AFTER months of hard work, sweat and dedication, Great Britain coach Sensei Dave Treadwell took three of his Furi Sutairu Karate Academy students to the prestigious World Martial Arts Games in London and they returned with a haul of medals to their name.
To compete in the three-event, Treadwell and his students had to be placed on the podium in a national event to earn their place in the GB Squad. For the last nine months they have all been training up to five times a week to prepare, including travelling to national training sessions up and down the country.
Their efforts were well and truly rewarded. Day one covered all kata sections and Laura Smith was crowned girls’ individual kata world champion and won silver in team kata.
Joshua Thorp claimed silver in the boys’ individual kata, silver in weapons kata and silver in team kata and Ollie Scott secured bronze in the boys’ individual kata and silver in team kata.
Treadwell became world champion in the men’s individual kata.
On day two the team from the Redditch and Wythall-based Furi Sutairu supported the rest of the GB squad which competed with great success in the grappling categories and self-defence.
On day three Smith claimed silver in the girls’ kumite and Scott won gold in the boys’ continuous sparring, silver in points sparring and bronze in kumite.
Treadwell picked up a silver medal in the men’s individual kumite and managed to continue to fight with a broken hand to net a gold medal in the men’s team event between Great Britain and USA.
The competition ended with an awards presentation during which Furi Sutairu club secretary Kelly Thorp was given a dedication plaque for her support in running registration of athletes and Treadwell was awarded a plaque for his coaching of the team and judging over the event.
He also received a winner’s plaque as Team GB winning coach for the amount of medals gained by the team over the three days.
Treadwell said: “It was an honour to train, teach, coach and compete with such a fantastic group of athletes. The event saw over 20 countries take part from as far afield as USA, Israel, Colombia, India and Mexico.”
For more details about training with Sensei Treadwell at either Tudor Grange Academy Redditch or Woodrush High School, email [email protected] or call 07341 569060.
