WEYBURN – Vilcu’s Karate Klub hosted 15 clubs and around 156 athletes for the annual karate tournament in the Eagle gym, with clubs attending from throughout Saskatchewan and from as far away as Winnipeg.
Their tournament began with a traditional Lion’s dance, put on by the Canadian Hung Kuen Association from Regina under the instruction of grand master Curtis Kautzman.
In addition to the traditional dance, members of their club put on demonstrations of weapons sparring, and then did a demonstration with the grand master, breaking bricks on his back with a sledgehammer as he leaned forward, with the point of a sword under his chin.
Some promotions were given for black belt, including by Isaac Vilcu as he presented his nephew Justin Vilcu with the black belt. Isaac introduced each of the clubs and their sensei, with his father, grand master Harold Vilcu, as the last.
Then the day's action got underway with six rings running simultaneously for all age levels, in kata, sparring and weapons sparring among the competitions.