SHOTOKAN CUP 2026
The 2026 KUGB Shotokan Cup took place on Saturday 4th July 2026 at the David Ross Sports Village, University of Nottingham, bringing together Black and Brown Belt competitors from across the KUGB.
Held during the KUGB’s 60th anniversary year, the Shotokan Cup showcased an outstanding standard of karate across all age groups, with competitors demonstrating technical skill, determination and sportsmanship throughout the day in both kata and kumite.
The KUGB extends its sincere thanks to every competitor, coach, referee, judge, time-keeper, recorder and supporter whose efforts helped make this year’s Shotokan Cup another successful and memorable event.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Most Outstanding Competitor awards.
MOST OUTSTANDING COMPETITOR – KATA
Alex Cockx – Shotokan Karate Academy
MOST OUTSTANDING COMPETITOR – KUMITE
Ethan Armstrong – Leeds Shotokan
COMPETITION RESULTS
CHILDREN’S INDIVIDUAL KATA
BOYS BROWN BELT
1. Daniel Williams – Regashi
2. Finley Stubbs – Kokoro
3. Benjamin Greenslade – Tiverton
4. Jack Leader – Liverpool Red
GIRLS BROWN BELT
1. Shantana Tan – USKF Ireland
2. Yakeen Al Dan Dan – St John’s
3. Eva Sharp – Kirkby
4. Maria Koutsoukos – Leeds Shotokan
BOYS BLACK BELT
1. Archie Jones – St John’s
2. Louis IP – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Dawid Zarifi – Sendai. Kushiro
4. Leighton Sherry – St Johns
GIRLS BLACK BELT
1. Azhin Rafie – Sendai Kushiro
2. Sofia Zarifi – Sendai Kushiro
3. Naina Kurup – Sendai Kushiro
4. Olivia Cox – Solihull Karate Academy
CHILDREN’S INDIVIDUAL KUMITE
GIRLS 8-9 YEARS
1. Magda Arvanitaki – Solihull Karate Academy
2. Erica Abbott –
GIRLS 10-11 YEARS
1. Yakeen Al Dan Dan – St John’s
2. Aiya Steers – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Maya Arvanitaki – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Emily Parisella – Chelmsford
GIRLS 12-13 YEARS
1. Sienna Sullivan – Okami
2. Sophie Lam – Kirkby
3. Emilia Cox – St John’s
3. Maria Koutsoukos – Leeds Shotokan
GIRLS 14-15 YEARS
1. Azhin Rafie – Sendai Kushiro
2. Naina Kurup – Sendai Kushiro
3. Sofia Zarifi – Sendai Kushiro
3. Laoise Berwick – USKF Ireland
BOYS 8-9 YEARS
1. Finley Stubbs – Kokoro
2. Yoesuf Alansari – Shotokan Karate Academy
BOYS 10-11 YEARS
1. Nehshaal Chauhan Rowe – Solihull Karate Academy
2. Jack Leader – Liverpool Red Triangle
3. Will Shepherd – Kirkby
3. Henry Doyle – Chelmsford
BOYS 12-13 YEARS
1. Dawid Zarifi – Sendai Kushiro
2. Louis IP – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Leon Ajoy – North Staffs
3. Vihaan Thakor – Leeds Shotokan
BOYS 14-15 YEARS
1. Zain Steers – Solhull Karate Academy
2. Leighton Sherry – St John’s
3. Shivyan Mashu – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Ollie Kellard – Okami
INDIVIDUAL KATA
JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Grace Snowdon – Sendai Kushiro
2. Megan Fox – Sendai Kushiro
3. Ava Coulthard – Sendai Kushiro
4. Serena Matyas Sari – Leeds Shotokan
JUNIOR MEN
1. Alexander Lockett – Chelmsford
2. Amandeep Singh – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Sean Leader – Liverpool Red Triangle
4. Jacob Hung – Zanshin NI
SENIOR WOMEN
1. Nilu Samarasinghe – Evolution
2. Rebecca Adie – Sendai Kushiro
3. Kay Prachunla – Hale
4. Emma Lloyd – Solihull Karate Academy
SENIOR MEN
1. Alex Cockx – Shotokan Karate Academy
2. Thomas Hegarty – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Niall Gilligan – Solihull Karate Academy
4. Callum Wilson – St John’s
MIXED VETERANS
1. Vicky Philips – Shotokan Karate Academy
2. Nilu Samarasinghe – Evolution
3. John Downs – South Notts
4. Felipe Martin – Solihull Karate Academy
INDIVIDUAL KUMITE
JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Nicole Janowicz – Kirkby
2. Serena Matyas Sari – Leeds Shotokan
3. Scarlett Williams – Tiverton
3. Alice Todd – Zanshin NI
JUNIOR MEN 16-17 YEARS
1. Jason Curran – USKF Ireland
2. Kiri Subaskaran – Barnsley
3. Amandeep Singh – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Killian Berwick – USKF Ireland
JUNIOR MEN 18-20 YEARS
1. Luke Curnyn – Kirkby
2. Jake Roberts – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Alexander Lockett – Chelmsford
3. Alfie Morgan – Hutton
SENIOR WOMEN
1. Emma Lloyd – Solihull Karate Academy
2. Rebecca Adie – Sendai Kushiro
3. Destiny Osunde – St John’s
3. Cayleigh McCartney – York Elite
SENIOR MEN
1. Ethan Armstrong – Leeds Shotokan
2. Thomas Hegarty – Solihull Karate Academy
3. Bradley Barker – Kirkby
3. Niall Gilligan – Solihull Karate Academy
WOMEN’S VETERAN
1. Donna Roberts – Solihull Karate Academy
2. Hazel Moore – Chelmsford
3. Tracey Stevenson – Sendai Kushiro
3. Nilu Samarasinghe – Evolution
MEN’S VETERAN
1. Felipe Martin – Solihull Karate Academy
2. David Burnham – Tamworth
3. Frank Skierczynski – Leeds Shotokan
3. Simon Hastings – Sakura
The KUGB congratulates every competitor who took part in the 2026 Shotokan Cup, together with all medal winners and recipients of the Most Outstanding Competitor awards.
Our thanks also go to the referees, judges, table officials, volunteers, coaches, instructors and supporters whose commitment and hard work helped ensure another successful Shotokan Cup.
