Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand

This year Shitokai New Zealand took 3 competitors to the New Zealand Open, because of the costs involved and there was no development section. We have several young members with great potential, but to send them to compete against premier players would only increase cost with very little gain. it is far better for them to compete closer to home to gain experience.

However, it was a most successful tournament for us, with 4 Gold, and 1 Bronze medal. All of our competitors also stayed on in Christchurch for 2 extra days to attend the National training camp.

Of the 3 competitors, Nicky Roberts showed just how good she is, by winning 3 Gold medals, the -21 Women Kata, Senior Women kata (where she defeated her close rival most convincingly 4-1) and as a member of an Auckland synchronised Senior Women kata team, who are building up to hopefully represent New Zealand at the World Universities and Senior World Championships later in the year (and I might add she showed her class as a member of this team). The week training with Hasegawa Sensei before the Open showed in her performance, and when you think that most of the improvements he showed Nicky were not put into practice at the tournament, one wonders what she will be like once they are included.

Nicky has a selection trial in a week's time against her close rival for the individual kata spot for the World Universities Champs, and the results will be interesting to say the least.

Alicia Bezier from our sister club in Noumea won Gold in the Junior Women Kata again most convincingly, and was VERY unlucky to lose against Nicky's rival 3-2 in the Senior Women event, as it could have gone either way.

However that is competition and Alicia put it behind her to win the Junior Women event. Again, the week with Hasegawa Sensei showed in her performances. (Alicia competes in the Australian Open 21/22 April before returning to stay with Bob until the 29th April when she returns home).