31st Gymkhana Miri Edo-Kaze Invitational Karate Championship 2023

Tabi basa & greetings everyone. In this post, I’d like to share a story about 31st Gymkhana Miri Edo-Kaze Invitational Karate Championship 2023 organized by Kin-No-Taka Karate Academy.

Competition between 10 Dojos at Miri, namely:

GCM BLUEJETS,
PBC RAPTORS,
MIRI CITY ATLETICOS,
MARINA RED ARROWS,
MARINA BAY RAVENS,
KRP COBRAS,
KGS TIGERS,
BRIGHTON TITANS,
PARKCITY GIANTS,
MIRI CITY XEVENS,
KL KKA TOMAHAWKS.

To complete the event, these karate leaders also make an appearance, including:

President of Shito-Ryu, Shihan Edward King
Sensei Edmond Fernando
Senpai Aaron Abel Donald
Senpai Peleboris Benedict
Senpai Alfred Falco

This championship shows two different type of art form, namely Kata and Kumite event.

KATA

1. MALE INTERMEDIATE INDIVIDUAL KATA
2. FEMALE INTERMEDIATE INDIVIDUAL KATA
3. MIXED JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL KATA
4. MALE SENIOR INDIVIDUAL KATA
5. FEMALE SENIOR INDIVIDUAL KATAartial

1. MALE INTERMEDIATE INDIVIDUAL KATA

Winner: Alvine from PBC Raptors
First Runner-Up: Alan from Marina Bay Ravens.
Second Runner-Up: Md Basil (Brighton Titans) & Nigel (PBC Raptors).

2. FEMALE INTERMEDIATE INDIVIDUAL KATA

Winner: Valerie (Marina Bay Ravens)
First Runner-Up: Megan (Parkcity Giants)
Second Runner-Up: Ava (Marina Red Arrows) and Bernadette (KRP Cobras).

3. MIXED JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL KATA

Winner: William from Knewton Tigers
First Runner-Up: Amita (Marina Bay Ravens)
Second Runner-Up: Valerie & Isaac (PBC Raptors)

4. MALE SENIOR INDIVIDUAL KATA

Winner: Asher (Marina Red Arrows)
First Runner-Up: Marcus (KRP Cobras)
Second Runner-Up: Ignatius & Joe Wen (Miri City Atleticos).

5. FEMALE SENIOR INDIVIDUAL KATA

Winner: Hayley (PBC Raptors)
First Runner-Up: Jarelyn (KRP Cobras)
Second Runner-Up: Kah En & Kah Yew (Marina Red Arrows).

KUMITE

Kumite is an interesting event, where you get to see these karate-kas showcases their battle prowess, and their agility in evading blows after blows from their opponent whilst looking for an opportunity to get a point of their own within the time limit given. It half-mental, half-physical match, as you shouldn’t fall to the opponents taunts, but you’re expected to be able to perform under pressure.

1. BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE (12 Yrs Old & Under / 35kg & Below)
2. BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE (12 Yrs Old & Under / 35.1kg & Above)
3. GIRLS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE (12 Yrs Old & Under)
4. MALE JUNIOR OPEN INDIVIDUAL KUMITE
5. FEMALE JUNIOR OPEN INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

1. BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE (12 Yrs Old & Under / 35kg & Below)

First Place: Justin (Marina Red Arrows)
Second Place: Joshua Lim (GCM Bluejets)
Third place: Ryder (PBC Raptors) & Jerome (GCM Bluejets).

2. BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE (12 Yrs Old & Under / 35.1kg & Above)

First Place: Caleb (Knewton TIgers)
Second Place: Marcus (KRP Cobras)
Third Place: Kai (Parkcity Giants) and Qayser (GCM Bluejets)

3. GIRLS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE (12 Yrs Old & Under)

First Place: Hayley (PBC Raptors)
Second Place: Alyssa (Parkcity Giants)
Third Place: Eszell (KRP Cobras), Rosalie (Miri City Atleticos).

4. MALE JUNIOR OPEN INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

First Place: Joe Wen (Miri City Atleticos)
Second Place: Garry (KL KKA Tomahawks)
Third Place: Graeme (KL KKA Tomahawks) & Lucas (Marina Red Arrows).

5. FEMALE JUNIOR OPEN INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

First Place: Su Yuan (Marina Red Arrows)
Second Place: Kah En (Marina Red Arrows)
Third Place: Jarelyn & Bernadette (KRP Cobras).

OVERALL CHAMPIONS TROPHY: DOJO MARINA RED ARROWS

The competitors will perform their Kata or Kumite (Spar) against an opponent, and judges will score the performance based on factors such as technique, power, and control.

This tournament teaches them to have better preparation; i.e. 3P’s (practice, practice & practice). Even before joining this tournament, they did a lot of drills on power, speed, control & timing techniques. Ultimately, this taught them to focus on their goal, to win, to fight as a real fighter, build strong team work, create new community and new friendship between different Dojos, bonding session between parent & their children who participated, as well as to inspire them to improve in future to be a better Karate-Kas (karate practitioners).

The tournament is an opportunity for these aspiring kids to make their parent proud during that tournament, regardless whether they win or lose. What this shows that the love and support and parent that they were proud to have their children to participate and compete among the best.