NEWCASTLE COMPETITORS RETURN TRIUMPHANT FROM GOJUKAI NATIONAL TITLES!
- Francis Fenlon
- Apr 5, 2017
- 2 min read
ABOVE: SENSEI JANINE TURTON PERFORMING KATA SEUNCHIN This weekend a small group of students and instructors from Newcastle GKR took part in the 2017 Australian Gojukai National Titles. For most of them it was their first time competing in a tournament outside of GKR, but despite any nervousness they may have been feeling, all of them displayed an amazing level of spirit and skill. Only 7 individuals were selected from our Tournament Class to undergo the training required to compete at this event which involved an increase in fitness and conditioning training, as well as learning new Kata. GKR Students were required to learn the Gojukai versions of either Saifa or Seunchin or learn an entirely new Gojukai Kata for the competition. This journey was a challenge for many students as the differences between the two styles of karate are sometimes dramatic. Despite this, after a month of dedicated training our students were ready to turn heads at the competition, with our humble group of competitors bringing back a grand total of 9 trophies from the event - That is an amazing result!
ABOVE: KIRSTY GREGORY RECEIVED AN IPPON FOR THIS URA MAWASHI GERI (HOOK KICK) AND THE WINNERS ARE... Well done to these competitors for placing in the top 3 of their individual events... SENSEI ELEISHA KELLY 1st in Kata, 2nd in Kumite SENSEI ROBBIE TURTON 2nd in Kata, 2nd in Kumite KIRSTY GREGORY 2nd in Kata, 3rd in Kumite SENSEI JANINE TURTON 3rd in Kumite SENSEI JODY WATERS 2nd in Kumite SENSEI EMMA ROBERTS 2nd in Kumite SPECIAL MENTIONS TO... CAMERON McBEATH who just missed out on taking home a trophy on the weekend, but demonstrated his determination and sheer strength of will with some impressive rounds of Kumite. In his final round he relentlessly pursued his opponent with attacks even after fracturing his arm early during the round - that is Impressive! SENSEI CHERIE was on the sidelines to offer support and coaching to all our competitors this weekend and has also been instrumental in mentoring our students on the Gojukai requirements for Kata and Kumite - Well done, you should be very proud!
TOP LEFT: SENSEI EMMA PERFORMING KATA GEKISAI DAI ICHI. TOP RIGHT: SENSEI ROBBIE DELIVERING A JODAN MAWASHI GERI. BOTTOM LEFT: SENSEI ELEISHA DOMINATES. BOTTOM RIGHT: SEMPAI CAMERON DEMONSTRATES A GREAT COUNTER ATTACK
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING YOURSELF? If you are interested in being involved in events like this in the future simply become a part of our Tournament Class that is held every Friday night from 6.30 - 8.30pm at West Wallsend High School. This class has proven to increase the success of students in their tournament endeavours and is instrumental in developing the fitness, discipline and the specific skills that we look for when selecting students to take part in special events outside our normal GKR tournament circuit.
ABOVE: KIRSTY AND SENSEI ELEISHA CELEBRATE THEIR TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
ABOVE LEFT: SENSEI ROBBIE WITH ONE OF HIS TROPHIES ABOVE RIGHT: SEMPAI CAMERON STILL SMILING
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SEMPAI CAMERON, SENSEI ELEISHA, SENSEI JODY, SENSEI EMMA,SENSEI CHERIE (CROUCHING), KIRSTY GREGORY, SENSEI JANINE & SENSEI ROBBIE - WELL DONE GUYS!
Comments