Chairman's Annual Report 2025

Chairman’s Annual Report - JKS Wales

I am proud to present this year’s annual report for JKS Wales, reflecting another outstanding year of progress, commitment, and achievement across our organisation.

Training and Development

Throughout the year, JKS Wales delivered multiple squad training sessions, reinforcing our commitment to technical excellence and athlete development. In January, members of JKS Wales were invited to Denmark to attend the annual kata weekend led by Takashi Yamaguchi sensei alongside Jesper Markvardsen Sensei — an invaluable opportunity for high-level international training.

We were honoured to host several world-class instructors here in Wales, further strengthening our technical standards and international connections. These included:

Jesper Markvardsen Sensei (Denmark)

Rory Daniels Sensei (England)

Chris Cray Sensei (England)

Daisuke Watanabe Sensei (Japan)

Matt Price Sensei (Head Coach, JKS England)

In addition, our members travelled internationally to train with Kagawa Shihan, Head of JKS, attending sessions in both Ireland and Denmark. Domestically, JKS Wales members were also invited to train with Richard Amos Sensei and Matt Price Sensei in Manchester and on the Wirral, further enhancing cross-association collaboration.

Competition Success

JKS Wales competitors represented the organisation with distinction across a wide range of national and international competitions, including:

BKF Grand Prix

WKGB Welsh Championships (three events)

KSE Championships

Central England Championships

JKS Continental Cup (Denmark)

JKS English Championships

Across these events, our athletes achieved an impressive medal haul:

🥇3 Gold Medals

🥈13 Silver Medals

🥉14 Bronze Medals

These results reflect the dedication of our competitors, coaches, and support teams throughout the year.

Grading Achievements

The year also saw significant progression in individual development, with members successfully completing grading examinations at various dan levels:

Shodan

Ryan Weston

Amelia Bowden

Rhys Garrett

Robbie Davies

Ant O’Sullivan

Lee Andrews

Paul Weston

Sinead Thomson

Kev Shuker

Sandan

Rhiannon Stockham

Phil Manning (crossover)

Godan

Stu Needham

These achievements represent years of dedication, perseverance, and commitment to traditional Shotokan karate.

Community and Charity

Beyond training and competition, JKS Wales continued to demonstrate strong community values. Stu Needham of North Wales completed a fire walk challenge, raising over £1,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance. This latest effort brings the total amount raised over the past two years to more than £2,000, supported by generous donations from members across Wales and highlighting the unity, commitment, and generosity within our organisation.

Closing Remarks

I would like to thank all instructors, coaches, officials, parents, and members for their continued support and dedication to JKS Wales. The achievements of this year are a testament to the strength of our organisation and the shared commitment to excellence, respect, and continuous

improvement.

I look forward to building on this success as we move into the coming year.

Derek Stockham

Chairman, JKS Wales