This year’s the Sunshine Coast Regional Chito-Ryu Tournament was held 21 June at Kawana Waters State College. It was a little bit smaller than previous years in terms of competitor numbers, but the standard of competition is getting much higher. I think the smaller numbers can be attributed largely to the fact that many interstate competitors that our event normally attracts are planning on coming later in the year when we host the national championships in October.
This year the ICKFA, our national association is working on redeveloping our tournament rules in order to make the experience better for everyone, competitors, spectators and officials. At our tournament we introduced a few rule adjustments to start trialing and I personally was very happy with the results and look forward to seeing the effects over the longer term.
In kata competition, we started using a new scoring system which sees each judges score performances according to a different sub-set of scoring criteria. In the past, all judges have tried to judge all aspects of the performance which is both challenging for judges and makes it difficult for competitors to stand out from one another. Under the new scoring system, each judge is looking at different aspects of the performance, and once competitors start to learn more about how the scoring system works, they will start to get more specific feedback from the judges about their performance just by looking at the scores and be encouraged to lift the standard of their performance and in turn develop a deaper understanding of the fundamentals of Chito-Ryu.
With kumite, we trialled a smaller ring size 6x6m and different positioning of the competitors. Additionally, we went back to referee, mirror judge and arbitrator (scorer). The smaller ring size is going to take a little bit of getting used to for competitors that have been around for a while, but so far the feedback has been good. Due to the smaller amount of space there was a lot more action as there was less room for fighters to sit back and relax.
There are going to be more rule changes to be introduced, but so far so good.
And, here are a few photos, thanks to Helen O’Grady and everyone who borrowed her camera on the day of the tournament. You can find lots more via my profile on Facebook.
Did you read the Sunshine Coast Daily yesterday (Tue, 3 Feb 2009)? If not you missed a great half page article about our very popular Family Karate Classes at Sunshine Coast Karate, in the lifestyle section of the paper, which came about as a result of a huge team effort. Sensei Sandra prepared the media release that got it all started. Liam Richards, from Mick’s Meat Barn, suggested the idea in the first place and gave a few tips which lead to the release being picked up by the paper. Sensei Martin and Helen O’Grady gave their time to be interviewed by the reporter. And the Moulden family gave up their time to have photos taken to support the article.
Just last weekend, we had our annual Christmas training day at Cotton Tree Park. It was a big day all around…
Training in the park and the water
Games for the kids organised by the Emmas (Emma Woodhouse & Emma Moehead)
Association AGM
A visit from Santa presents and all
Free BBQ sausage sizzle put on by the association and supported by both our butchers in the club, Mick’s Meat Barn and North Buderim Butcher
And finally we wrapped up the day with a few special presentations recognising the outstanding efforts of a few members, a tradition we started a few years back.
Awards were presented to Student of the Year, in a numer of categories:
Beginner Child: Emma Rhodes Pery
Intermediate Child: William Nak
Advanced Child: Viet Kaas
Beginner Adult: Amber James
Intermediate Adult: Chris Baker
Advanced Adult: Jim Moehead
Competitor of the Year: Duncan Bigg
Budoka of the Year: Helen O’Grady
Unfortunately a few of the recipients weren’t able to be there on the day, but most have since received them in class.
Here are a few photos from the day, and a few in the dojo shortly after too.
Two of the key themes in the study of martial arts are: understanding respect and developing self discipline, but you have to wonder when you see videos like this… At the very least, I hope you get a laugh out of these videos.
A few weeks back we had our first ever Queensland Chito-Ryu training camp which brought together members from both Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast dojos. The camp was held at maranatha recreation camp on the Sunshine Coast 21-23 November. Of the nearly 40 people who attended I don’t there is anyone that isn’t really excited about next year’s camp which is to be held on the Gold Coast.
Please enjoy these photos from the weekend, which highlights some of the training and other activities that we got to enjoy.
By now word may have passed around the dojo about some of the great results from our Sunshine Coast members who participate in the National Chito-Ryu Karate Championships in Lithgow, NSW, Sunday 26th October. This year our dojo was well representated with 14 competitors travelling interstate for the tournament. Of the 19 events contested, our dojo won, 9 x Gold, 4 x Silver, and 6 x Bronze. Not a bad effort!
While tournament results are not full measure of of , a karateka’s ability, it does say something about the level of commitment of the following members from the Sunshine Coast. Here’s a full break down of the results for Sunshine Coast members.
Rhys Woodhouse – 3rd Adult Black Belt Kata, 3rd 16-17 Yrs Boys Kumite, 1st Open Team Kata
Emma Woohouse – 3rd Junior Brown & Black Belt Kata, 1st 12-13 Yrs Girls Kumite
Emma Moehead – 3rd Junior 7-4th Kyu Kata, 1st White Belt – 4th Kyu Team Kata
Jim Moehead – 1st Open Team Kata
Mitchell Booker – 1st Junior 7-4th Kyu Kata, 3rd 12-13 Yrs Boys Kumite, 1st White Belt – 4th Kyu Team Kata
Luke Moulden – 1st Junior White Belt – 8th Kyu Kata
Viet Kaas – 2nd Junior Brown & Black Belt Kata
Helen O’Grady – 2nd Adult 5-1st Kyu Kata, 2nd Ladies Open Kumite, 1st Open Team Kata
Keanu Caston – 2nd Junior 7-4th Kyu Kata, 1st 12-13 Yrs Boys Kumite, 1st White Belt – 4th Kyu Team Kata
Sandra Phillips – 1st Adult Black Belt Kata, 1st Ladies Open Kumite
Linh Tran – 2nd Junior Brown & Black Belt Kata, 3rd 14-15 Yrs Boys Kumite
James O’Grady – Did not place, this time
Georgia Butner-Johnson – Did not place, this time
Duncan Bigg – Did not place, this time
Here are a few photos from the weekend, training on Saturday & tournament on Sunday.
The sports karate kumite classes for both adults and juniors will until the end of the year. Next year our local association will be hosting the regional Sunshine Coast tournament once again and the National Chito-Ryu Championships.
This video was recorded earlier this year at the Sydney regional Chito-Ryu tournament (April 2008). This is bo kata is “Sakugawa no Kon”, performed by Martin & Sandra Phillips, instructors at Sunshine Coast Karate.
