The seventh annual Genbukai Tri-Western Local Karate Tournament was held in the McLurg High School gym this past weekend. The one day tournament, put on by the Wilkie Karate Club, ran from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., March 16.
Competitors came not only from the three local clubs - Wilkie, Unity and Biggar - but from North Battleford, Saskatoon and Bonnyville, Alta., as well. With approximately 50 competitors participating in the event, ages ranged from six to 69, with students being divided by belt rank and age.
There were three main events in the tournament; Kata (karate forms), Team Kata (three students performing the same Kata at the same time) and Kumite which is one-step sparring showing basic attack and basic defence. Advanced students, those with purple, brown and black belts, did advanced one-step using a freestyle defence.
In the black belt division, Todd Myhre from Saskatoon won the gold in the Kata event and Ryan Hill from Saskatoon won the gold in the advanced Kumite. In the brown belt division Nathan Pyle from North Battleford won the gold in Kumite and Neville Crane from Biggar won the gold in Kata. Bev Barth, sensei of the Wilkie Karate Club, handed out 30 sets of medals, saying there was a good division of medal wins.
The Wilkie Karate Club has been in our community for at least 25 years. Sensei Barth runs and teaches this club, as well as the Unity and Biggar karate clubs. Although run as independent clubs, all three are operated under the Wilkie Karate Club.
Currently there are around 70 students from the clubs combined. Ages start at six, however, there is no restriction as to what age you can participate until. There are many different styles of karate, shito-ryu being the style taught at the local clubs, which comes from Okinawa in Japan.
There are two major tournaments a year. This April, a tournament will be held in Lloydminster as well as an advanced tournament for the brown and black belts, called the Demura Cup, also in Lloydminster. The Demura Cup is named after the head of the overall organization, Sensei Fumio Demura.
Students who have travelled to his international tournament, held every February in L.A., have received many medals including the notable ones of Sensei Woytiuk, sensei of North Battleford, who won a gold medal in cutting and Sensei Barth, who won a bronze medal in Kata.
With Shihan (Master) Demura being a ninth degree black belt, Barth says, you would have to go to Japan to see higher.
Wilkie classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8: 30 pm. Unity classes are held Wednesdays at 6:30 pm and Biggar classes are held Sundays at 6:30 pm. The clubs accept new students at any time. For any inquiries or to join the club, please contact Bev Barth at 306-843-8141.
