Shotokan Karate London’s intermediate women achieved a clean sweep of honours on a successful day for the club at the JKA England national championships.

Dafne Soyuak secured the gold medal for individual kumite in the green/purple/purple-white (6th-4th kyu) category, with team-mate Naomi Tarawali taking silver and Katie Harrison bronze.

There was further success for the Old Street-based club in the individual kata, where Tarawali clinched the national title and Harrison collected the silver medal.

The Shotokan men also performed well in the same section as Alan Emen claimed the silver medal for individual kata, and bronze went to Toshimitsu Murai.

Murai also collected silver in individual kumite, with Daniel Almendro taking bronze – and both were involved in another wave of success in the adults’ team kata events (including all levels up to 4th kyu).

Soyuak, Harrison and Emen won the national championship, with the runners-up place going to Tarawali, Murai and Almendro. Kencho Ongdi, Yasmin Stewart and Pedro Vergani completed the set with bronze medals.

Stewart also collected the individual kata gold medal in the women’s orange/red/yellow (9th-7th kyu) event, while Ongdi took silver and also won the individual kumite, with Stewart and Chiaro Spano sharing third place.

In the men’s section, Andrew Dalton and Josh Pinhay shared bronze medals for individual kumite, with Dalton also picking up a creditable fourth place in kata.

In the most competitive division of all – brown and black belts – the club’s kata team achieved a place on the podium for the first time, with Antonio Telmo, Josh Ludlow and Fabio Pinto winning bronze medals.

Club instructor Telmo and Stephanie Foster were both semi-finalists in individual kata, while there were also solid performances from the club’s youngest competitors in mixed team kata.

Sam Lewis (6th kyu), Jacqueline Auger (6th kyu) and Gabriel Bontu (6th kyu) won gold medals, with the beginners’ team of Michael Ghebrehiwet (7th kyu), Luca Warby (7th kyu) and Crina Bontu (8th kyu) taking bronze.

It was the fifth time the club had competed in the tournament and this was their most successful medal haul – an achievement highlighted by the presentation of the JKAE Club 50 Award for organisations who have reached a certain standard.

“We won 34 medals,” said Telmo. “With this unprecedented achievement and the Club 50 Award, SKL establishes itself as one of the top karate clubs in the country. Thank you JKA England for your support!”

The club are now offering free trial classes at their Old Street dojo. Call 07707 661 162 to book now or visit www.shotokankaratelondon.co.uk for more information.