CARLYLE - The Gordon F. Kells High School gymnasium saw a lot of action on Nov. 25 with the Karate Provincial Tournament, organized by Jason Humphries and hosted by Moose Mountain Wado-Kai Karate Club.
This tournament has been running for 37 years and is the oldest ongoing karate tournament in Western Canada.
Immanuel and Teary McArthur attend as many events as possible, including the one in Carlyle, as they take classes in Carlyle.
Their dad Trevor McArthur is always there to show his kids support. He put his kids in karate as he never wanted his kids to be bullied.
A large number of competitors attended the one-day tournament from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with the youngest being five years old and the oldest 61.
Throughout the day, each belt competes against each other for the chance to be placed first.
Most belt colours attended, including black belts.
This would be Teary’s last tournament for a while, so she was happy to take home second in kumite and third in kata. She will be moving to Edmonton in December where she will not be taking karate lessons.
Kata shows how well one knows the moves in an individual training exercise, while kumite is using these methods against an opponent, using defensive and offensive techniques in a standing competition.
Teary began karate lessons when she was four years old and has competed for six years. This will be a change for her, but she is going to give it a try.
Immanuel will continue and further his skills. He has been involved in karate for 10 years. He placed second in kumite, fighting in a higher class than his belt and even fractured a finger while doing so.
He has had a very successful year, winning in Alberta’s provincial tournament and placing second in Manitoba. He also placed first in Saskatchewan last season.
He has travelled to Niagara Falls and Quebec to take part in the World Karate Federation Canadian Finals.
Immanuel was selected to be on the Sask. team and will fly to Texas in March 2024 for the USA Open Karate Championships and Junior International Cup.
Enjoying sports, Immanuel is part of the basketball team at the Stoughton Central School and has also joined boxing, with his first tournament on Dec. 2.
The World Karate Federation is the largest international governing body of sport karate, with 198 countries and more than 10 million members.
