Three members of the Kimura Shukokai Karate Kent club based in Kingswood near Maidstone returned from the KSI World Karate Championships in Berlin with World titles after representing the Shukokai Karate Federation’s England Squad.

Over six hundred competitors took part in various events in the Championships and Sensei the current ladies European kata champion added the much coveted World title to her impressive karate list of achievements.

Katie had to fight her way through several qualifying rounds to reach the gala final, defeating the previous World Champion from the USA in the semi-finals. Katie, who had previously held a junior World title in 2004 said,

“This is the title I have been working so hard for over the years and I am proud to have reached this target”.

Not only does Katie compete both nationally and internationally but she also teaches at the clubs alongside her father Sensei Chris Simpson and she also has her own club in Downswood.

In the Men’s over 50s lightweight kumite (sparring) event, Steve Pereira from Sutton Valence reached the final where he defeated the Finnish representative in a well-executed tactical fight.

Steve has trained with the club for over 5 years and we are so happy for him to have reached this achievement, he is a well-respected student and friend of the club.

Steve’s son Michael (16) also won gold as part of the male youth kata team, no mean achievement as the other members of the team live and train in Birmingham. Michael is the previous runner up at the KSI World championships in South Africa 2014 and we are very proud that he was able to lead his team to victory.

Maria Pereira (20) won the silver medal in the ladies under 21 individual kumite. The team of Finley Lodge, Joseph Scamp and David Pereira (all 13) took the Boys junior team kata silver medal and Eloise Moliner (12) was a member of the girls’ junior team kata who again took the silver medal.

Sensei Katie added to her gold medal when she and Maria Pereira won another two silver medals as part of the ladies kata and kumite teams.

Not to be outdone younger brother David Pereira won silver in the boy’s junior heavyweight kumite category and Michael Pereira won a bronze in the youth individual kata.

Other members of the squad who competed were Debra Scamp, Luke Carpenter and Kacper Krzykowski.

Instructor for the club Sensei Chris Simpson said, “This set of results makes us so proud as instructors and is just reward for all the hard work and sacrifice made by all of the competitors.”

“Everyone trains at least five evenings a week whilst either studying at school/university or working full time and during the last few months prior to the competition have been training alongside other members of the England squad over weekends in Birmingham”.

An immense amount of time also had to be put in to raise funds to defray the costs of travel, accommodation and kit as there is no central funding available for karate.

Members were in receipt of some funding from KCC as part of the Free Access to National Sportspersons scheme and the England squad tracksuits were sponsored by local company Highpoint Developments Limited.

The club runs classes at Lenham, Marden, Kingswood, Maidstone YMCA and Downswood and beginners are always welcome from aged 4 upwards.

For further information visit www.kentkarate.co.uk or call Chris on 07801 639052 or Katie on 07763780006 or email [email protected].

Photo – back row left to right: Sensei Chris, Luke Carpenter, Steve Pereira, Maria Pereira, Michael Pereira, Debra Scamp and Sensei Katie.

Front row left to right: David Pereira, Finley Lodge and Joseph Scamp