For all Award Results from this year back to 2015 – click here
The Annual San Shou Kuan Awards that are available are listed below:
The Deadline for submitting nominations is the Nov 5th annually. Any Instructor or Member can propose an individual member for a nomination in one or more of the categories. Nominations must be submitted using the SSK contact form together with appropriate supporting evidence (see Notes for Supporting Evidence).
All nominations will be reviewed by Senior Instructing Committee with the results being announced at the Annual Awards Ceremony in December.
Extra Mile: Awarded to the student who has participated and attended the most: classes, workshops, courses, competitions (competing or helping run them) in the year.
Most Successful New Class: This will be based on monthly registers, grading records submitted (additional factors under ‘Most Successful Class’ criteria may also be included in event of tie breakers)
Most Successful Class: This is based on: growth in the class: attendance, student participation, quality of students at gradings, internal/*external competitions, and student satisfaction.
Outstanding Contribution SSK: This is recognition of those that are typically work ‘behind the scenes’ supporting a club grow.
Break-through class in new areas: Classes that open SSK to a wider audience: eg. school based classes, or kids trial sessions, self-defence course, Sanda takedowns course by way of examples. These classes should be conducted a minimum of six weeks or sessions in a year to qualify for this award.
The Performance Awards:
Members who have excelled over the course of a year through: tournaments/competition results, gradings and class attendance.
- Most Improved Beginner: (1 st year of training )
- Most Improved Junior: (under 15) (any grade is eligible)
- Most Improved Adult: (any grade is eligible)
- SSK Taolu CHAMPION of the Year
- SSK Taolu & Sanda CHAMPION of the Year – (Student of the Year award* – Taolu and Sanda/Qingda comps including BCCMA Nationals)
Notes – Supporting Evidence
All awards should be supported by evidence including: Instructors Monthly Submitted Registers; Events Certification; Medals or Trophies; photographic evidence.
( Student of the Year award* other than class attendance – it’s hard to compare students at different classes – hence why we use results at National Taolu and Sanda/Qinda comps – enabling direct comparisons plus external competitions enabled SSK to measure it’s performance in the wider CMA community)
Performance Awards will be based on recorded data from grading results and competitions as well as evidence of regular class attendance. Nominators when looking at Performance endeavour to articulate how the nominee has made improvements whether this through: effort, attitude, behaviour, aptitude or hunger for learning.
(CMA = Chinese Martial Arts)
SSK All Annual Award Winners:
SSK 2023 Award Winners:
Extra Mile: Simon Hoaran (former Watford Black belt now relocated to Cambridge SSK)
For the last 2 years Simon has travelled down and attended all Junior and Youth competitions, putting in long shifts helping support the SSK team as Kit Master. The last competition had 130 competitors; Simon worked flat out constantly tracking updated schedules and ensuring 12 SSK entrants competing on different mats had correct size and colour gloves (8/10oz dependent on age/weight, red or blue dependent on assigned corner, ditto body armour in different sizes for a team ranging from 7 to 16 years). We simply could not have achieved the success we did without Simon’s support.
Most Successful New Class (based on monthly registers submitted): No nominations
Most Successful Class: Watford LD & Adult – David Nicholls, Nicholas Cumming, Zain Shah & Adam Hawkins
Previously David has excluded himself from any awards; refusing it again would be denying the team effort that has enabled the Watford classes to become the fastest growing classes again and produce a record number of champions in National Qingda and Sanda competitions.
Outstanding Contribution SSK: Adam Hawkins
In the last 10 years Adam has: passed his Black Belt; successfully competed in National Qingda competitions; assisted teaching LD and Youth classes (provided Sifu holiday cover); passed his First Aid Qualification, BCCMA L2 Coaching qualification and all Level 3 additional courses, two BCCMA Sanda Judges courses; judged at numerous National Sanda competition; assisted on Head Judge table and in 2023 was a Head Judge at BCCMA Youth Qingda competition.
The Performance Awards:
Members who have excelled over the course of a year through: tournaments/competition results, gradings and class attendance.
