanese team’s Annan.

Next were the preliminary rounds of the
team kumite. For the first time in years England did not field a female team.
The male team were drawn against Bulgaria and despatched them with relative
ease, winning three bouts to nil and 15 points to 3.

Friday morning began with the team
kumite events. In the first round proper of the event England drew Poland and
again won three nil. This set up a meeting with Slovakia who had a first round
bye to progress to this stage, so would have been relatively fresh.

England’s first man in red (aka)
was Rory Daniels, current World Champion. He made relatively light work of
Peter Simko, an aggressive -70kg fighter, winning the bout 6-2, picking off his
man with 4 gyakuzuki ippon scores in the first 75 seconds; although the Slovak
did cause a bit of a scare with a chudan mawashigeri nihon in the final minute.
The experienced Rory would not fall for that again though; twice more Simko
tried the mawash, both times Daniels got in first with a chudan gyaku.

Jason Ledgister then squared up to
Fillip Presinsky, a -80kg man. As is Jason’s style he stalked his man for
40 seconds, with little action from either competitor. Then Jason pounced. His
left gyaku was parried, and countered with left jodan mawshi. No score was
given. Ao attempted a reverse roundhouse kick: Ledgister nipped inside, swept
and punched his man. A cat 1 warning (chukoku) was awarded against the
Englishman. Now Ledgister had the measure of his man. A succession of chudan
gyaks took the score 3-0 to England. With 40 seconds on the clock, Ledgister
began to back-pedal. A cat 2 (jogai) warning against him ensued. A fourth single
from a gyaku and it looked like it was all over. With four seconds to go
Presinsky grabbed Ledgister and a grapple ended with Jason pushing his man off
the mat. The bout resumed just in time for the buzzer. Two bouts to nil and 10
points to two.

Next up, English Champion Alton Brown
faced Klaudio Farmadin, knowing a victory would ensure progress to the Quarter
Finals. Both combatants were very mobile from the outset, but Alton kept his
man pretty well to the mat edge. A clinch, and Alton was thrown, but no score
derived. In the first scoring exchange, in my opinion Brown’s gyaku
landed first, but the referee thought otherwise and England were 0-1 down. With
Brown in southpaw stance Presinsky could not get through the English guard.
Alton’s left jodan gyaku levelled the score as the clock hit the two
minute mark. Alton’s trademark blitz gave England the lead for the first
time. Another blitz drove his man back but failed to score. In an exchange of
reverse punches, Brown’s hit first for 3-1. Brown was clearly in control
now and kept attacking. The Slovak’s counter failed to score. With 8
seconds on the clock and a two point lead, at the next “Yame” Brown
turned his back and adjusted his obi. On “Hajime” Brown attacked
again. His opponent tried desperately to grab him, but the buzzer sounded and
England had gone through in straight wins.

Meanwhile, in the other half of the
table victories over Japan and then Iran meant that England’s Quarter
Final opponents were old rivals – and current holders of the world team
title – France. As it happens the English and French supporters were
sitting in the same part of the auditorium, separated only by the stairway. An
energetic but good-natured singing and chanting contest rapidly escalated
between the rival groups.

For the Quarter Final England were
drawn in ao (blue). In a smart piece of gamesmanship, the English team kept
their opponents waiting, only coming to the line to take the rei after their
final call. In the first bout Rory Daniels faced Larry Dona. Dona, former junior
World medallist, came out on the attack – straight into Daniels’
gyaku to concede ippon after just five seconds. Dona attacked with hook kick
and again missed, allowing a successful English counter punch. The bout was
largely continued in this vein, and despite a few mishaps Rory dominated the
match, winning finally 8-5.

