18/11/2025
‼️ RECENT KARATE NEWS ‼️
It has been a busy term for all at Oxford, but for no one is this more true than for the OUKC squad. After an appropriate enough length of time for the wounds (mostly to my pride, some to my face) to heal and my caffeine to set in, I bring you a squad roundup.
We begin with the JKA England Open. A sizeable squad went up to try our hand at the first major competition of the year - and what an experience it was. The team performed well in the face of tough opposition, with over 500 competitors and 10 different national squads flying in. In the end, we returned with bronze medals in team kumite, having battled through Germany and France - only to lose to a dojo from Stratford. Our bling was secured by a squad comprising the fearsome duo of Rasmus and Vanessa, with the rear brought up by the significantly-less-fearsome yours truly. I did get to meet the medics' lovely dog though.
You would be forgiven for thinking that the bananas proudly displayed in the third slide were from this same competition. More fool you. Persistence from Jono lead a smaller squad to the EKF Open. Our lust for blood and bananas is endless. In the end, we returned with two further bronze medals, won by myself and Jono respectively, while our hopes of competing in team kumite were frustrated by sudden illness and annoying train schedules. Another incredibly tough set of competitors, I say to myself in consolation, nursing the lip punched by a 2x European champion.
Last but not least, we had Kata cuppers! A great field of 17 competitors, narrowed to 6 finalists, resulted in our men's captain sailing his way to the gold, hotly pursued by Nottingham-transfer Oliver and our multitalented women's captain Vanessa. I am obliged to mention that kumite cuppers is this Saturday - alternative obligations prevent me from attending (everyone cheers and sighs with relief) but Rasmus will still be there to scrap.
Finally, swipe to see your social secretaries busy with Varsity prep - I promise the Shoe the Tabs sign is in the back there somewhere. It seems that the extra s&c sessions we'd threatened have, thus far, materialised only in the form of dancing in Bridge.