White Tiger Martial Arts held its first kata competition on Sunday 18^th February at The Woodlands Centre in Rustington. The competition, which was completely free of charge for club members to enter, saw competitors from age 7 upwards competing against each other in 3 separate divisions (Junior, senior and overall).

The three club instructors were judges, along with Sensei Ray Grey of Lancing Freestyle Karate, who was a guest judge.  Students had to display their kata to a high standard in a knock-out style competition, with trophies for the winner and runner-up of each division.

The junior division winner was Tyla Blackman with Mica Allen as runner up.  The senior division winner was Shaun Jurgelewicz, who also took the coveted overall club champion prize. Runner-up of the senior division was Graham Watkins, and runner up of the overall division was Simon Letts.  Every competitor was presented with an engraved club medal for participating.  (Trophies & medals supplied by C&M Trophies, Littlehampton).

Sensei Damon Cooper, co founder and instructor said, “It was a fantastic display of kata from our students and the instructors are very proud of them for entering into the spirit of the competition. I am also very pleased to be able to use the club profits to allow the members to enter the competition for free, and have the chance to take home some nice looking trophies, which again were all covered from the profits the club has made over the last few months”.

Damon’s wife Sally, co founder and instructor added, “This is exactly the sort of thing we had planned for any profits the club made, for it to be reinvested back into the club, for the direct benefit of its members. The club plans to make this event an annual competition with students from Lancing Freestyle Karate being invited to enter next year.”

Sensei Damon