Before I announce the student award winners
I would like to hand out a few other awards to people
that help to make USKA the success it is today.
The first to a person
I personally would like to thank on behalf of all
the students and parents of USKA for helping to promote
the gym and Association in a great way through
USKAKICKBOXING.COM
Julie our web site designer
is in her third year of updating our site and I’m
sure you’ll all agree she does a fantastic job
and really adds another dimension to our already unique
kickboxing gym. As well as the important day to day
promotion of the gym to attract perspective new members
Julie adds her own special brand of humour that has
us all talking and in stitches a lot of the time.
Her masterpiece this year having to be SHAFT film
with malteaser man running a close second I have to
admit
Our web site designer………………………MRS
JULIE BRUNNING
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The second award to
a person who has proved invaluable to me in getting
the USKA fighters ready for action over the last 12
months. Every day taking the guys on pads, motivating
them and pushing to their limits physically to give
them the edge when fight time comes. He has time for
everyone and is a great role model active himself
and not expecting anyone to do anything that he is
not prepared to do himself.
Hand on heart I can say that the gym would not be
the same if this guy was not there and even though
he’s like nearly 150 years old I expect at least
another good 20 years service before he even thinks
about hanging up his gloves.
One of life’s genuine nice guys and someone
I take pride in calling my friend.
USKA’s elder statesman…….MR
SEAN ‘THE MIGHTY’ QUINN
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OK here we go with yet another end of year
student presentations. This seems to come around quicker
and quicker every year and as always I have taken
a lot of time choosing the student awards and have
spent a lot of time deliberating who most deserves
the awards for the effort they have put into their
training over the last 12 months. There is some serious
potential in the ranks of USKA but the only thing
that turns that potential into talent is hard work
and gym hours sweating in the name of your chosen
sport. This is all taken into consideration in my
choices.
Ok, onto the first award………………
1: The first award
today goes to a young gent who has a tremendous amount
of potential and has recently started to believe in
himself which has improved his overall performances
now that he has got his physical and mental game in
unison. Unbeaten in light continuous since he joined
USKA three years ago and holder of three British titles
Tyler has now even taken the step into full contact
winning his first fight against an opponent over three
years older than him by 2nd round knockout in Matlock
last weekend.
Almost exclusively giving away age to opponents Tyler
has grown into a victim of his own success with very
few opponents wanting anything to do with him.
A very bright future ahead if he keeps his eyes on
the prize.
My one criticism if I were to be picky would be that
he must learn to be a little more independent in his
approach and also give as much credence to his technical
side as he does to his practical fighting sessions.
Knowledge is power!
This said our first award to a very worthy
…………………TYLER
‘STEPPIN RAZOR’ SHAKESPEARE
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2: A student now who
in my opinion has so much more to give but still qualifies
for a student award due to his achievements this year.
Glimpses of brilliance every now and again but on
occasion reluctance of full commitment to his training
has cost him his chance of the top awards this year.
I have no doubt in my mind that if he applied himself
fully he could go all the way in this sport but even
in second gear he seems to keep finding a way to win
and he has established himself as one of the best
fighters in his division in the country both on the
mats and in the ring. With qualification earned to
the European Championships in Hungary next year I
expect him to step up his training in a serious effort
to bring the title home. After that, keeping his foot
on the gas to once again be a s serious contender
for the student of the year trophy that he won last
year.
Lat years winner and this years student award goes
to
…………………….…….
‘RELENTLESS’ REISS LARVIN
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3: This next award
goes to someone who makes my job a hell of a lot easier.
Sometimes I feel like I need to split myself in quarter
dealing with fighters, subs, beginners, ticket sales,
enquiries, gradings ect. This student helps me getting
the next classes going allowing me valuable breathing
space to deal with all of the above and helps the
gym run as smoothly as it does.
Another pretty consistent year and steady improvement
and understanding of technique has put her in a good
position to move through the darker colours in the
new year and at last move onto black belt level.
Flexibility and kicking technique second to none and
a real asset and valuable member of the club this
award goes to the one and only ………………………………........
DENISE MILLANE
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4: Time now for a young
man who has much improved over the last year and the
exciting thing is there is still room for a lot more
improvement to go. The key word for this guy is consistent.
Not the most naturally talented of all the USKA fighters
has seen him playing catch up and always working above
his level which has I think brought along the noticeable
improvements.
