The first Queensland Karate Association (QKA) competition for 2020, the Queensland Cup was held on Sunday 23rd February at the Cleveland District State High School. Kansai Karate Academy, with a number of our Students from the Gold Coast dojo at Upper Coomera, had a great group of competitors entered that have been practising since the end of last year, working on both karate kata and kumite skills.
It was a great day, with lots of practice in the lead up to the QKA State Titles later this month (March) which will be held at the same venue. Preparation has also begun for some of our athletes preparing for the first national competition of the year. the Australian Karate Federation (AKF) – Australian Open Championship to be held in the first weekend of April, in Liverpool, NSW.
Congratulations to all of our students that competed, with a special mention to the following medal recipients.
Jago kumite gold ?
Koby kata silver ?
Liam kata bronze ?
Oscar gold kata and kumite ??
Kent gold kata and kumite ??
Well done for all of our competitors a great start to the company year. Also congratulations to Sensei Nic for joining the referee team. Congratulations State Judge B for Kata & Kumite.
On top of our students regular training, our tournament athletes take on extra training working on their karate competition skills, with a focus on kata and kumite. Weekly training works on fitness, strength and conditioning skills as well as karate basics, and specific skills for tournament competition. Our Gold Coast athletes work weekly at the Upper Coomera Dojo with Sensei Michael, an AKF National Judge, and Sensei Junko, a QKA State Assistant Kata Coach.
Our athletes also train with the whole Kansai Karate Academy competition team at our Head Dojo at Sumner Park, working with Shihan Stephen Kelly an AKF National Senior Kata Coach, and Sensei Chris Stephens, QKA State Kumite Coach. In addition to the high standard of competition instructors our students have the opportunity to train with some of the top athletes in the country:
- Jamie Kelly-Hoare, Oceania U21 Kumite Champion
- Enrique Berrios, Oceania Junior Kata Champion
- Kyle Robinson, National Top 3 Senior Mens Kata, former top 15 Junior Worlds Kata
- Kent Oiwa, Australian Open 12-13 Children’s Kata Champion
- Oscar Gardiner, AKF Children’s Kata Champion, 2 years in a row.
Some of the photos from the Queensland Cup.
