On Saturday 12 October the Shukokai karate world gathered in Coimbra, Portugal for the 2019 Kimura Cup European Championships – and the results were great for the Hout Bay dojo!
Building up to the competition competitors participated in a Gashuku (training day) lead by the Kimura Shukokai Joint World Chief Instructors. With the muscles warm and the joints flexed it was competition time!
Fifteen countries, represented by around 300 karateka, hit the mats on Saturday morning to compete for the KSI European Cup medals across 31 divisions, competing in kumite and kata.
Hout Bay dojo was represented by Sensei John Shaw (5th Dan) and Michelle Luker (pictured below).
The SAS team came third overall, bringing home 11 medals, 6 of them gold. Said Sensei John, it “was a wonderful achievement considering the small team that SA had, but most important, very encouraging to witness the improved performances of the young up and coming competitors. The referee standard was also praised.”
One of these golds belongs to Sensei John himself, head of the Hout Bay dojo. Sensei John won his final kumite bout 5-0 in the men’s veterans division, making him the new 2019 Kimura Cup Europeans Men’s Vets Champion 50+.
He adds to the title he already holds as the 2018 Kimura Shukokai International Men’s Vets Heavyweight 50+ World Champion.
Supporter footage of Sensei’s John’s final win:
Some pics from the event:
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