NORTH JUI-JITSU FIGHTER TO COMPETE IN BRAZIL

By Martial News Reporter

A NORTH student is heading to Brazil to represent his university in a major Jui-jitsu competition.

Shanoor Choudhury, 30, from Fenham, Newcastle, is flying to Rio de Janeiro in July in the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Championships.

He said: "I can’t wait to get out there, it’s completely self funded and I’m getting trained up for it so it should be a fantastic experience.

"The best of the best will be out there and one of the most exciting things is all the different cultures and styles that will be on display."

The competition is very popular in Brazil and regularly pulls in crowds in excess of 10,000.

Shanoor trains at the Combat Sports Newcastle, Northumbria University, Newcastle, and is studying a masters degree in Project Management.

Run by Sensei Steve Ritson, the club has done well in recent competitions in the region and is looking to build on that for the future.

Shanoor added: "I want to show everyone what I’m about and what we are about in the North East. 

"Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t that big in Newcastle like Mixed Martial Arts are but I know that I'm representing not only myself but Northumbria Uni, my club and the whole region.

"I’m going out there with the intention to win because there is no second prize. I’ve always been of the mentality that you can take something from every experience and that will never be more true than this competition."

The club meets every Wednesday from 7pm at the Lipman Sports Centre, and on Saturday from 1.30pm at the City Squash Court.

To find out more about Combat Sports Newcastle

Phone Steve Ritson on: 07969 316878

Or email steveatpfsnortheast@hotmail.co.uk

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STRANDED KARATEKA BATTLE HOME FROM OKINAWA


TWO Karate instructors on a visit to Okinawa were left stranded in Okinawa because of Icelandic volcanic ash delaying their flight.

Steve Thompson and Suzanne Pattison, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, eventually got home six days later.

Suzanne told the Scarborough Evening News: "We had been on a senior British instructors course learning the old traditional ways of karate as it used to be taught before it was introduced to mainland Japan in the 1920s.

"We were given access to three 10th Dans, who gave us a tough but very interesting two weeks of instruction, and we had a great time taking in the local traditions and cultures, but then it all went a bit pear-shaped on the way home."

The Scarborough Shotokan Karate Club  instructors had been visiting the Ryu Kyu islands, Japan, to learn traditional Karate in its own original Okinawan homeland.

Suzanne and Steve were taught by 10th Dans senior masters in the old karate systems in their personal training halls.

She added: "Many traditional karate people are now making the pilgrimage to Okinawa, to try to follow the path of the founders of the art, and maybe gain some more insight into what they do, and why they do it.

"The traditions and values of karate are very important to our club."

To-make-good-their-escape, they visited the airport and joined the standby queue with the hope of catching a flight cleared by air control. The alternative - they were told - was to await TWO weeks for a replacement flight. 

Scarborough Shotokan Karate Club train at the Filey Road Sports Centre, Scarborough, every Friday and Monday.

To find out more about the club

Email: stevethompson@btinternet