Top grade results and good tournament results against
good opposition has earned him an I.S.K.A British
Championship win and his place in the I.S.K.A Great
Britain squad for the European Championships in Hungary
Next year.
I predicted last year that within two years he would
be knocking on the door of that student of the year
award. Half way there mate! One year down, one year
to go. Make my prediction come true.
This award goes to……………………
RIDWAN KHAN
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5: This award goes
to one of our seniors who in his short time with the
club has shown complete dedication, commitment and
loyalty to myself and USKA to become one of the true
faces in the gym that makes it what it is.
This guy has improved so much since joining us and
is hungry for as much knowledge as I can show him.
He represents our full contact fight team and so far
has built himself an unbeaten record of two wins both
ending by KO and had recently even started to attend
the technical classes to become a complete member
of the gym. To leave one club to join another is a
big step but a step that is made easier when you are
not only joining a club but entering a family. This
guy is 100% a full fledged USKA family member now
and one that is very worthy of this award.
………………………………QASIM
‘TERMINATOR’ ALI
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6: The next award goes
to someone that I consider as being a slow burner.
By that I mean when they started training in kickboxing
I don’t believe that they were that serious
about it or even thought they would stick it out but
gradually their love for the sport has grown and now
they are up there in my opinion as being one of if
not the most improved member of the gym over the last
year. A true all rounder that maintains regular sparring
and technical classes and is now even an active member
of the USKA fighting squad after a tough debut to
the ring at the recent Solihull competition. In the
new year I would like to see them step up another
gear and really put the heat on the leaders for next
years student of the year award. An accolade that
I have absolutely no doubt is in their grasp. Excellent
grade results, effort on classes and a real pleasure
to teach and that’s before I even mention her
great taste in socks……….this award
goes to……….. MISS SERINA
LARVIN
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This brings us now to the runners up for
both the Children’s and adults Student of the
year. First the Children’s…………….
7: Last year I said
if this student continued to show the desire commitment
and enthusiasm they would go a long way in the sport.
That is exactly what they have done over this last
year and have exceeded all my expectations for them
flying through the grades making their tournament
debuts and having a tremendous training attendance
record that puts most of our advanced grades to shame.
With a work ethic like they have got it is no wonder
that they are starting to see real improvement in
every area of their training. Last year she got best
new student, this year she takes runner up for student
of the year. Only one place to go from here kid is
the big one next year………….runner
up for USKA kids student of the year
…………………………
MEGAN KELLY
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And now onto the adults runner
up for student of the year
8: This award for the
runner up Adult student of the year goes to a young
man who has only recently qualified to be considered
for this award in terms of age.
For the last two years he has been runner up in the
junior category and the year before that he was junior
student of the year so that just shows you the consistency
of this guy. His record in the ring is a great one
often stepping in at the last minute to take on tough
competition and always finding a way to win. This
is a testament to his confidence, fitness and desire
to win. He has this year won the W.K.A English National
title, The I.S.KA British championships and was runner
up to our own Qasim Nisar in the Nordic open in September
in Denmark that has earned him high praise of I.S.K.A
amateur director Andrew Hennessy. He has also earned
himself qualification for the I.S.K.A European championships
in Hungary in April next year with team I.S.K.A Great
Britain. Aside to his competing he still maintains
attendance to his technical classes which in my opinion
without a shadow of a doubt is the only way of becoming
a complete master of the USKA kickboxing style and
that one day will make him a great instructor. This
award and runner up for USKA adult student of the
year goes to …………………
JAKE ‘RATTLESNAKE’ RICHARDS
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Ok time for the big one’s ladies and
gentlemen………………………
First up Children’s student of the
year for 2006
9: The last 12 months
has been really eventful for this student not only
moving from the club he was at to the USKA camp but
also winning basically everything that has been put
in front of him.
Remaining unbeaten in 20 light continuous ring fights
and cleaning up on every mat competition from Aston
Villa to Manchester to Germany to Denmark Mark ‘The
Killer Kicker’ Sedgwick has added British and
European titles to his Midland ring championship and
has resoundingly confirmed himself as being the best
fighter at his age and weight in the country. Attaining
this level of success is no fluke though with Mark
grafting in the gym 6 days a week and pushing himself
to the limit in every aspect of his training whether
it be fitness, sparring, or technical kickboxing work.
