The Penticton Kyokushin Karate Club picked up 10 medals during the 31st Canadian Kyokushin Karate Championship held May 3 at BCIT in Burnaby.
That total made it the most successful tournament in the club’s history.
Winning gold was Joseph Traynor in 13- to 14-year-old heavy weight, as well as bronze in team kata. Maggie Jones took gold in 15- to 16-year-old knockdown, Bruce MacKay in 15- to 16-year-old lightweight, as well as bronze kata open and bronze in team kata. Kal Kozckevich won gold in 12 and under for the 27-kilogram weight category. Isaac Boa earned silver in the 12 and under 27 to 31 kg class. Taking bronze was Vicente Pullido in 19 and over knockdown, Kevin McCall in 17- to 18-year-old knockdown and Jessica Zoeller in team kata. Also winning bronze were Matthew Traynor in 12 and under in the 27 kg class. Parker said that Audrey Gosse also performed well.
Parker credited the students’ extra training for their success, especially in two of the fights when the opponents ran out of energy.
“My students just kicked in,” said Parker, who praised his kids for being coachable. “The extra conditioning was huge.”
The season for the Penticton Kyokushin Karate Club, which has 40 students, ends on May 15, but Parker said they will also have summer camps, then resume their season in September.