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High level of skill on display at karate competiton

Genbukai Karate practitioners from as far as Saskatoon and from the local area came to Glen Avon School last Saturday to participate in the annual Genbukai Canada karate competition. The competition started at 10 a.m.
Pictured is kumite action at Glen Avon School during the recent Genbukai Canada Karate tournament. About 300 competitors from Calgary, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Lloydminster,
Pictured is kumite action at Glen Avon School during the recent Genbukai Canada Karate tournament. About 300 competitors from Calgary, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Battlefords and surrounding areas converged in St. Paul for the tournament.

Genbukai Karate practitioners from as far as Saskatoon and from the local area came to Glen Avon School last Saturday to participate in the annual Genbukai Canada karate competition. The competition started at 10 a.m., and went on until late evening, and featured close to 300 people competing in various events ranging from kumite, free light contact sparring to individual and team kata, which is a series of choreographed patterns of karate movements.

“The day is going well,” said Calvin Leckie, local karate instructor at the St. Paul Karate-Do, adding, “There are many competitors from all over here today.”

Leckie is a 3rd Dan practitioner of Genbukai Karate, and had the task to serve as one of the judges for the competition.

Leckie also commented that the most exciting competition comes from the black belt events, which were held near the end of the day.

Most of the younger competitors who competed in the events earlier during the day stayed behind to watch the older and more skilled practitioners of the martial arts.

Michael Donnelly, one of the many spectators at the event, was excited to see the skill level and sportsmanship shown at the competition. “I have been to a few different martial arts competition,” commented Donnelly, “But (the level) and sportsmanship at this competition is one of the best I’ve seen.”

Donnelly was invited to the competition by his nephew, who competed in the under-16 kumite competition.

“Jason has been practicing karate since age seven,” explained Donnelly proudly, adding, “And I was at three of his competitions, which he did very well in.”

Donnelly went on to say that the sportsmanship displayed in the competition was very encouraging and that he saw “much-needed respect for one’s opponent,” during the day’s event.

“Every athlete in contact sports should learn from these folks today,” said Donnelly, “And we’ll have less sports-related injuries.”

Check next week’s issue of the St. Paul Journal for local competitors’ results from the Genbukai Canada Karate tournament.

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