His grading results have been second to none and his
attitude to his training is a inspiration to everyone
who trains at the gym. I draw comparisons from what
Mark is like to how I was like when I started my martial
arts journey. Had to be first one in, had to be last
one out. Living, eating, sleeping, dreaming kickboxing
and always looking to be the best at what ever I was
doing within the realms of the sport. This one tracked
vision can not but see this kid succeed in everything
he does.
He will attempt to regain his European title in Hungary
in April and I’m sure add many more titles to
his collection over the course of next year.
One title that he can add to his collection now and
I’m sure make every attempt to regain year in
and year out is the USKA kids student of the year
award. The 2006 award goes to …………
MARK 'THE KILLER KICKER' SEDGWICK
Now onto the Adult’s student of the
year award for 2006
10: If you thought
his résumé was good last year you ain‘t
heard nothing yet!
2007 has seen this kid rise to the top of the pile
in the amateur full contact rankings and has arguably
got the scariest record in the country for someone
of his age and weight. The year started as a good
one for Qasim winning the FSK grand championships
in January, A knock out full contact win at the Emerald
club in February saw Qasim in destructive form, March
brought another KO win in Ripley and also European
Championship qualification for Germany, A mini set
back in April having to shoulder a no contest at the
Golden belt championship in Liverpool when opponent
Razor Rajesh Salan twisted his ankle and was unable
to continue but unfazed Qasim knew his patience would
be rewarded in a proposed rematch.
Qasim was crowned I.S.K.A European Light Continuous
Champion at the end of April in Germany and a 1st
round knock out at hardy spicers in May got more people
talking about this rising full contact star. June
saw Qasim win his first full contact title taking
a unanimous points decision over the durable Ricky
Massey and in July another Unanimous points win over
Wolverhampton’s Kully Nagra in a punch perfect
performance kept the winning streak going. Qasim was
back to knockout form in September Knocking out his
opponent in Leicester in the third round and taking
out former Golden belt rival Razor Rajesh also via
a third round knock out to at last claim the 60kg
golden belt title. The end of September saw Qasim
claim yet another international title winning the
Nordic open light continuous title in Denmark beating
team mate Jake Richards in the final of the competition.
A 1st round knockout in Evesham and a 2nd round knockout
in Walsall in October followed by 2007 European Championships
qualification for Hungary and a chance to retain his
I.S.KA. Title next year. A few weeks ago we saw Qasim
sensationally capture his 3rd full contact title winning
the I.S.K.A English National title by 2nd round KO
and leave his full contact record for 2007 at 15 fights,
14 wins, 11 by KO with 1 no contest.
Qasim has also stayed unbeaten in ring light continuous
competition and boasts a incredible record of 28 fights
with 26 wins and 2 draws. That’s a total for
those of you without calculators of 43 fights and
still undefeated. Aside from his fighting career Qasim
still attends his technical kickboxing classes consistently
week in and week out and also has started coaching
and teaching the juniors on his Saturday morning squad
training sessions. In the new year we hope to set
him up with his own technical classes to teach and
continue to fight and beat anything that is put in
front of him. I have no reservations saying that this
in my 17 years of teaching kickboxing is the very
best student I have ever had the pleasure of teaching.
For the second year running and 3rd time in totaL
……USKA adult student of the year 2006
.……………………………..............…QASIM
’THE DREAM’ NISAR
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A few names I’d
like to mention who have trained hard and narrowly
missed out on student awards this year. Partly due
to such stiff competition and partly down to my feeling
that they have not quiet fulfilled their potential
but still deserve a mention for their efforts.
Our Newly crowned European Champion and the scariest
man at 50kg ever
………
Azad ‘The Wrath of’ Khan
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A newcomer with mega
potential…………..Nathan
‘Stalker' Walker
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A Very talented fighter
in prospect…………….Alyesha
Farrell
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Mighty midget who‘s
getting more serious now and coming on strong …………………..Haroon
Khan
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Another junior that
with a little more focus we could expect big things
from ……............Noor Muhammed
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And last but no means least
A fighter holding it down on
the full contact tip with some good wins this year
…………..Tommy ’Gun’
Collett
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Also like to give a big thanks
to Phil Richards for
his invaluable input in making the fighters from the
gym what they are today.
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In closing thank you to everyone for your support
and well done to everyone for their hard work and
dedication over the last 12 months.
Neil Kelly........17th December 2006
