British Karate Federation News

Mark Symonds

Jul 9, 2012

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The British Karate Federation have officially appointed EKF Board Member and Referee, Mark Symonds, as Disability Officer.

Mark Symonds has been involved in providing sporting opportunities for people with disabilities for many years and at many levels. The main focus of Marks provision is to ensure that opportunities to participate in sport are presented to anyone who has the desire.

Instrumental in developing sports instruction and karate sessions for people with disabilities, Mark has organised many courses and classes within the Midlands region, on behalf of local authorities, schools and volunteer groups. He has been involved with teaching at karate events, locally, nationally and internationally.

A qualified teacher Mark has been involved for many years in teaching coaches best practice whilst teaching disabled performers. As part of his teaching qualification at Nottingham Trent University, Mark developed a syllabus for wheelchair users which has been tried and tested at many events, and is now in use in many dojos around the world.

BKF President, Terry Connell, stated that “Mark will be working closely with Mick Billman, who has overall responsibility for Disability in the BKF. He will help develop our strategy on disability, in line with WKF guidelines, as we reach out to those who would benefit from integration. The role is a very important one for us as we prepare for our Olympic application over the next 12 months. As anybody knows who has visited the BKF site, it has gradually grown over the years, and we feel that now is the time to expand.”

Mark said that “it is an honour to be invited to work with the BKF, and to assist Mick Billman in providing opportunities for athletes with all types of disabilities, to participate in karate training and competition. In 2008 Terry Connell asked Mick to prepare a dossier for people with disabilities and help him revamp the BKF website. In four short years this has been achieved  and the web-site has grown tremendously and has now introduced the disability section. I look forward to helping them develop it even more.”

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The BKF would like to thank Mick Billman of Vigilance Resources Ltd (VRLtd) for sponsoring the maintenance of the BKF website.
The BKF would like to thank Shitokai Scotland for funding the design of the new BKF logo. To visit the Shitokai website please click here.
The BKF would like to thank Nick and Trevor Matthews of Matthews Haulage Ltd, Hertford, for sponsoring the maintenance of the BKF website.
The BKF would like to thank Mr G Sahota of the Traditional International Shotokan Karate Association (TISKA) for sponsoring the maintenance of the BKF website.