2005 & 2006
Fallon began training in September 2005 at a local club for basic self defence but even then she showed signs of exceptional ability and was allowed to train in the adult classes alongside the Yudansha (black belts).
Her competition debut was on St George's Day in 2006. She learnt about the competition with only two weeks to spare but was determined to enter.
Fallon was only an 8th kyu at that stage - a grade not usually expected to enter a national competition - she had never been taught a complete Kata and she had no previous competition experience - usually before entering a competition of this magnitude competitors spend some time on the inter-club competition circuit.
Fallon spent a few days honing one Kata and then sent her entry in for the W.I.K.F. British Nationals. Fallon had never had any fight training before the competition, not a single sparring lesson, let alone any Kumite experience and she didn't even own a pair of mitts!
On the day of the competition she arrived in a Gi that wasn't quite dry, accompanied by ham and salad creme sandwiches in a Tesco carrier bag and her new gum guard, hastily purchased as the shops were closing the day before, which had not even been properly softened or worn-in. The other competitors started to arrive in flashy busses with tracksuits and kit bags emblazoned with their names and logos! Fallon just sat at the side and watched everything going on around her, soaking up the atmosphere. She felt that she belonged. It was a classic David and Goliath scenario.
The Kata section progressed quickly. Half an hour later Fallon was named as the 2006 W.I.K.F. British National Kata Champion. She had taken GOLD.
Next came the Kumite events. The grade was 'open' and Fallon was fighting Yudansha (black belts) yet, she was just an 8th kyu (8 grades below a 1st Dan black belt). She showed no fear. Less than an hour later she also became the 2006 W.I.K.F. British National Kumite Champion. A second GOLD! The day finished with yet another medal, this time a BRONZE in the 2006 W.I.K.F. British National Team Kumite event.
Inspired by the results of the W.I.K.F British Nationals, Fallon's training stepped up a gear increasing by three-fold. Between April 2006 and November 2006 she took a further 8 titles and began training with the W.I.K.F. England Squad where she continued to train until she changed clubs and moved to British Wadokai early in 2007.
