Two karate clubs in York are looking to continue the success of last year, having ended 2013 in triumph.

York Shotokan Karate Club came away with six medals from the JKS England karate championships in Nottingham, where the JKS York Karate Club gained one medal.

Jaini Wang and Tomasz Starzyk both claimed bronzes, Eleanor Dook a silver and, in the kata discipline, Wang, Frances Dook and Amy Tegetmeier all gained gold.

Thomas Dook, Frances Dook and Lucy Winn also took bronze in the team kata category.

Sensei Keith Gullen, the instructor from York Shotokan Karate Club, and his JKS counterpart Sensei Simon Flint were delighted by the displays at the national event.

A grading examination course held in York, conducted by Sensei Matt Price, the current JKS England national squad coach, brought more success.

More than 40 of the members who graded attend the after-school karate programme run by Flint.

These classes bring traditional karate, based on the ethos of discipline and self-defence, into primary schools in order to introduce karate to children at a young age.

Classes are currently run at Ralph Butterfields, Wigginton, Robert Wilkinson, Forest of Galtres (Shipton), Clifton pre-prep and Knavesmire schools.

Gullen’s club trains on a Monday at Knavesmire School and on a Wednesday at Fishergate School, both from 7pm to 9pm.

Flint is a full-time, professional instructor and he runs classes at various venues and times around the Haxby Road/York Road area and in Strensall.

For more details on either club, phone Flint on 07814 545013 or email info@yorkkarate.net.