GCCK - Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate

News: 26-10-2008
2008 ICKFA National Titles

The International Chito-Ryu Karate Federation of Australia National Titles was held in October with the Gold Coast well represented over the entire weekend.

Sensei Adam and Anthony Horgan both arrived early Friday and took the opportunity to attend training at the Lithgow dojo. Training at a different dojo is always a rewarding experience as you get to meet other Chito-Ryu Karateka and train with different partners. Both Sensei Adam and Anthony assisted with teaching in the junior classes helping the Lithgow kids prepare their kata for the tournament. With Shihan Mark Snow having just returned from Japan the senior training was focused on some of the techniques and theories recently learned.

The Saturday ICKFA seminar was well attended with a good representation from all dojos. After everyone warmed up together and ran through the Kihons the groups were split in two with the coloured belts working with Shihan Martin Phillips, whilst the brown and black belts worked with Renshi Mike Noonan. Sensei Noonan had everyone working on their tanden and their stances. Using oitsuki the goal was to take the full weight of a partner on the end of the fist with out the stance collapsing. Sensei Noonan was able to demonstrate how by having the correct posture and technique and engaging the tanden the technique could be incredibly strong. Sensei Noonan demonstrated the more advanced version by standing on one leg and taking the full weight of his partner.

ICKFA Karate Seminar Participants

Sunday saw the tournament commence at 9:00 sharp. All dojos were again well represented with over 85 competitors making this the largest tournament hosted by the ICKFA. The kata divisions were up first with all Gold Coast competitors doing well, every Gold Coast student made it past the first round of their divisions. In the beginner junior division Laine Van Deventer, Roarke Van Deventer and Dakota Smith all made it to the third and final round with Laine taking the silver narrowly missing out on first in a count back. Jared Van Deventer continued the good results taking out the gold in the adult beginners division. In the Intermediate Adult Kata Anthony Horgan successfully defended his National title.

Anthony Horgan (1st Adult Intermediate Kata) performing Seisan

In the kumite divisions the Gold Coast again performed well wining a number of medals in hard fought divisions. The highlight being the Open Men’s Kumite were Anthony Horgan fought very well to make it through to the final were he met Sensei Adam. Guaranteeing the Gold Coast a 1-2 finish. Sensei Adam took out the match winning the gold and defending his kumite title.

Open Mens Kumite Final: Adam Higgins (1st) vs Anthony Horgan (2nd)

Gold Coast Nationals Participants with trophies:
Roarke Van Deventer, Laine Van Deventer, Jared Van Deventer, Tasi Schiffers, Bina Schiffers. absent - Sensei Adam Higgins, Anthony Horgan, Kathleen Smith, Dakota Smith

Congratulations to:-

Gold Coast Teams
2nd - 3rd Kyu + Team Kata (Adam Higgins, Anthony Horgan, Tasi Schiffers)

Adam Higgins
1st - Mens Open Kumite

Anthony Horgan
1st – 3rd-1st Kyu Kata
2nd - Mens Open Kumite

Tasi Schiffers
3rd - Womens Open Kumite

Zabrina Schiffers
3rd - Bina Schiffers (12-13 Years Kumite Girls)

Jared Van Deventer
1st - Jared Van Deventer (Novice Adult Kata)

Roarke Van Deventer
2nd - Roarke Van Deventer (12-13 Years Kumite Boys)
3rd - Roarke Van Deventer (Novice Junior Kata)

Laine Van Deventer
2nd - Laine Van Deventer (Novice Junior Kata)
2nd - Laine Van Deventer (10-11yrs Kumite Girls)

2008 ICKFA National Titles