• Most Improved Beginner (1st year of training): Moez Abdelmonem
Trains hard, often in 3 classes a week. Good student, always listening and won Gold at his first attempt in the BCCMA Youth Qingda Championships.
• Most Improved Junior (under 15) (any grade is eligible): Aidan Nicholls
Almost perfect class attendance record, making great progress; has taken part in every competition and beat several boys to win Gold in the BCCMA Junior Qingda Championships.
• SSK Taolu CHAMPION of the Year: Phil Hames (Senior Black Belt)
Amazing forms in our Taolu competitions and has been an inspirational figure to our members. Having declined the Taolu title 2 years in a row, this year we insisted he accepted this award in recognition of his outstanding contribution.
• SSK Junior Taolu & Qingda CHAMPION of the Year: Anneesha Nicholls
Graduating from LD to Youth class this year, Anneesha did some great forms in our Taolu competition and then went on to beat several girls to win Gold in the BCCMA Youth Qingda Championships.
• SSK Taolu & Sanda CHAMPION of the Year (Student of the Year Award): Vladimir Kornienko
Trains hard in traditional and Sanda classes, competed in SSK Taolu competition, became BCCMA Youth Sanda (full contact) Champion and won a medal in the BCCMA Youth Qingda (light contact kickboxing) Championships.
SSK 2022 Award Winners:
- Most Successful New Class: Matthew Bithell.
Initially working with Jo, (now with Black Belt Leah) Matt has been running a Little Dragons class in Wales which has succeeded in signing up more new members than any other class this year, who are now starting to progress through their early gradings. - Most Successful Class: (no nominations outside of Dave classes’ – he ruled himself ineligible)
- Outstanding Contribution to developing SSK: Joseph Hinchliffe.
Coloured belt and dad Jo, was instrumental in setting up and running a new Little Dragons class in Wales, with infectious enthusiasm and hard work behind the scenes. A fantastic example of building up his coaching and martial arts skills prior to getting his Black Belt which is he now training towards next year.
(SSK will support adults towards necessary: Coaching, Safeguarding, DBS Certs for coaching children which members can do before getting their Black Belt) - The Extra Mile Award: Nicholas Cumming/Zain Shah (Nic – consistantly helping at LD classes and all events, whilst maintaining his coaching and First Aid qualfications and training towards his 4th degree Black Belt. Zain, consistantly helping at LD classes, whilst training hard, entered ALL competitions available this year and achieving high marks in gradings)
The Performance Awards:
(members who have excelled over the year; through class attendance, gradings, tournaments and competition results).
- Most Improved Beginner: (1st year of training ) Vladimir Kornienko.
Trains 3 times a week, including the Watford Sanda sparring class. He entered the SSK Taolu and Sanda competition and also entered the BCCMA National Youth Qingda Championship – where he won a Silver medal in a very competitive category; A fantastic achievement in under a year and great representation of what can be achieved with hard and regular training. - Most Improved Junior. Zain Shah. (under 15 – any grade is eligible)
Trains 2-3 times a week and also helps out with the Watford Little Dragons class which his brother attends.
He scored highly in the SSK Taolu and Sanda competition and entered both the BCCMA National Sanda and Youth Qingda Championships. In both National competitions he got on the winners podium – with a bronze and then a silver in his second BCCMA competition; only beaten by the overall winner in both competitions. - Most Improved Most Martial Artist (Adult) – Dr Kara Marsden. a lecturer in Soil Science at Bangor University, N Wales, where she has trained for almost 2 years, Kara trains hard with dedicated consistency, as she passes through all her gradings with high marks.
- SSK Taolu CHAMPION of the Year. Nicole Gooding. Taolu comps x 2 (-only 1 this year due to lockdown ) With years of training in other martial arts, (including Zhuan Shu Kuan Under Grandmaster Henry Koh) Nicole joined SSK where she has been able to continue improving her quality and precision of movement performing forms.
- SSK Taolu & Sanda CHAMPION of the Year (Adult ) (Taolu and Sanda comps x 2 ) Sarah Foster.
Teamed with Nicole, Sarah was part of a winning Taolu team. Due to Covid lockdowns its been quiet couple of years for our fighters but Sarah’s great training regime meant she got off to a flying start competing in the SSK interclub Sanda sparring competition and 2 categories in a BCCMA National comp this year.
