Zen-shin Black Belt Academy
Supermarket Bag Packing Raises £390 For Zen-Shin Squad
August 7, 2011 | 
Author On Sunday 7th August – Lauren and James Garratt, Kouros Haywood and Mark Laing all went along to Morrisons Supermarket in Aldridge Walsall and packed bags at the checkouts for about five hours. With plenty of help from Jane and Jean Garratt and Andrea and Junior Laing they managed to raise an incredible grand total of £390.
Well done to all the students who took part, and a sincere thanks to all the parents who helped.
You must be rubbish then!
One of my students was telling me of a conversation he had with a school friend today.
The student in question is a 13 year old who currently holds a brown belt after training with us since 2007. His friend at school had heard that he does karate and was curious to know some more about it. My student explained to his friend all about Zen-Shin Karate, where he trains and how often etc.
His friend then went on to say that his Sister also does karate and has achieved her Black belt. He then asked my student what colour belt he wears.
My student told his friend that he is currently at Brown belt. His friend then asked him how long had he been training. “Since 2007” answered my student, to which his friend replied “you must be rubbish then, my Sister got her black belt in just two and a half years!”
Here at Zen-Shin we teach traditional Shotokan karate and we pride ourselves on what we refer to as ‘Black Belt Excellence’. Learning karate and becoming an expert is something that not only takes time but also dedication. Training with Zen-shin from white belt with no previous experience, you could in theory achieve a Black Belt in four and a half to five years. When I hear of students with other clubs being awarded their Black belts, often for little more than just turning up for class once a week for a couple of years, I have to ask how can this be possible?
At Zen-Shin we ask our students to attend at least two training sessions a week. We put those considered ready, in for pre-grading and only allow those who achieve the required standard at pre-grading to go forward to the actual grading. Each belt has a minimum training period before you are allowed to take the next grading and with my younger students we have a system of half belt gradings to allow them to progress at a more gradual pace.
Martial Arts aren’t all about how fast you can get to a Black Belt. It’s so much more than that and I constantly tell my students that being awarded a Black Belt with Zen-Shin reflects directly on me and the Academy. Whilst I want all those training with Zen-Shin to eventually be awarded a Black Belt, I can’t allow this to happen by lowering the standards required. To do this is, unfair, unethical and above all dangerous.
Parents, I urge you to consider carefully the Martial Arts School you choose for your child to train with. The colour of a karate belt isn’t always a true indication of how well your child could defend themselves in a real situation!
As with most things in life, there are no short cuts and sometimes the only ones we are really fooling are ourselves.
“One life, live it well”
Kyoshi John Richards 7th Dan Shotokan Karate
Posted in Karate, Karate Birmingham, Sensei's Blog, Zen-shin Black Belt Academy | 
Tags: black belt excellence, learn, learn karate birmingham, learn karate erdington birmingham, learn karate mere green sutton coldfield, learn martial arts birmingham, learn real karate, real karate school, Zen-shin Karate Academy
Finding Your Inner Spirit
We all have our strengths and weaknesses, every one of us is unique and what some find easy, others may find more challenging or difficult.
One thing we all have is our ‘Inner Spirit’ but finding it takes focus and commitment.
Life can throw all sorts of challenges at us and throughout our lives we have to make decisions, often difficult ones and sometimes we will make mistakes. The way we deal with life’s challenges and how we handle situations, is more often than not, something we can influence and control.
How we apply ourselves to school and work, how we treat our families, friends or strangers. The values we hold and that instinct of what’s right or wrong is something we all have within us.
As I look around the Dojo, I see my students as individuals and I know their strengths and weaknesses. I can see when someone isn’t making an effort and likewise those who are. Concentration, effort and focus on what we’re learning are all part of it, but putting it all together, clearing your mind and being totally focused on every little detail, always looking to improve, perfect, become faster, more powerful and accurate is when you’ve found the Inner Spirit.
Striving towards excellence is what makes champions. In just over a year’s time, London will be hosting the greatest sporting event on the planet. Thousands of athletes taking part in hundreds of events and everyone of those competitors has at some time or other needed to dig deep and find their inner spirit. Training hard, making personal sacrifices and staying truly focused on that ultimate goal of an Olympic Gold, is what pushes them on. That winning determination and mentality is what sets them apart.
