NOOSA had seven new National Champions following the Australian National Karate titles held in Adelaide earlier this month.
Eleven students from Karate Budokan at Noosaville represented Queensland at the Australian National Karate titles coming away with seven titles.
This is the highest level of karate competition in Australia, for Noosa to have such a dominant force at this level is something the whole community should be very proud of.
The locals picked up nine gold, four silver and eleven bronzes.
Karate Budokan’s World chief instructor Shihan Wayne MacDonald, (7th Dan) has been one of the Queensland coaches and a former multiple Australian and World Champion and was thrilled with the success and the dedication shown by the local students.
“It was a big achievement in a very busy competition year to dominate the nationals after we won the Best and fairest club in Queensland earlier in the year,” he said.
“They just always train hard and deliver the effort when it counts, our entire team of Senseis is very proud of them all.”
The region’s newest national champions are Riana Loffel 19 (3 Gold), Brandon Evans 15 (3 Gold), Ella Boot 15, Jackson Hinds 11 and Isla Corbett 12.
“This is the highest domestic reward they could achieve after a big year of serious preparation,” Wayne said.
“It is so rewarding as a coach to see someone want a goal so badly, and to finally achieve it.
“The result for Riana is also a special one as she took out the senior women’s open champion title in only her second year competing against the women in the seniors and she won her Under 21 years weight division also!”
Riana is now in Switzerland to compete there and in Germany in her preparation to represent Australia at the Junior World Titles in Indonesia this November.
Brandon Evans won gold in all three of his sparring divisions, he is now off to represent Australia at the Commonwealth titles in India this September with his sister Celina.
Ella Boot took the gold in the Cadet Female sparring and the silver in the Cadet open and Jackson Hinds defended his title from last year by stepping up into an older division and proving that size is no match for speed.
Isla Corbett, in only her second year of representing Queensland, took out the gold in the sparring and the bronze in the Kata proving that she is an all-round karate kid.
“Overall this is a huge result for a regional area to have so many representatives at a National title and then achieve the ultimate success,” Wayne said.
