Whitecourt Wado Kai Karate Club tournament a success

 

From April 13 to 15, the Whitecourt Wado Kai Karate Club held its 16th Annual Clinic and Tournament. The tournament portion of the three-day event was held at the Allan & Jean Millar Centre on Saturday while both Friday and Sunday featured clinics for various levels. Juniors and adults attended clinics on Friday while brown and black belts worked together on Sunday morning.

The tournament started with the youngest members of the group, six and up, and continued up the levels until black belts took to the rings around two in the afternoon. Following each sparring match (kumite) the instructors spoke to the competitors and provided them with some feedback for getting better. Since the tournament does not allow for coaching, this feedback is very important.

“Often, they will try and give a general feedback to the group and try to point out some positive things and maybe some negative things, just as a whole so they can improve. The whole thing about doing the tournaments is to get the confidence and to improve,” explained Marlene Kellier-Pinchbeck. She is one of the instructors for Whitecourt Wado Kai Karate Club and is a second-degree black belt.

The type of feedback athletes receive varies on the rank or belt. “The higher ranks might be told ways to improve the timing of their kata or how to improve points performance in the kumite. The little guys will usually get advice on stances and how they can move a little bit better.”

Fighters in the tournament came from around the province and even from as far away as Yellowknife. Locally, there are roughly 60 fighters in the Whitecourt club at a wide range of ranks. Because members can learn at their own level, karate is a great family sport that children and adults can do together.

Denis Labbe, President of the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation, was present for the tournament and is an 8th degree black belt. “Being family-oriented karate, like we are, we have so many families here and its amazing. We have kids who started at six with the parents coming to watch, then we bring them in, too, because they are here anyway,” said Denis. In fact, that is how Marlene first became involved in the sport 13 years ago. “Everyone works together and even if we are fighting each other in the ring, you are trying to ask for assistance in how you can get better. It’s the comradery and it’s just like a family,” said Marlene.

The karate season in Whitecourt runs from September to the end of May for younger athletes, and the end of June for adults. Those interested are invited to pop in at the beginning of the season to see if it’s a sport they would like to be part of. Throughout the season there are usually two tournaments each month and fighters are constantly working to improve their abilities and grow. Join the Facebook group Whitecourt Wado Kai Karate Club to learn more.