Natural talent is obviously a factor in becoming a World Champion, but if we apply the right attitude and mindset to everything we do in life including our karate, only then can we achieve our true potential.
“One life, live it well”
Kyoshi John Richards
Sponsored Swim Success For Lauren and James
On Friday 3rd June Lauren and James completed their sponsored swim to raise money for the WKA squad at Oak Part Leisure Centre, Walsall Wood. They managed to complete 102 lengths in total with James doing 42 lengths- just over 1000 metres and lauren doing 60 lengths- 1500 metres. Life guards at the pool signed the sponsor form and issued both with certificates for these distances!
Both were shattered afterwards completing the event in just under an hour but were pleased to have raised a total of
£280
Thank you to everyone who kindly sponsored Lauren and James, we’d particularly like to thank ‘Lime’ hairdressers based on High Street, Aldridge who generously sponsored Lauren and James 50p per length making their contribution an impressive £50 over all………
Congratulations to both Lauren and James, this was a fantastic effort and an excellent result well done.
Zen-Shin Spring Course Dates Announced
We have now released the dates for next years spring course in Devon.
Due to the success of this years course earlier this month, we wanted to get the 2012 dates booked early and give everyone plenty of notice.
The booking form detailing prices for the available accommodation and training fees, can be found by following the link below.
If you have any further questions about the Zen-Shin Spring Course, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 0121 233 2577.
Booking Form PDF.
Kyoshi John Richards
How I wish I’d started Karate & Martial Arts training earlier in life!
I have honestly lost count of the times I’ve heard these words. Not just from some of my own students but from martial artists everywhere.
There are many who start training at a very young age and continue to train as adults making Karate & Martial Arts part of their lives, helping to keep the mind sharp, the body fit and the not to mention the social aspect of belonging to a club like The Zen-Shin Martial Arts Academy.
You’re never too old to start training
We have members who have started training in their 70’s and continue to train on a regular basis and will happily tell others of the health benefits they’ve gained from training.
Likewise we have the very young who have just started to come along our Little Ninja’s classes and will hopefully continue for years to come.
We have members with various disabilities and some with learning difficulties, all are made welcome!
Is there a club near me?
We have classes taking place all over Birmingham, not just at our own Centres in Hockley and Digbeth but also at venues in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, Erdington, Harbourne, Saltley and Kingstanding.
Going back to my original point. With any sport, the younger we get involved the better, but it’s not too late and what I want to get across to anyone considering taking up Karate more than anything is, please don’t put it off any longer!
Don’t just keep thinking about it, take the first step and give me a call today on 0121 233 2577.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kyoshi John Richards
Zen-Shin Mere Green Karate Academy Grading Achievements
Annual Brown & Black Belt Course
Sunday 27th March was a very long and busy day for the Zen-Shin Academy. At the Zen-Shin Headquaters Hockley, Birmingham, we held our Annual Brown and Black Belt Course. We had an excellent turnout for the course and many of those attending were from the Mere Green Club.
In addition to the training and gradings, we had the pleasure of being able to officially present Black Belt certificates to those who have recently been awarded their 1st Dan.
Two of the recipients and from the Mere Green club were:
Zoe Turner and Zak Poutjiouri.
Zoe has been training with ZenShin for 7 years and achieved her Black Belt January 2009
Zak achieved his Black Belt lastJune 2009 and has been with ZenShin since he was 7 years old
Congratulations to both Zoe and Zak.
Sunday also produced some new grading achievements for Mere Green.
Mitchell Davis.
Mitchell was awarded a distinction for the first of his 2nd Dan Modules. Mitchell is now well on the way to achieving his 2nd Dan after training for 12 years.
More recently Mitchell has been working very closely alongside Kyoshi Richards and gaining valuable work experience. He has also very kindly been assisting at numerous training sessions, pre-gradings and courses.
Jane Garratt.
Jane has now achieved her 1st Kyu. As many of you are aware, Jane had a setback during her training and required knee surgery. Jane has had a long and painful road to recovery but is now back to training and takes another step closer to 1st Dan.
James Garratt.
James is now proudly wearing his Brown / White Belt after successfully gaining a merit at 2nd Kyu. James who trains with his sister Lauren, Mum Jane and Dad Mark, is also a member of the Zen-Shin squad.