In bout two Jason Ledgister faced
former Dutch Open champion, the 65kg karateka Mehdi Alloune. Alloune opened
proceedings with an over-the-top fist attack which failed to score first time,
but picked up ippon on a second attempt. Ledgister quickly learnt his
opponent’s tactics and countered these jodan attacks with a gyaku
response under the guard, twice in succession to go 2-1 up. Thus heartened,
Ledgister started to attack. His jodan attack floored Alloune for a cat 1
warning (chukoku). Another gyaku to Ledgister and it was 3-1 to England.
Ledgister swept his man but could not score. Alloune picked up a cat 1 chukoku
for face contact, and a brace of gyakus to level at three each. In the closing
minute Ledgister kept his nerve and twice his underneath-gyakuzuki got the
better of the Frenchman’s jodan waza. Final score then, 5-3 to England.

With one win needed to go through,
Alton Brown, who had beaten Rory Daniels in the English Championships, toed the
line. In a scrappy tussle, with some disputed scores, Brown went down 4-0,
narrowly missing a sanbon turning ushiro mawashigeri score in the closing
seconds.

At two bouts to one Jory Chather squared up to the classy Franck Chantalou, conceding
several inches in height and reach. The French squad appear to have been
working on this lunging attack over the guard, and Chantalou launched himself
at Chather. Jory’s gyaku response underneath the attacking guard picked
up the first score of the bout. Both French and English supporters were
cheering and singing wildly now. In the next meaningful exchange
Chather’s reverse punch was deemed quicker than the Frenchman’s.
With 19 seconds on the clock Chantalou picked up a single but it was not
enough. Jory Chather had won 2-1, and England progressed to the semi final
having beaten their Gallic rivals 3-1, with a great psychological victory.

So on a high, England entered their
semi final against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Rory Daniels again was first out, against
the light, darting Adnan Hadzic. Hadzic attempted a couple of head kicks, but
could not get inside the World Champion’s guard. Rory threw a right
punch, which the Bosnian took full in the head and dropped like a stone. For
ten seconds or more he didn’t move at all. Then, thankfully he began to
stir. The blow was considered so severe that the referee awarded the match to
Bosnia, hansoku and 8-0.  Jason Ledgister then faced the much taller Admir
Zukan. After 10 seconds Jason was 2 ippons down from gyakuzuki scores. This
quickly became 3-0. A bruising tussle followed in which no more points were
scored, and Jason sustained an injury to his left elbow. Jory Chather had it
all to do now against the huge 80kg+ fighter Arnel Kalusic. Despite his size,
Jory mixed it, and threw his man to the ground. No score was given, and Chather
picked up a cat 1 penalty. A sweep / punch combination from the giant Bosnian
gave him a 3 point lead. A further ippon, and a second contact penalty from
Chather meant that the final score was 5-0 and therefore the requisite three
bouts to Bosnia-Herzegovina. England were denied a place in the final and then
faced Russia in the repechage.

In the first bout of the repechage Rory
went down to a spinning hook kick from Eldarouchev which meant Daniels was
awarded the bout 8-0 (he was wining 2-1 anyway). Unfortunately for Daniels,
this “knock out” meant he was not permitted to compete for the rest
of the weekend so was denied the opportunity to defend his open weight title.
Jason Ledgister made light work of his opponent, beating Yakhiya Shikhakhmedov
6-0, including a spectacular ashibarai/tsuki response to the Russian
kakatogeri. (I thought that axe kick was a banned technique, but, no matter.)
Former World junior Champion, Davin Pack, his shoulder heavily strapped, beat
Marat Aybazof with three straight ippons to zero to secure the team Bronze.

The team, clearly ecstatic flocked
around coaches Ticky Donovan, Wayne Otto and Dave Hazard, and in the ensuing
crush Ticky found his glasses, hanging on a cord around his neck, bent and
misshapen. Wayne Otto told me that his team “deserved the result”
and he was “very proud”. He added that the England males had
“fought with the best determination of any country” that weekend.
It was pleasing to see that our neighbours in the grandstand, the French
supporters, were also very happy for the English, and in a sporting gesture,
had been cheering us heavily. Of our opponents in the semi’s Ticky said
“Every country has their moment, and Bosnia have their moment now”.

In the other repechage medal match Egypt beat Croatia 2-1 for the second bronze
and in the final, Bosnia went down 3-0 to Spain, their moment having clearly
passed.

