The Taneda Karate Dojo piled up medals on the weekend during the B.C. Karate Open tournament held at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Casino.
Of the 148 medals given out, 65 went to students of the Taneda Dojo, giving them first place in the medal standings.
“That’s good,” said sensei Chris Taneda, who was unsure of the number though he tried to do his own count while walking around. “We had quite a good tournament.”
Among the winners from Penticton and Summerland were Katie Becker with two gold medals, Simonka Slizek, gold and silver and Declan Riddle, gold and bronze.
Caitlyn Riddle, gold and bronze, Jacob Slizek, gold, Aquiles Downer, gold, Ben Say, two silver, Jessica Michaud, silver and bronze, Rosa Tynybayeva, two silver, Takeshi Smith, silver and bronze, Alex Wensley, silver, William Biro, silver, Kurtis Marsden, silver, Brett Michaud, two bronze, Owen McRann, two bronze, Paige Clifton, bronze, Akira Mori, bronze, Ho Won Lee, bronze, Jodi Bartier, bronze, Marcus Bartier, bronze and Micka Becker, bronze. Tavian Gaudiuso of Summerland earned bronze in kata and kumite as did Spencer McRann in kata while winning gold in kumite.
Taneda said competing in the tournament helps gain more experience and see the different style of karate.
“It kind of opens their eyes up and they get to see different ways, people are doing different things in kata,” said Taneda.
He also said the students learn more and ask questions to get better and discover the qualities of one style over another.
Taneda said there were great performances by many competitors.
Also competing were members of Penticton’s Kyokushin Karate Club. All seven of its members won medals. Winning gold was Brice MacKay, while silver medals were earned by Audrey Gosse, Connor Black and Brandon Potter. Earning bronze medals were Jasmine Howarth, Kal Kozakevich and Kevin McCall.
The tournament attracted between 160 to 170 athletes.