2026 Squad Selection Framework – Shito Ryu Karate Wales
Squad Selections: 20th December 2025
These selections will determine athlete placement for the 2026 season, including pathways toward national, international and Para Karate competition.
This year four squad pathways will be selected, plus a separate international team for Hungary.
Shito Ryu Karate Wales Squad Programme
The Shito Ryu Karate Wales Squad Programme provides a structured development pathway for athletes who want to progress their competitive karate beyond regular club training.
Our aim is not simply to produce athletes who can perform kata or compete successfully.
We want to develop athletes who understand how to train, how to prepare, how to recover and how to take increasing responsibility for their own development.
The programme provides a progressive pathway from developing competition experience through to preparation for national and international competition.
Our Athlete Pathway
Regional Squad → National Squad → A Squad
Alongside this pathway, our Para Karate Squad provides appropriate development and competition opportunities for Para athletes.
Each squad represents a different stage of athlete development.
Progression is not automatic. Athletes are expected to demonstrate the appropriate technical standard, competition development, training habits, attitude and commitment before progressing to the next level.
Regional Squad
Foundation & Competition Development
The Regional Squad is the first stage of our competitive pathway.
It is designed for athletes who are beginning to develop their competition karate and need experience performing under pressure and competing outside their normal club environment.
The emphasis at this stage is on building:
Competition experience
Confidence
Technical consistency
Understanding of competition rules and procedures
Appropriate kata selection
Performance under pressure
Good training habits
Experience competing against athletes from outside the club
Regional Squad athletes compete primarily at Welsh and regional events and may progress towards National Squad selection as their experience and performance develop.
Athletes may also be invited to appropriate national squad training opportunities where coaches believe this will benefit their development.
National Squad
Athlete Development Programme
The National Squad is the next stage of our athlete pathway and is designed for athletes demonstrating the potential, commitment and attitude required to progress towards higher-level national and international competition.
At this level, development extends beyond technical karate.
Athletes begin learning how to approach their training as a competitive athlete.
October 2026 Programme Development
From October 2026, the National Squad progressed into utilising the A Squad Athlete Development Programme.
This gives National Squad athletes access to the same overall training framework used within A Squad and introduces them earlier to the physical preparation, athlete education and structured training required as they progress through the pathway.
The programme includes:
Structured Strength training
Strength & Conditioning (S&C)
Zone 2 aerobic development
Kata development
Kihon development
Mobility and recovery
Competition preparation
Athlete education
Nutrition and hydration guidance
Sleep and recovery education
Periodised training through our Reset → Build → Peak → Compete phases
National Squad athletes are taught how to follow these programmes correctly and gradually become more independent in managing their own training.
The purpose is not simply to give athletes more sessions.
It is to teach them how and why they are training.
A Squad
Performance Programme
A Squad represents the highest level within our internal athlete-development pathway.
Athletes at this level follow the same overall Athlete Development Programme introduced at National Squad level, but with higher expectations of performance, consistency, independence and personal responsibility.
A Squad athletes are expected to train consistently and take an active role in managing their own development.
Their programme may include:
Individual athlete development planning
Structured Strength programmes
Strength & Conditioning
Aerobic development
Kata and Kihon development
Individual technical priorities
Competition-specific preparation
Performance analysis
Mobility and recovery
Athlete education
Personal Training sessions with coaching staff
National and international competition planning
Competition programmes may include major domestic championships and appropriate international events, including WKF competition.
Selection for A Squad does not mean an athlete has completed their development.
It represents a progression towards a higher-performance environment where athletes are expected to take greater ownership of their preparation and performance.
National Squad develops athletes towards the standard.
A Squad represents that standard.
One Athlete Development Programme
National Squad and A Squad remain separate selection levels, but from October 2026 both operate within the same overall Athlete Development Programme.
This creates a much clearer pathway between the two squads.
A National Squad athlete can begin learning the training methods and behaviours required at A Squad level before they are ready to progress.
As athletes develop, we expect to see increasing independence.
Initially, an athlete may need considerable guidance to understand Strength training, S&C, Zone 2, recovery and competition preparation.