In the female kata, European Junior
Bronze medallist Samantha Cannon carried the flag. This was her first senior
World Championships and the competition is these days of an extraordinarily
high standard. In the second round, Sam’s authoritative Bassai Dai beat
the Jion of Serbia’s Srekovic. In the third round, Sam met local girl
Kulmala. Sam lost out to the Finn’s Nipaipo with Chatanyara Kushanku, but
enjoyed a moment of fame as her performance was relayed throughout the stadium
on the big screen. She told me it was exciting and an honour to be representing
her country, and I feel sure she will be back. The female kata title went to
Sara Battaglia of Italy, with her Annan beating Vietnamese Nguyen’s
Pachu.

In the individual kumite, England were
to find no more medals. Bakhtyar Khazaei, taking Rory Daniels’ place in
the openweight made light work of his Polish opponent in the first round
winning 4-1. Doubtless spurred on by the vocal support of not only the English
supporters, but also the ebullient Iranian contingent, he then demolished
Motomura of Japan 6-1. Next Bakhtyar met France’s Ludovic Cacheux, who
denied him further progress, Khazaei going out 6-3.

Our under 70k representative was Jason
Ledgister. Jason went out in round three to the outstanding, aggressive Aghayev
of Azerbaijan who swept aside all his elimination opponents until the Semi
Final where he beat Farokhi of Iran by “only” 2 points. The fiery
Azerbaijani then beat the talented Belgian Vandershrick in the final, paving
the way for Ledgister to join the repechage. Unfortunately Jason went out to
Saeed Baghbani of Canada.

In the -75kgs Alton Brown was
eliminated by the tall Japanese Matsuhisa, who went on to take Bronze. His
shoulder still heavily strapped, Davin Pack was unable to progress beyond the
first round, losing 1-3 to Serbian Zivkovic, although a missed jodan
mawashigeri from Davin in the last second so nearly changed that result.

In the female kumite, Emma
O’Callaghan was beaten in round two of the -53kgs just 3 points to two by
Guillette of Canada. In the -60kgs Kerry Gunn also departed in round two,
losing 4-6 to Eso Soriano of the Philipines in an exciting bout where the last
two deciding points, in the final 20 seconds, could have gone either way; and
Melissa Lewis was also a second round victim, she to Croatian Jankovic.

What was the squad’s verdict on
the weekend? Rory Daniels declared that “the squad did excellently,
especially the men’s team. After looking at the draw, with every major
nation in our pool or on the next pool I thought we were going to get beat in
the early rounds but we didn’t. We all stuck together and fought
excellently taking us to the semi-finals where we were very unfortunate”.

The sense of team spirit was echoed by Jason Ledgister who said “we were
a small squad but a tight squad”. He went on; “a bronze out of so
much fierce competition ain’t bad at all”.

Rory also had praise for some of the younger squad members who, he said
“…fought excellently. Although they got beat in the early rounds
they showed courage and I think they are great prospects for the future of
English karate”.

Overall Italy’s performance in
the kata events gave them top position in the medal table with five Golds.
Japan Spain France and Iran each took two Golds and a further 24 countries took
at least one medal. Host nation Finland failed to make the podium despite some
strong performances and energetic partisan support. For me, notable this year
was the high number of attending countries, some 105 compared with 76 last time
in Monterrey, and the standard of all of them was high. So much so that amongst
2004’s medallists, Greece and Russia were out of the table altogether.
Egypt carried home a total of 7 medals (none in ‘04). Azerbaijan and Iran
were impressive and only Valdesi of Italy in the male kata, and Araga of Japan
(female -53kg) retained their titles. Indeed the mighty France only managed one
kumite gold (Laurence Fischer –female +60kg), a fact bemoaned by the
father of French star Olivier Beaudry, with whom I chatted (we both getting by
on our best Franglais) at the airport on the journey home.

So although on the face of it
disappointing, with an oh-so-close world-class performance by Jonathan Mottram,
and our boys beating the French team despite our domestic tribulations, this
was a performance England can be proud of. We look forward to Japan 2008 with
so many of our stars still at their peak and a wealth of young talent coming
through the junior ranks.