Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand

With Oceania selection this year the tournament had extra spice.  In Kata Yvette Hendrikse showed once again why she is an Oceania Bronze Medallist coming 3rd, losing to a girl almost two years her senior in a very close match.

Georgia Redfern was there for the experience and did very well in both 16-17yr old and senior woman.  A very promising start to her career.
London-Rose Gould our six year old pocket rocket got a bronze in Kata.  Well done.

Olivia who is as very accomplished Kata exponent had an uncharacteristic stumble in her Kata which cost her the match.  On the positive side it fired her up for Kumite.

In the Kumite London-Rose gave us a great start with a silver medal, losing on referee’s decision, not a bad NZ Open for London-Rose.

Holly Weber just went down for the fighting, she fought very well but lost both her bouts to more experienced fighters.  She is improving all the time and winning will come.

Olivia, still annoyed at slipping in Kata got through to the final in Kumite winning 4-3 and 4-2 in the quarters and semi’s.  She lost 5-2 in the final but it was much closer than that.  Matt Redfern described it as a ‘hell of a fight’.

So fingers crossed that both Yvette and Olivia did enough for Oceania selection.

The New Caledonian’s won gold in the Team Kata (Senior Women), so well done to them and Sensei Hasegawa enjoyed not only the tournament but a night our salsa dancing.

Thanks to Matt Redfern for leading the team in what was a very successful tournament.