Martial Arts
Karate Noosa held its yearly Shotokan Karate tournament at the State School Noosaville on Saturday 13 September. The tournament, held under strict Japanese Shotokan rules, was a great success with over 50 competitors (one of which travelled from the Gold Coast) ranging in age from five to 35.
One of the main reasons was that it provided the students traveling to Japan on 25 September, for the World Shotokan Karate Championships in Tokyo, with an opportunity to further develop their skills. Head sensei of Karate Noosa Bryan Dukas Black Belt 6th Dan said: “I was very happy with the way in which all competitors conducted themselves. Their good sportsmanship and manners can only serve to strengthen their character and way of life.”
Students competed in three categories: the Karta, Basic Sparing and Free Sparing. Karate Noosa is a proud member of the World Shotokan Karate-Do Federation (WSKF) and as such is dedicated to building a better community: one Black Belt at a time. The basic principles of good constructed and well -run martial arts clubs is of course tradition, discipline and pride: with many of the arts being traced back hundreds of years.
Jiu-Jitsu.
Last weekend Sunday 14 September, a team of 13 adults and 22 junior members of the Noosa Caza Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club travelled to the Caloundra Indoor Stadium to contest the Sunshine Coast Open Jiu-Jitsu Championships. With this being the third of four major tournaments set down on the Sunshine Coast, it was well attended.
At the close of day Noosa’s medal tally was a total of 16 gold, 25 silver and 11 bronze: once again an outstanding result. The overall tally in the various divisions was, Best Male no gi team – Caza Club second place – Best Junior team-Caza Club third place.
For the girl’s team, in the words of head club coach Yoshi: “Our girls did an amazing job with all competitors winning either a gold or silver medal.” For Scarlet Trigar two gold, Valentina Song Redman gold and silver, Michaela Svoboda gold, and Sophie Panlook and Lily -May Cuthbert it was two silver medals each.
Members are reminded that women’s only classes are held Mondays and Thursdays at the Noosa Headquarters 5.30 -6.30 pm.
According to one of the historians of the arts, Michael Finn: “Any martial art skill which is not beneficial to both the exponent and society is not a martial art. A thug may use a martial art technique in a fight, but this does not make him a martial artist: had he been taught true martial arts he would not be a thug.” This in the long run, will of course contribute to a better society.
With our shire now being the homeland of three successful and highly respected combat sport clubs, karate, (Karate Noosa, head coach Bryan Dukas Jiu-Jitsu (Caza Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club head coach Yoshi Hasegawa) amateur boxing (Team Impact Head Coach Mark Evans) we can rest assured that there is plenty of good guidance pointing in the right direction for the youth (both male and female) of our community. And these sports are just the tip of the ice berg.
Little Athletics.
On Friday night Noosa’s Little Athletics were back on track for the 25/26 season and head coach Mick Hooper was pleased to see so many familiar faces back for another season. New families can join Little Athletics on the first two Friday nights. This Friday the 19th is sure to be a big one.
“One of the highlights is that the kids get a chance to make new friends from different schools that they hadn’t met before. Over the last twenty years I have seen athletes meet and at the end of this time they leave as lifelong friends. Our motto is Family Fun and Fitness, and this exists from 5-16-year-olds. Then there is the Noosa Athletics Club which is for 12 yr olds to Opens.
Many Little athletics will follow the pathways created by the seniors so that one day they will go on to represent their State and Country. “We are expecting a big season this year on the back of Australia’ success at the current World Championships being held in Tokyo. This will create a desire to compete at the Brisbane Olympics in 2023.”
Pickleball.
The Australian Pickleball Championships will be held from the 29 September to 6 October. It will be held at the Pimpama Sports Hub, Pimpama on the Gold Coast: over 1300 players are expected to compete. Noosa will be represented by over 20 of its members and our youngest competitor will be 25 yr old Henry Chard and our oldest is Mike Keys 81. Good- luck to all competitors. In Noosa’s latest tournament results, last weekend at the Bundaberg QPT Tournament, saw our members come away with a swag of medals: totalling four gold two silver and one bronze.
Well done to all Noosa’s members who made the trip up to Bundy and competed on their wonderful, dedicated courts. The Noosa club is hoping that it won’t be too long before they can hold a tournament in Noosa also on dedicated pickleball courts that will enable them to attract players from all over Australia, New Zealand and America.
Our local club is currently running come and try sessions for any Noosa Council employee who would like to try the fastest growing sport in the world. Sessions are running three times a day on every Tuesday and Thursday for the month of September. A great initiative by council and the Noosa Pickleball club.
Surf lifesaving.
The first patrolling day for the 25/26 season Surf life Saving Clubs, is Saturday 20 September: and we will start with the Raising of the Flags. As always members are reminded that our core business is, and always will be, beach patrolling and protection of human life. A big community invitation has been extended with members in attendance at 6.30am
