Kelowna karate girls win national championships, now on Team Canada
Rodney Hobson Karate Academy in Kelowna had a tremendous showing at the recent Karate Canada National Championships in Halifax.
Lauren Reid was crowned the national champion for 12-13 girls’ 45-kilogram kumite (sparring), while Emma Tamaki won bronze for 14-15 girls’ 47-kg kumite.
This result qualifies them for Team Canada and they will represent their country at the Youth League World Cup in Umag, Croatia.
Kyle Beaudoin also competed, placing fifth in 16-17 boys’ 68-kg kumite.
Daniel Lam competed but did not place in the Under-21 Men’s kata (forms).
Hobson, a local karate instructor, is also the head coach of the provincial team, with B.C. repeating as the top province in Canada.
The BC Karate Team won the most gold medals (26) and most total medals (89) in the organization’s history.
Karate is entering the Olympics as an official sport in 2020, and Tamaki and Reid hope to continue their successes to earn a spot in representing Canada at the Olympics in 2024 and 2028.
“I’m so proud of all our karate athletes who represented their province on the highest stage of karate competition in Canada. All four athletes set a personal best this year, and have tremendous momentum to achieve future goals,” said Hobson.
“I reached my two goals this season, to win a national championship title and make the provincial team in kata,” said the 13-year-old Reid.
“I’m just happy to compete and perform the way I did. I went in trying to focus on my performance, not the result, and had the tournament of my life,” said Tamaki, 14. These athletes train three to four days a week in Rutland at the Rodney Hobson Karate Academy.
For more information, go online to rhka.com.