Runner Up: Zain Shah.SSK 2021 Award Winners:
(Only Junior Categories available due to Covid Lockdown restrictions for adults)
- Most Improved Beginner: (1 st year of training ) Jamie Gallagher (13 years) (Maintained consisitant training via online classes, reached blue belt despite limited classes and helped make kids classes possible* )
- Most Improved Junior: (under 15) Siddhant Mittal (Best online training attendance of anyone including adults, just passed his blue belt (aged 9) and helped make kids classes possible* )
* Due to Covid lockdown restrictions on adults in same room; SSK Little Dragons class resumed months ahead of adult classes with an explosion of new recruits! It was only possible to run these classes thanks to the help of Jamie and Siddhant (former Little Dragon graduate) supporting these as our youngest ever ‘assisstant instructors’ before the full team of adults were alllowed back in the studios!
SSK 2019/20 Award Winners:
The 2019 Annual Awards Ceremony was cancelled due to Covid 19 Lockdown restrictions;
2020 was also reduced but we were able to combine and maintain a few categories:
- Outstanding Contribution to supporting SSK): Nicholas Cumming ( helping David teaching kids classes, multiple online classes and even covering for instructors when they had to isolate)
- Most Improved Beginner: Tekle Baroti (Joined SSK via Independant Drama intensive training course) Dedicated online training; from work, her bedsit flat, the park anywhere she could login from when she couldn’t attend Watfordd classes*
- Most Improved Most Martial Artist (Adult) – Sarah Foster Super student* ! attending almost every online class available by all instructors – one of few people who’s fitness and skillset significantly improved during never ending lockdowns!
- * Tekle and Sarah, both regularly submitted self recorded videos of their forms for feedback, including for our partial online gradings (forms and fixed sparring) enabling them to progress and start learning new forms.
SSK 2018 Award Winners:
- The Extra Mile Award (replaces ‘Best Workshop and classes attendee’): John Machell
(based on John’s Class training 3x week, all SSK workshops, GB Sanda Squad training and BCCMA:- Sanda judging course, L2 coaching course and halfway to his Level 3 qualification – Solid preparation undoubtedly helping him pass his 2nd Degree Black Belt with a record high score).
Most Successful new Class: (2 contending classes didn’t quite meet all critieria by entry deadline) - Most Successful Class:(no nominations outside of Pete and Dave classes’ – we ruled ourselves ineligible)(based on: growth, maintaining a large attendance, student participation, quality of students at gradings, student satisfaction AND nominations
- The Catherine Agnihotri Award (replaces Outstanding Contribution to supporting SSK):
Nicholas Cumming –tirelessly helping David teaching the kids and adults Sunday classes all year (in addition to his own school based and adult classes during the week).
(Award renamed for this year in recognition in all the work Cath has done, as she has sadly retired for surgery) - Breakthrough (creative) class in new areas: (1 class didn’t quite meet all critieria by entry deadline) In Essence, classes that that open SSK to a wider audience: eg. school based classes, or kids trial sessions*, self-defence course* , Sanda takedowns course*
(*min of 6 weeks or sessions in a year)
The Performance Awards: - Most Improved Beginner: (1st year of training ) Oliver Membrilla Galvez
(medal winner at Taolu comp, each grading mark improving on the last) - Most Improved Junior: (under 15) Artur Slusarzyk
(Medalist in his first SSK and BCCMA National tournaments) - Most Improved Most Martial Artist (Adult) – Jonathan Socrates
(competed in both SSK Taolu and Sanda competitions and in BCCMA National championships.) - SSK Taolu CHAMPION of the Year (Junior) (Taolu comps x 2 ) Adam Perera.
A young man to watch, hopefully in a BCCMA competition next year - SSK Taolu & Sanda CHAMPION of the Year (Adult ) (Taolu and Sanda comps x 2 ) John Machell (undefeated champion) Runner up: Jon Socrates.
SSK 2017 Award Winners:
- The Best Workshop and classes attendee: (less workshops this year with many students attending all) (based on monthly registers submitted by instructors)
- Most Successful new Class: Ryan Williams E3.
