Natasha Walker

October 2008

Well done to Natasha for her successes at the CIMAC Super League event, held on Sunday 5th October, Dorking, with another of the usual high calibre events that we have come to expect from the Super League series. With teams from many of the best in the UK like SWAT, Maddogs, WCKA and GBMAA it was pleasing for Natasha to come away with 1st in Ladies Semi Contact (-65kg and +65kg) and 2nd in Semi Contact (Ladies Open) and in Light Contact (-65kg). This was the last of this year's series of events and it was very pleasing for Natasha to come away as CIMAC Super League Champion in Semi Contact (-65kg).

September 2008

Congratulations to Natasha for just returning from Italy with the WAKO Great Britain Team after gaining 2 superb Silver Medals at the WAKO World Championships. Held in Naples, Italy, from September 22nd to 28th, Tasha performed magnificently over a very physically demanding week, and came away with Silver in Semi Contact AND Light Contact in the -65kg division. Well done!

The CIMAC UK Open, held on Sunday 7th September, and once again at the Magnet Leisure Centre, Maidenhead, was another of the usual high calibre events that we have come to expect from the Super League series. With teams from many of the best in the UK like SWAT, Maddogs, WCKA and GBMAA it was pleasing for Natasha to come away with 1st in Ladies Semi Contact (-65kg and +65kg) and 2nd in Light Contact (-65kg).

July 2008

The CIMAC World Cup International is probably the most prestigeous of all the events that make up the Super League series. Held on Sunday 6th July, 2008, at the Magnet Leisure Centre, Maidenhead, Berks, this was an exciting event, where fighters from England , Scotland and Wales competed against some of the best martial arts athletes from around the world. Natasha was the only competitor from Perth to make the trip down to Berkshire, but did so with fantastic success. After a particularly long day, she came away with 1st in Ladies Light Contact (-65kg), 3rd in Semi Contact (-65kg), and then went on to win the Womens Gladiator Challenge (Ladies Semi Contact Open Weight) in awesome style, defeating fighters from Ireland, Italy, England and Wales. Well done!

This was also the first event that Natasha fought for the GBMAA Elite Team. Our friends at GBMAA recently asked Tasha to be part of their Elite Squad, and as she will shortly be training and working with GBMAA for a year, when she takes her "gap" year, she is looking forward to it immensely.

Hey guys! Great trip down again. This was a fantastic and high level event, as well as being the new GBMAA Elite's first appearance on the fighting circuit. A great day on all fronts (and the £200 prize money from the Grand Champion event helped for the following week's oxford street shopping trip!!!!) It made a real difference having support around you, not just in coaching but in cheering too! Can't wait to go full time with the GBMAA bunch, the next year's gonna be a blast! Bring it on! x

June 2008

Saturday 28th June witnessed a WKA Scotland Semi Contact-only Fight Night. West of Scotland Kung Fu's Chief Instructor, Andy McCracken, was the promoter behind the "Antonine Challenge", with the evening's highlights being the Female and Male WKA Antonine Challenge bouts. The evening took place at the Smiths Hotel, Kirkintilloch, and consisted of sixteen Semi Contact bouts, ranging from junior novices up to senior advanced match-ups. The action came thick and fast, with many fantastically exciting bouts. The Female Antonine Challenge was between Kaizen's Kayleigh Robinson and Perth Temple's Natasha Walker, with Tasha bringing the Belt back to Perth after a superb display of world class points fighting over 3 x 2 minute rounds.

What a night! Superb is the only word to describe it! Being one of the last fights of the night I was able to enjoy the night as a whole, with the fights ranging from all different ages and styles. It was great being able to fight points over three rounds, allows you to see a change a tactics from the fighters which is always interesting to watch. I like to say a huge well done to Andy for making the night run so smoothly, it was truely enjoyed by everyone and I hope to see more of this kind of fight night in the future. Finally, I'd like to say thank you to Kevin 'Krazy Wolf' Baldwin for travelling up to Scotland especially to coach me on the night, it was great to see a fellow GBMAA member! x

Sponsored Abseiling Day at "Craig-y-Barns", Dunkeld, Perthshire (Saturday June 21st). This was a day of abseiling provided by Jock McInnes and the Perth Charity Abseil Team in aid of Natasha's fundraising efforts with a view to attending the WKA World Championships in Florida in November, where Tasha hopes to defend her World Champion titles. This year the sponsorship support is particular helpful as Natasha is also representing Great Britain at the WAKO World Championships, to be held in Naples, Italy, in September.

