By Charlie Abel.
Aberdeen’s own National Karate Institute had more than just the luck of the Irish behind them on their recent trip to the Emerald Isle. Dedication and perseverance paid off.
They were representing the city on the world stage during the Belfast Open World Karate Championships held in Northern Ireland, on 29th of April 2018.
While many of us folks back home were tucking into our Sunday lunches and firing up the barbecues the Aberdeen athletes were burning off the calories and fighting their way through some really tough competition to win a staggering 34 medals.
The self-funded NKI enjoyed some great results bringing home 12 gold medals against fierce competition from the Irish and other countries. There were 16 different Karate Federations taking part.
Team coach and chief NKI instructor Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) (O.B.E. & Order of The Rising Sun) said:
“Our team were outstanding. I’m absolutely delighted! It’s a fantastic result. All the team have been training really hard, some since the age of 7. To get so many medals against such fierce and overwhelming competition from around the world is remarkable.
“We were heavily outnumbered and underfunded, but these results show we were not out-classed.
“For such a small club from a small country we proved we have what it takes, against all odds, and I am so proud we can deliver for Aberdeen and Scotland.
“It goes to show that Karate training really brings the best out of people. All our students were first class in my eyes. Medals or not. ”
Invitations for the NKI squad to perform and teach Karate have been coming in from around the world.
The NKF squad are back in training now and are aiming for success at the next festival, The International Karate Festival, which they will host themselves in Aberdeen this Summer.
Anyone interested in training Karate should call Aberdeen 734607 for more information.
The club meet in Aberdeen, Cults and Inverurie.
Ronnie Watt adds:
“We are always keen to attract new members of all ages.”
RESULTS:
Gold 12 Silver 15 Bronze 7 Total 34 Medals!!
Individual Senior Kata, Br/Black:
3rd – Grant Conroy.
Team Kata U14 Male Female Mixed:
1st – Kai Dark, Sophie Johnston, Nikita Kevra.
Individual Kumite, 14-U16, -57kg:
3rd – Benedict Bruce.
Individual Kumite Cadets, Male 16-U18, 65kg+ :
2nd – Connor Davidson.
Team Kumite Men Seniors:
2nd – Stuart Odell, Curtis Thornton, Ian Wallace.
Individual Senior Women Kata, Br/Black:
1st – Nissara Kirk.
2nd – Chloe Calder.
Team Kata Cadets Female:
1st – Yasmin Parsa, Leah Provan, Charlotte Walker.
Individual Kumite Cadets, Female 14-U16, -55kg:
1st – Yasmin Parsa.
3rd – Keira Cormack.
Individual Kumite Cadets, Female 16-U18, -57kg:
2nd – Leah Provan.
Team Kumite Female Cadets:
2nd – Yasmin Parsa, Leah Provan, Charlotte Walker:
Individual Kata, 5-U14, Br/Blk:
3rd – Kai Dark.
Team Kumite Seniors Female:
2nd – Chloe Calder, Nissara Kirk, Emma Stuart.
Senior Women Team Kata:
1st – Nissara Kirk, Chloe Calder, Emma Stewart.
Senior Female Ippon:
2nd – Chloe Calder.
3rd – Nissara Kirk.
Individual Cadet Kata, 14-U18, White – Orange:
2nd – Keira Cormack.
Individual Kata, 5-U10, Green – Purple:
1st – Cameron Smith.
3rd – Harry proud.
Individual Kumite Female Seniors, +63kg:
2nd – Emma Stuart.
Individual Kumite Female Seniors, -63Kg:
3rd – Nissara Kirk.
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