Over time, they should become increasingly capable of understanding their programme, completing their training correctly and taking responsibility for their own development.
Progression therefore isn't determined solely by competition results.
How an athlete trains matters too.
A Squad - Athlete Mentoring
As part of the Athlete Development Programme, selected National Squad athletes may be paired with experienced A Squad athletes during development blocks.
The role of the A Squad mentor is to help developing athletes understand the programme and the standards expected within it.
This may include training alongside their National Squad athlete, demonstrating exercises, helping them understand sessions and encouraging good training habits.
The aim is not to make National Squad athletes dependent on their mentor.
Instead, mentoring should help athletes become increasingly confident and independent within the programme.
The mentoring system also provides our more experienced A Squad athletes with opportunities to develop leadership, communication and responsibility.
Training Phases
Our National Squad and A Squad Athlete Development Programme uses four training phases:
RESET
A period of recovery, rebuilding and preparation following major competitions or demanding competition blocks.
The focus is on restoring the athlete physically and mentally while addressing movement quality, technical foundations and areas requiring development.
BUILD
Training volume and physical development increase.
Athletes work on Strength, conditioning, aerobic capacity, technical development and building the physical qualities required for competition.
PEAK
Training becomes increasingly competition-specific.
Volume begins to reduce while quality, intensity, speed and performance become increasingly important.
COMPETE
The priority becomes competition readiness.
Training volume reduces and the focus moves towards freshness, confidence, sharpness, recovery and producing the best possible performance on competition day.
This structure allows our athletes to understand that training should not look the same every week of the year.
Developing the Complete Athlete
Competitive development involves considerably more than what happens during karate sessions.
National Squad and A Squad athletes are educated around the wider areas that can influence their development and performance, including:
Sleep
Nutrition
Hydration
Recovery
Strength
Conditioning
Aerobic fitness
Mobility
Competition preparation
Managing training load
Performance psychology
Personal responsibility
We want athletes to understand the choices that can support their development rather than simply being told what to do.
As athletes progress through the pathway, greater independence and personal responsibility are expected.
Athlete & Coach Agreement
National Squad and A Squad athletes are required to read and agree to our Athlete & Coach Agreement.
The agreement establishes what athletes can expect from their coaches and, equally, what coaches expect from athletes who choose to participate in the programme.
It is designed to create a positive, supportive and performance-focused environment while making the responsibilities of both athlete and coach clear.
For younger athletes, parents and guardians also play an important role in supporting the programme and understanding its expectations.
Para Karate Squad
Our Para Karate Squad provides a dedicated pathway for neurodiverse and adaptive athletes.
The programme currently supports appropriate Para Kata classifications and provides opportunities to compete at Welsh, national and international level where appropriate.
Development is based on the individual athlete, their classification, competition opportunities and long-term potential.
As the programme develops, our aim is to continue expanding the opportunities available to Para athletes within Shito Ryu Karate Wales.
Squad Selection & Progression
Squad selection takes place periodically throughout the year.
Selection considers much more than competition results.
Coaches may consider:
Technical ability
Competition performance
Long-term potential
Training consistency
Coachability
Attitude
Physical development
Application of feedback
Independence
Commitment to the programme
Behaviour in training and competition environments
Athletes develop at different rates and selection for one squad does not guarantee progression to another.
Likewise, athletes may move between squad levels where coaches believe a different environment would better support their development.
The purpose of selection is to place each athlete within the most appropriate development environment for them at that point in their journey.
Funding Support
Eligible squad athletes may be able to access external funding towards the costs associated with their development and competition programme.
Funding availability and eligibility can vary according to athlete level, competition programme, national selection status and the criteria of the relevant funding organisation.
Athletes and parents should speak with the coaching team regarding current funding opportunities and eligibility.
Our Aim
Our aim is to create a clear pathway for athletes who want to explore how far they can take their competitive karate.
For some, that may mean gaining confidence and competing regionally.
For others, it may mean representing Wales, competing internationally or progressing towards WKF-level competition.
Whatever their eventual level, we want athletes progressing through the programme to develop the knowledge, habits and independence that allow them to take ownership of their development.
Develop the athlete.
Develop the person.
Develop the performance.