Many congratulations to all those mentioned above and thank you to everyone who attended on Sunday.
Kyoshi John Richards.
Zen-Shin Fitness & Self defance Skills
Zen-shin Karate Website – Fitness & Self Defence Skills. Part 1
There are many reasons that people sign up for fitness classes and in gyms, but the primary reason stands, to look and feel better. There, however, are wonderful ways to combine fitness with skills that will make you more confident and safer. Zen-shin Karate offers a wonderful opportunity in Birmingham and the West Midlands for anyone interested in not only to improve your physical look, but also learn a skill that will make you more confident and safer. Women’s kickboxing is one of the many wonderful classes available to help improve not only body but mind as well.
Karate in general has always been known as a wonderful form of fitness. It’s not just aimless kicking and shouting, but teaches control, balance, and strength. Keep in mind that when it comes to strength it’s not only physical, but mental as well. While toning your body karate helps build inner peace as well as helps with concentration and self control. Along with that it also offers wonderful training on proper breathing and relaxation. What’s perfect is that Karate isn’t only just for fitness but also great for self defence. Zen-shin Karate offers a great collection of classes for both young and cold in the Birmingham and West Midlands area.
Zen-shin Karate also offers much more than karate to the Birmingham and West Midlands area. There are also great women’s kickboxing classes available which will help improve not only their bodies but also their confidence. Women’s kickboxing is a great way to get the blood working and a nice sweat going. It’s a very active and fun way to not only tone your body but also feel confident next time you walk down the street. The skills learned with women’s kickboxing are essential to making any woman feel a little safer when walking down the street. Knowing that should anything happen you can defend yourself is a relieve on its own. Many women choose women’s kickboxing because it helps build confidence as well as evenly tone the body.
Zen-shin Karate in Birmingham, West Midlands is a wonderful choice if you are looking to tone your body as well as feel more confident. They offer the most interesting and fun classes within Birmingham, West Midlands. With many choices in classes you will surely find the right one to fit not only your needs, but your body and your expectations. Zen-shin Karate offers classes that are perfect for everyone, adults and children, men and women, there is something for everyone.
Today, with how mobilized our lives are, it’s important that we don’t get stuck in a doldrums. Our bodies and minds get weaker and the longer we wait, the harder it will be. Zen-shin Karate offers the perfect opportunity in Birmingham, West Midlands to make the change today. Whether you decide on one of the many karate classes available or go for women’s kickboxing, it’s important that you find a way to keep active. The classes offered at the Zen-Shin Karate in Birmingham, West Midlands offer not only a great way to tone your body, but help build confidence and teach great self defence skills.
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Posted in Selfdefance for Woman, Zen-shin Black Belt Academy | Tags: Add new tag, Zen-Shin Black Belt Acadmey
Kelly Rose Won Goldenbelt English K1
Birmingham fighter, Kelly Rose, won the Goldenbelt English K1 Amateur Title -69kg in Widnes against Zoe Mason (Touchgloves Cornwall) on the 15th August.
Kelly has had 13 fights with a record of 12 wins and 1 draw. She fights out of Zen Shin Karate club in Birmingham under the guidance of John Richards. Her next fight will take place in Nottingham on the 5th September and weeks later will represent England at the WKA World Championships in Spain where she will attempt to become Birmingham’s first ever female world kickboxing champion.
EKF Midlands Regional Championship
This weekend 19th April 2009, the Zen-Shin squad took part in a EKF Midlands Regional Championship in Stourbridge.
We had a great day with the zen-shin team,
We came away with 3 bronze medals and 1 silver medal.
Cejay Bailey: Midlands- Silver Kata Medalist.
Deano Beckford: Midlands- Bronze Kumite Medalist.
Deano Beckfords: Midlands-Bronze Kata Medalist.
Ajay Leer: Midlands Bronze Kata Medalist.
Congratulations to all who took part, including Kelly Rose, Deano Beckford, Arun Leer, Ajay Leer, Lauren Garratt, Cejay Bailey, Chelsea Jones and Barkat Ali.
Also thanks to the team coach, Sensei Linval Graham and Sensei Pansy Wright.
Posted in Competition News, EKF news, Latest News, Sensei's Blog, Zen-shin Black Belt Academy | Tags: Championship, EKF, EKF news, Karate, Midlands