- Most Successful Class:(no nominations outside of Pete and Dave classes’ – we ruled ourselves ineligible)(based on: growth, maintaining a large attendance, student participation, quality of students at gradings, student satisfaction AND nominations)
- Outstanding Contribution to developing SSK: Catherine Agnihotri (developing kids syllabus)
- Outstanding Contribution to supporting SSK: Jane Anderson (supporting kids and syllabus)
- Breakthrough (creative) class in new areas: Catherine Agnihotri with David Nicholls – kids summer camp taster sessions. In Essence, classes that that open SSK to a wider audience:
eg. school based classes, or kids trial sessions*, self-defence course* , Sanda takedowns course* (*min of 6 weeks or sessions in a year)
The Performance Awards: - Most Improved Beginner: (1 st year of training )Hannah Yeoman (started on intensive ID actors course, medal winner at Taolu comp, completed 3rd grading in a year, each improving on the last)
- Most Improved Junior: (under 15) Arun Agnihotri (after a slow start, making good inroads on his flexibility and sparring, reflected in his effort during lessons)
- Most Improved Adult: (any grade is eligible) Adam Hawkins (passed his Black belt after repeated attempts, silver medalist in BCCMA Veterans Qinda National championships in his first ever competition.)
- SSK Taolu CHAMPION of the Year (Junior) (Taolu comps x 2 )
- SSK Taolu & Sanda CHAMPION of the Year (Adult ) (Taolu and Sanda comps x 2 ) John Machell (undefeated champion) Runner up: Aaron Canlas. (pushing for a close title bid)
- The Best Workshop and classes attendee: Maani Hessabi (based on registers submitted monthly by instructors)
- Most Successful new Class: Jon Alagoa
- Most Successful Class: (no nominations outside of Pete and Dave classes’ – we ruled ourselves ineligible – Instructors challenge is set for next year …) (based on: growth, maintaining a large attendance, student participation, quality of students at gradings, student satisfaction AND nominations)
- Outstanding Contribution to supporting SSK: Catherine Agnihotri (Cath is a returning student after a long absence through injury – a positive ‘can do’ person, who participates in most events, a massive asset using her professional skills to help teach the kids classes and also helps with proof-reading copy for San Shou Kuan)
- Breakthrough (creative) class in new areas: (no nominations accepted) classes that that open SSK to a wider audience: eg. school based classes, or kids trial sessions*, self-defence course* , Sanda takedowns course* (*min of 6 weeks or sessions in a year)
The Performance Awards: - Most Improved Beginner: (white belts only )** Teresa Kang
(trains hard 3x week in London, always hungry to learn and improve) - Most Improved Junior: (under 15) (any grade is eligible)** Jasmine Perera
- Most Improved Adult: (any grade is eligible)** Sara Atri
- SSK Taolu CHAMPION of the Year (Junior) (Taolu comps x 2 ) Adam Perera
- SSK Taolu & Sanda CHAMPION of the Year (Adult ) (Taolu and Sanda comps x 2 ) John Machell
SSK 2015 Annual Award Winners:
Best Workshop and classes attendee: (Home Counties) – Maani Hessabi
Best Workshop and classes attendee: (London) – Anne Nilson
The Best Workshop and classes attendee: (Overall) Joint winner Maani and Anne
Most Successful new Class: – Oxford
(based on class registers, growth, maintaining a large attendance, student participation, quality of students at gradings, student satisfaction AND nominations)
Most Successful Class: (launched in 2016)
Contribution to developing SSK: Binesh Shah
(work on kids Syllabus and launching two new children’s classes.)
Oustanding Contribution to supporting SSK: Dr Ada Paintin (Medical support at every BB grading)
Break through (creative) class in a new areas: Nic Cumming
(launched a school’s class for students)
The Performance Awards:
Most Improved Junior (under 18) (launched in 2016)
Most Improved Adult (launched in 2016)
SSK Competitor of the Year (Junior) (Taolu comps x 2 – launched in 2016)
SSK Competitor of the Year (Adult ) (Taolu and Sanda comps x 2 launched in 2016)