Karate Wales Shine at the WKL Opening Event

KARATE WALES SHINE AT THE WKL OPENING EVENT
 

Karate Wales Mens and Ladies teams with Gareth Reynolds and David Godfrey

[Picture: Karate Wales Mens and Ladies teams with Gareth Reynolds and David Godfrey]

The Welsh Karate League stepped up to another level on Sunday April 13th at the opening tournament of the new season, when 37 clubs sent more than 450 entries to the WKA International Open.

Leah Copeland wins Ladies Kata sharing the podium with her English rivals

[Picture: Leah Copeland wins Ladies Kata sharing the podium with her English rivals]

A small squad from Portugal attended, and all four of the major organisations that form the English Karate Council; Karate England, KarateSport England, FEKO and the AMA had participants involved, and a big group from Ireland were also present with the IKAW sending squads from five clubs; Carlow, Ballon, Bigstone, Ballinabrannagh and Askea.

The home of Sport Wales, the Welsh Institute of Sport, was the venue, a brilliant stage for the biggest and highest quality WKL event yet, and probably the biggest and certainly highest quality Karate tournament in Wales in years!

Vale Karate dominate the new Parent & Child Kata category

[Picture: Vale Karate dominate the new Parent & Child Kata category]

There is now a very definite buzz around the League and Karate Wales, with all Wales' most successful clubs over the past decade or more, ever  present with strong squads,  which will undoubtedly drive standards up, and it has to be said that although Vale Karate, Ken Bu Kan and The Bushi-Kai will be hard to oust in the League pecking order, there is a plethora of talent emerging from many other Karate Wales clubs in the League! Cardiff Shotokan, Cogan, Talbot, Kansei, Pencoed, Wattstown... the list goes on of Karate Wales clubs who have huge potential in their ranks!

Andrew Kanias was once again on top form to win Mens Kata

[Picture: Andrew Kanias was once again on top form to win Mens Kata]

This event stood out, as apart for three categories (which will in future be merged within others) all events were busy. The adult events were absolutely packed, and packed with talent! The biggest adult categories in Wales in perhaps a decade!  It is a very long time since we witnessed twenty-four in a Ladies Kumite event! 
 
Gabe Operanta and Rob Copeland present Andrew Kanias with his 5th Dan Diploma
 
[Picture: Gabe Operanta and Rob Copeland present Andrew Kanias with his 5th Dan Diploma]

A spectacular day, full of drama and excitement was brought to a conclusion with the special Adult team events, and a great performance by our Karate Wales Men's team who won the event beating the quality KarateSport England team in the process.

Only Amy Nicholas and Amy Davis represented Karate Wales in the Ladies team event, and against the quality present, two good fighters was not enough.

The second event is fast approaching - May 11th in Bridgend.
 
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