Northwest Shito Kai’s competitive karate team attended the 21st annual Karate BC (KBC) Provincial Championships held on the BCIT Campus in Burnaby Nov. 17-18.
It was the largest KBC provincials in history.
And NWSK’s team of 12 had a stellar showing, finishing fourth over all in the province, with a total medal count of five Gold, three Silver and three Bronze.
Cohan Caflisch of the 8/9 year old intermediate boys division put on the club’s strongest performance do date at the provincials, coming home with three gold medals and one silver.
Caflisch was joined by teammates Kyle Barnes and Alexander Movold in the same division of 15 boys. In the Kata (Forms) event, NWSK claimed three of the top four places with Barnes earning the fourth place bronze, Movold in the third place position and Caflisch coming out on top with the BC title.
The three boys then padded up for Kumite (Free Sparring). Movold was paired with a tough competitor from Maple Ridge in his first match and after a hard fought bout he did not advance to the second round.
Barnes and Caflisch on the other hand, fought their way into the final and met each other in the gold medal match. The outcome was a decisive 6-0 victory for Caflsch. Leaving NWSK in the 1 and 2 positions. The three boys also competed together in the Team Kata (Synchronized Forms) event, where they finished second to a very strong team from Burnaby. Caflisch finished off his day with yet another gold medal performance in the 10 and under Weapons Kata division. Caflisch was joined by teammate Jenna Scott in the group who wound up taking the Silver medal. Scott also gave a fantastic performance in her respective Kata division earning a silver medal in the girls 8/9 Intermediate group.
Liam Gauthier and Daniel Wood are NWSK’s other BC titleholders. Gauthier took first place in the Boys 7 and Under Kata Category and Wood was the champion in the boys 8 & 9 Novice division.
“These two young athletes have come out on top in every competition they have entered this year and are progressing at a phenomenal rate.” Says NWSK Sensei and Head Coach Nigel Nikolaisen.
Allsion Guilderson, NWSK’s team Captain and new Black Belt put on her best performance to date in her six years as a competitor.
She earned herself a third place bronze medal in the Girls 16/17 Elite BC Team Division. Since the start of the season Guilderson has put in many hours of hard work, showing up to the club with any free moment she has had.
Her determination and leadership has been unmatched in the NWSK dojo as of late.
Team NWSK had some other very strong showings and personal bests last weekend:
- Jordan Hennig Boys 14/15 Elite Kata.
- Chandra Rowden Girls 14/15 Elite Kata.
- Matthew Storback Boys 12/14 Intermediate Kata and Kumite.
- Gracie Dashkewytch Girls 7 and Under Novice Kata and Kumite.
- Nolan Barnes Boys 7 and Under Kumite.