The last year has presented serious challenges to all martial arts clubs around the world. Despite this, Club de Karate Washinkai España has persevered throughout the COVID pandemic and is busy plotting a course back to regular training. This has only been possible thanks to the generous support of our students, local sports councils and town halls of Benitachell and Jávea. This year we are celebrating a return to the dojo with our 20th Anniversary of Washinkai Karate in Spain. Club President Geovanny Sánchez Salazar 4th Dan and Elliot Morton 3rd Dan have been busy planning a series of events to coincide with the unwinding of the lockdown. These will be announced after a statement from the government when the ‘state of alarm’ ends on May 9th 2021.

The club was founded in 2001 by Ray Sweeney with the help of the then senior instructors, Sarah Lakin and Geovanny Sánchez Salazar. Ray left the club and returned to the UK in 2014 when the presidency was passed to Geovanny. Since then, the club has continued to go from strength to strength, having competed in regional and national events. Despite the setback of the pandemic, classes were held via Zoom and later outdoors with social distancing. The club spokesman, Al Morton 2nd Dan said, “The spirit of perseverance, focus, and fortitude have helped all of us stay committed to the values engendered in karate. It is an invaluable life skill and one which we will continue to celebrate long into the future.”

We are all looking forward to the possibility of celebrating with our chief instructor Shihan Chris Thompson 9th dan along with other senior instructors from the UK and Spain this autumn (restrictions allowing). Details to be announced soon.