As well as Jock and his superb Team, I would like to express my huge thanks to everyone who supported me in this venture......... all the people who made the "Jump" on the day: the PGS gang of Pendy, Alan, Kirsty, Ryan, Amanda, Daniel, the guys from SSE: Avril, Stacie-Ann and Jenna (what a hero!), and not least Mum, Connor & Brianna................you're all Stars!! I would also like to thank all the people who made donations to the abseilers. The generosity shown was overwhelming. A particular thank you also to Kevin and everyone down at GBMAA. Thanks to you all and I can't wait to train with you guys!

Held on June 1st at the Wishaw Sports Centre, this was the first of this year's brand new Legends League. Supported by the other promoters, Del Sampson (Apollo), Nick Clarke (WCKA) and Curtis Page (GBMAA), there were competitors present from England & Wales...... and with competitors like London's Michael Page on show, there were some superb bouts to view. As Tasha was slightly under the weather on the day she limited herself to Semi Contact only, and was delighted to come away with 1st Place in -65kg and +65kg divisions.

Hey guys! The day on the whole was successful on all fronts, good to see all the new faces from Perth Temple and all the regulars from 'down south!' Although we didn't get the turn out we were after, the spirits were definately high! Well done all and keep up the hard work! x

May 2008

Taking place at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield, Judgement Day is an event is that is quickly becoming one of the unmissable dates on the UK Martial Arts Calendar. Due to it’s own success it now actually takes place over 2 days, as well as introducing this year the “Total Eclipse” Night Show, which included events such as “Princess Warriors”, with 16 of the UK’s finest Lady Semi Contact fighters contesting for prize money, “Double Trouble”, with 16 pairs of one man & one woman teams of Semi Contact fighters also chasing a cash reward, as well as two Full contact ring bouts and various show-case Kata demonstrations.

The Total Eclipse Night Show held an interest for Natasha, taking part in both Princess Warriors and Double Trouble, with her teaming up with Kaizen Karate’s David Firth, from Elgin. Natasha’s first bout in PW was an excellent example of Ladies Point fighting with Tasha taking the win narrowly from Welsh young star Rachel House. Unfortunately for Tasha in the second round she came up against the awkward and extremely (very extremely!) tall Meike Hinke who eventually went onto the final. Double Trouble was more successful for Natasha & David, with both of them displaying why they are two of the finest young competitors to come from Scotland in recent years. They managed to get all the way to the final, only to be beaten by Top Ten UK duo Michael Page & Lorraine Hughes.

Sunday consisted of the usual Semi & Light Contact divisions, with Natasha entering both styles in Ladies -65kg and also the Junior (16-18yrs) categories. She had an excellent day, almost making a clean sweep, but being very happy with taking 1st in Junior Semi & Light, 1st in Ladies Light and 2nd in Ladies Semi (to Bev Sturzaker). A very satisfying weekend, all in all.

Hey guys! Just like to say a massive thank you to Kayleigh Robinson and David Firth for Kaizen Karate's support and for teaming up together in the double trouble event! x

Once again held at the North Solihull Sports Centre, on the 11th May, Neville Wray's CIMAC British Open is one of the many CIMAC Super League events held throughout the year, and after the CIMAC World Cup, is probably the most prestigeous of them. It is also the second of the three "watched" WAKO GB events that go towards choosing the WAKO British Teams for the International Events later in the year (Midlands Open & Judgement Day being the other two). Natasha came away with some more tremendous results, becoming CIMAC Ladies British Champion in Light Contact (-65kg) and getting two 3rds in Semi Contact (-65kg & +65kg), and also being the highest placed Junior in both of the Semi categories.

April 2008

This year's WAKO Midlands Open, held on 6th April, was another fine example of the regular circuit events hosted by Del Sampson. With many of the UK's finst competitors on show it was particularly pleasing for Natasha to win all three of the categories that she entered, Ladies Light Contact (-65kg), and Semi Contact (-65kg and +65kg).

Hey guys! Successful day on all fronts, there were some top class fighters there and had some great fights. Thanks to Kevin 'Krazy Wolf' Baldwin for running mat to mat with me between events! hehe! It was the biggest group of fighters from Perth Temple in a very long time, and it was well worth the journey for everyone! Keep up the training guys! x

March 2008

This year's IRISH OPEN lived up to it's reputation again as Europe's No1 Open event, with a massive turn out over both days of competition over the weekend of 1st & 2nd of March. What makes it's so appealing for competitors is the incredibly high calibre of fighter on show from all over the World, including Teams such as US All Stars, SAP Europe, Hungary's Kiraly Team etc. Last year's show witnessed over 2500 fighters from 27 countries. Natasha was more than up to the challenge with her winning superb Bronzes in both the Ladies Semi Contact AND Light Contact (-65kg), with nearly 30 fighters in the Light section and an amazing 60 in the Semi section!

