Karate spirit strong in Tu¯rangi
Karate was the big draw card for over 70 members and their families who congregated in Tu¯rangi over Labour Weekend to eat/sleep/train/grade and compete in the combined 27th Traditional Shotokan Karatedo Federation Gasshuku Labour Weekend and 9th TSKF Seminar & Championships.
Training was conducted by Mark Willis Shihan, 8th Dan, over the Friday and Saturday, with competition held Sunday and grading on Monday.
For nearly all but four members, this was the first event in 2020 due to Covid-19 postponements, including the World Championships in London, so everyone was keen to make the most of it.
We had 17 of our Tu¯rangi members take part in the Gasshuku training — four of them first-timers— completing 1000 techniques with strong karate spirit, to round up two days of intensive training. The following day, 13 of these members went on to compete, while three helped to officiate another successful event for the Turangi Dojo whose members competed in 20 of the 34 events. Tu¯rangi members were awarded 10 first places, 10 second places and four third places, while three of our young members were recipients of the event’s special awards, with Danica Bell receiving Most Excellent Technique; Shania Moanaroa receiving the Spirit Award; and Emma Speedy receiving the Merit Award Junior trophy.
The final day of the event proved to be most taxing when members trained for hours to showcase their skill and ability in front of grading judges in the hope to get to the next level. For the 13 Tu¯rangi members who went for grading, all were successful, including our newest and youngest black belt members, Grace Hura and Emma Speedy — proud moments for members, parents and supporters nervously watching on.
The long weekend was a huge success, not just for the awards received, but more so for the re-connecting and strengthening of long-time friendships spanning decades and the new ones formed. The Tu¯rangi Dojo continue to grow in strength and numbers thanks to our committed parents, grandparents and supporters and are looking forward to their next event on the TSKF Events Calendar — the Southern Regions Championships to be held in New Plymouth next month.
Individual Competition Results 10th-7th Kyu Kata — 2nd U150cm Astoria Moanaroa, 1st O150cm Manaariki Dunn-Albert, 2nd Womens Jessica Murdoch, 3rd Mens Hone Albert. 10th-7th Kyu Kumite — 2nd O150cm Manaariki Dunn-Albert, 3rd Womens Jessica Murdoch, 3rd Mens Hone Albert. 6-4th Kyu Kata — 3rd U150cm Isabella Phillips. 3-1st Kyu Kata — 1st Emma Speedy, 3rd Grace Hura. 3-1st Kyu Kumite — 1st Emma Speedy. Black Belt Kata — 1st 13-15yrs Danica Bell, 2nd 13-15yrs Mystique Moanaroa, 1st 16-17yrs Shania Moanaroa, 16-17yrs Katiana Ngata, 1st Womens Tangiariki Wanikau. Black Belt Kumite — 1st 13-15yrs Danica Bell, 2nd 13-15yrs Mystique Moanaroa, 1st 16-17yrs Shania Moanaroa, 16-17yrs Katiana Ngata, 1st Womens Tangiariki Wanikau. Graded Members: Serenity Dunster-Warena, Kataraina Mareikura-Fremlin, Harrison Murdoch, Jessica Murdoch, Zara Phillips, Astoria Moanaroa, Hone Albert, Manaariki Dunn-Albert, Isabella Phillips, Te Ao Marama Ryan, Anja Hambach, Emma Speedy, Grace Hura.