Karate middleweight Shields kicks on with a major title

DRYSDALE local Samuel Shields stamped himself on the world stage, becoming the first ever Australian to win the middleweight division of the Asian Pacific Karate Championships.

The 23-year-old took out the title in Myanmar, winning all four bouts and cementing his place as one of the best fighters in Australia.

“It was pretty cool,” Shields said. “I was in the middleweight and one of my good mates (Michael Dent) who I train with a lot was in the lightweight.

“He won the lightweight division and I won the middleweight, so it was awesome to do it with him as well.

“I copped a few big hits but the adrenaline sort of numbs your body.

“I had an injury after the second fight which didn’t allow me to use my left leg as much in the semi-final and final.

“My family were all over the moon for me. I got heaps of calls, messages and Mum even organised a gathering at our house for all the people that helped me get there.”

The tournament was ‘knockdown karate’, where no gloves or protection are worn, and punches to the body and kicks to the head are legal.

Fighters from all corners of the globe competed.

Shields’s career in the sport began 16 years ago in Ocean Grove, where he took up karate with his brothers and dad, who all still train.

Gary Viccars has observed Shields’s development over a long time and said he had “scored more knockouts in his matches than anyone else I know”.

“Australians have been competing on a national level since 1979 and we’ve never had anyone take first place, ever. That’s how big the achievement is,” he said.

“We’ve got close a couple of times — a couple of thirds — but that’s as close as we’ve got.”

In a career that’s already yielded three Victorian championships, two national championships and now an Asian Pacific title, Shields is certainly one to watch.