KARATE KYOKUSHIN
Sensei David Pickthall two weeks before he went on the win the British Open and also by Michael Thompson before his K1 fight in Japan. Those were good learning experiences. Snapping my cruciate ligament on the mat at the British Open in 2003. It fundamentally changed some of my training and introduced me to some incredible people that helped me throughout the remainder of my Knockdown career. Two other huge moments of significance for me were – one, stepping onto the mat in Japan with Kenny Jarvis and Miguel Fernandez. Fighting in the home of Kyokushin has always been a goal of mine and it was an honour to represent GB and the BKK at the Kyokushinkan All Japan tournament in 2007. I think up until that point no fighter from the BKK had fought in Japan since the breakaway from the IKO, so I felt incredibly privileged to be there. The second moment of significance was in the Yamburg Cup 3rd place fight off in Russia. I was told the fight was only 2 rounds. 5 minutes maximum, absolutely no more. I went all out for those two rounds only to look up at the flags and see draws in three corners. My initial reaction was there was a mistake and the judges had miscalculated. I turned to my coach, who looked at the flags, looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said “Two more.” I couldn’t quite believe it. I eventually won the fight, but that feeling of sheer exhaustion and the ‘do you want this badly enough’ thought, after the first two rounds, will stay with me forever. There have been moments in training that had mentally prepared me for that particular moment and am delighted I was able to dig much deeper because of that mental rehearsal during training. In what direction would you like to see Kyokushin Karate heading not just in Great Britain but globally also? Over the last few years the Kyokushin groups have started to collaborate more. I’m sure the idea of having a single Kyokushin group now would be impossible but the idea of complete collaboration across the globe to compete as a single organisation, with united major tournaments would be good to see. The very idea of Kyokushin being an Olympic sport (without compromising Kyokushin ideals) I’m sure appeals to many and recent activities takes us one step further to that goal. And as a martial art… just to be able to train with different groups, learn and grow together for the good of our style would take me back to the days when you knew Kyokushin, wherever you are in the world, was Kyokushin. Now that you have retired from Knockdown Karate, what are your plans for the future in martial arts? Continue to train and improve my karate. It’s a cliché but so very true - there is so much to learn. I would like to teach more and support the BKK and IFK in the best way possible and that can be tough given I now live outside the UK. I’d like to get into more of a coaching role in the future and perhaps help some of the young fighters coming through. Helping to promote Kyokushin wherever I am feels like a step in the right direction.
Sensei Wai Cheung
If you could have one last dream fight with anyone from any martial art, who would it be? Kenny Jarvis... Round 5 British Open Results 2011 – 2nd & Spirited Fighter, defeated by Alexi Mezhestov of Russia, 2009 – 2nd, defeated by Kenny Jarvis of Great Britain 2008 – 3rd, defeated by Ruslan Fatekhov of Russia (eventual champion) 2004 - 3rd, defeated by Jakoeb Groenhof of Holland (eventual champion) 2001 - 2nd, defeated by Michael Gerritsen of Holland 1999 - 2nd, defeated by Kenny Jarvis of Great Britain Other Notable Achievements BKK Regional, 1st - 2011, 08, 04, 02 & 99, 2010, IKO3 3rd World Cup, Final 8 2009, IKO2 Dutch Open, 3rd 2009, IFK Spanish Open, 2nd 2008, Yamburg International Cup, Russia, 3rd & Spirited Fighter 2007, 5th Kyokushinkan All Japan Openweight, Final 8 2007, IFK/IKO2 Diamond Cup, 1st 2007, IFK European Championships, 5th & Tameshiwari 2006, IKO3 2nd World Cup, Final 16 2005, MOKKO Welsh Open, 1st 2005, 3rd IFK World Tournament, Final 16 2002, 2nd IFK World Tournament, Final 16 2000, Dutch Open – Oyama Cup, 3rd 2000, US Oyama Karate Championships, Final 8 2000, BKK Regional, 2nd 1991, BKK Regional (Lightweight), 3rd 1990, Welsh Open (Lightweight), 3rd 1990, British Open (Lightweight) Quickest Knockout 1989, Novice Regional (Lightweight), 1st & Spirited Fighter 1987, EKGB WUKO Championships, 3rd
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