Hey Guys! March has been a MAD month! Firstly the Irish Open, biggest open event I've ever been to, awesome categories of the highest level (something like 60+ in the -65kg semi contact category!!!) As always I was well looked after by Kevin "Krazy Wolf" Baldwin and Michael "Venom" Page, cheers guys much appreciated! At the end of the two days I eventually came away with a bonze medal in both semi and light contact, which meant a lot being the first medal I had achieved from the Irish Open itself. So yeah, really chuffed and can't wait til next year!

Held over 14th & 15th of March the AUSTRIAN CLASSICS Open is one of the Blue Riband events held across Europe, hosting top teams such as SAP Europe, Team Best Fighter, Top Ten UK, Team Kiraly etc. With last year's competition having over 800 competitors from 16 countries it is an extremely high calibre occasion. Natasha travelled across with a group of British Fighters from GBMAA and Top Ten UK, meeting up with some more from Bristol Death Squad over there. Tasha performed superbly in her Light Contact division, getting all the way to the final, only to be beaten by a powerful Hungarian girl. Although not getting into the medals in Semi Contact, she managed to get through to the 3rd round (1/4 s) in both -65kg and +65kg, going out in sudden death to a Team Kiraly fighter. All in all, a very commendable debut at this particularly impressive event.

Secondly, just back from the Austrian Classic! Again one massive competition with amazingly high standards. Great bunch of people who travelled out together being GBMAA Elite (ME, Kevin, Ollie and Tom who stood in for us on short notice), Team Top Ten (Lorraine, Lee, Drew, Owen, Michael), along with some of the Bristol Death Squad guys too, and last but but not least my other roomy Rose! Thanks guys it was amazing team bonding (maybe too much eh!?!?!? lol). Look forward to the next one! x

The second event of this year's CIMAC Super League events witnessd the series visit Newport, South Wales for the first time. Hosted on 30th March 2008 by Nick Clarke from WCKA, this new leg of the series witnessed an excellent turn-out from many of the UK's finest competitors. Tasha put in some superb perfomances at the event, gaining 1st place in Ladies -65kg Light Contact, and two 2nd places in Semi Contact -65kg and +65kg, pushing her opponents to extra time in one final and losing by only the minmum 2 points required in the other. Tash also came 2nd in the Ladies Open Points division in an even tighter & more tactical final.

Last but not least of the mad month that is March, the CIMAC Super League in Wales. After a tiring GB WAKO Squad Training in Bisham Abbey on Saturday, we then drove over the border to Newport Wales for the Sunday, this CIMAC being the first event that I've been to (bar the World Cup last year). The competition wasn't the busiest but the talent and high standard was definately there. This was no suprise with CIMAC being one of the (if not the) best and biggest league's in the country. The day was a success, winning a first in the -65kgs light continuous section and two second places in both -65kgs and +65kgs points sections. I was pushed to the limit in all finals, which was what made traveling from Scotland worth while! Bring on the next one! x

February 2008

Tasha continues her fine start to the year with qualifying for the WAKO GB squad in both disciplines. At the WAKO British Championships, held in Nottingham, she managed to obtain a fine Silver in the Ladies Semi Contact (-70kg) division, but was even more impressive in Light Contact, taking the Ladies WAKO British Champion (-65kg) Title. She is now entitled to attend WAKO GB Squad training sessions, which are used as part of the process for picking the GB Team for any future international events during the following year.

Hey Guys! Well done to all those who attended the WAKO British at the weekend! Its alryt for you guys who have a 10min drive to the venue but for the real die hards who make a 6 hour car journey down to ice country, its boring! (Yes tht's ryt it was colder in England than it was in Scotland over the weekend, and tht's saying something!!! lol) The Temple success was amazing over both days of the competition, achieving 9 medals from 8 fighters! Thanks for all the support over the weekend esp Kev and Venom for coaching - looking forward to teaming up with you guys in the near future! x

January 2008

Natasha recently qualified for this year's WKA World Championships, to be held at Disneyland, Florida, in November 2008. She managed to win both Semi and Light Contact categories in the Girls +60kg divisions at the WKA Scottish Championships, held on Sunday 20th January, 2008, at the Tryst Sports Centre in Cumbernauld. Natasha will be looking to defend her World Titles that she gained in Karlsruhe, Germany, last year.