Karate stars claim titles:
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Local youngsters claimed a number of karate titles last month as East Kilbride played host to the KWF Masters Seminar and European Championships.
Over 200 karate practitioners and spectators gathered at the Alistair McCoist Complex on September 24 and 25 to take part in the event, hosted by East Kilbride’s Kihonkai Karate Academy on behalf of KWF Scotland.
Kihonkai’s chief instructor Stevie Mason was event organiser and host, welcoming representatives from over 12 countries from all over Europe and North Africa.
But his students were the big winners over the weekend as they helped the KWF Scotland National team produce eight European Champions and many medallists.
Daryl Simpson (14yrs Kata), Greig Oliver (15yrs Kumite), Niamh Keeley (12yrs Kumite), Stuart McCraken (Kumite), Allison Miller (Kata), Karen McBean (Kata), Qasim Ali (15yrs Kata) all claimed individuals titles, while Scott Easson (Team Kumite) helped Scotland defeat Italy in the final of the men’s team competition.
Their success, which helped Scotland top the medal table, followed the training seminar 24 hours previously as KWF HQ Instructor Masamichi Otsuka travelled from Japan to take a masterclass.
Otsuka Sensei, the current KWF world champion, put the packed hall through a rigorous work out on the Saturday before conducting a Black Belt Examination, where local East Kilbride students Ross McCallum and Chloe McAulay, both 14-years-old, were two of Kihonkai’s successful candidates, passing the coveted Black Belt Exam at the first time of asking.
Greig Oliver, Daryl Simpson and Drew McVeigh all passed Second Dan at the same exam.
Stevie Mason was thrilled with the success of the event and his students. He told the News: “I feel the size and stature of the event we hosted put karate on the map.
“The sport now has Olympic recognition and will be a display event in Tokyo 2020, so this will really boost the sport and give it more exposure.
“The most satisfying part of the weekend was seeing all the countries coming together and showing friendship and respect, while putting on a high level of competition.
“I was extremely happy for all the East Kilbride students and parents who helped run the event and to the visiting instructors who came from Japan, South Africa, Algeria and the UK.
“We can look forward to hosting more high level karate events and bringing more students through the Kihonkai Academy to represent at an International level.”
Next up for Kihonkai is the Scottish Childrens and Cadet Championships in November.
For more information on the club contact Stevie on 0141 2507516 or check the website www.lanarkshirekarate.com