Fighters with Shogun Dojo made a knockout impression at the B.C. provincial championships, with almost all competitors returning from Williams Lake with medals.
Twenty-four local fighters competed against people from around B.C. in the sixth annual provincial championships on March 21.
Many local athletes had been to provincials the year before and head coach Marwan Abu Khadra said that experience helped them be successful this year.
“They were unstoppable. It’s unbelievable how much they changed. Coming back from Ottawa last year, that made them strong and they gained more knowledge and experience,” said Abu Khadra.
According to Abu Khadra, Tristan Hunt and Anaise Labonte, who both picked up gold in continuous and point fighting in the men’s and women’s categories, fought well.
“[Tristan] was really competitive, but very fair. He controlled his fight and it was the same thing with Anaise,” said Abu Khadra.
“She’s one of the strongest girls I know. If she pulls it off this year, I think she can make a big game.”
Up next, the group will turn their sights to nationals in Ottawa in May.
“They need to continue the same effort, the same training and this way they will progress even further,” said Abu Khadra, noting that they will continue to work on form.
Full list of winners and medals:
Jordan Ehalt: Kata freestyle gold, Kata freestyle weapon gold, point fighting gold, Kata team silver, Kata classical bronze.
Connor Ehalt: Continuous gold, point silver, kata classic bronze.
Kayla Muir: Kata tream 4th.
Conner Muir: Point fighting bronze, continuous silver.
Kyle Muir: Continuous and point fighting gold.
Brook Delwisch: Kata hardstyle gold, Kata weapon freestyle gold, Kata freestyle gold.
Kloe Hick: Point fighting silver, Kata freestyle weapon silver; Kata team silver, Kata classic 4th, Kata freestyle gold.
Olivia Stanton: Kata team 4th.
Tristan DeEllion Hunt: Continuous and point fighting gold.
Ian Chaplin: Continuous gold and point fighting gold.
Suzy Garcia: Kata gold, Kata silver.
Liza Ramos: Point fighting gold, Kata 3x gold.
Martin Roberge: Continuous and point fighting gold, Kata 3x gold.
Salish MacDonald: Kata gold, point fighting silver, team fight silver.
Liam Blair-Murphy: Point fighting gold.
Anaise Labonte: Point fighting gold and continuous fighting gold
Rowyn Lamb: Point fighting silver, team fight silver.
Karim Abu Khadra: Continuous and point fighting gold, Kata classic gold.
Kyra Abu Khadra: Kata classic silver and Kata team gold.
Tareq Abu Khadra: Point fighting gold and continuous fighting gold.
Nathan Peterson: Point fighting and continuous gold, Kata classic silver, team fight silver, Kata hardstyle bronze.
Bronwyn Hobson: Point fighting gold, Kata classic gold, Kata weapon gold and Kata team gold.
MacKay Morgan: Continuous silver and point fighting silver.