Kaitaia students display warrior spirit

Students from the Kaitaia dojo represented with distinction at the annual Kiaido Ryu Martial Arts Club's combat/ grading tournament in Thames earlier this month.

Reflecting on the results achieved,standout performances at the event and the number of medals and top placings secured, Kaitaia head instructor, Sempai Rose Dermer, said her students' dedication and focus throughout the hard months of training leading up to the tournament had clearly paid off.

"I was pleased with all the students from my Kaitaia dojo considering for a lot of them, it was the first time sparring. It is good for them to experience what it's like to be in tournament and competing with fellow students and other competitors each year. It is always harder as you can never know the [quality of the] competitor but having a good attitude, discipline, warrior spirit was all they needed. I always say, 'Go Kaitaia!' as we are small community but we train hard and have become a great big family," said Dermer.

The students' individual results at the Thames tournament on September 6, were as follows (note, given in the order they appear in the accompanying image).

FRONT ROW. Max Lily contested the under-13 junior male division did very well in the stand-up sparring giving his best. Allan Charington (aged 13, 40kg) came 3rd in the junior male division with an awesome effort. Dermer noted Charington originally hailed from Kawakawa and thus his result was testament to the work put in by the main instructor of his former dojo, sensei Warren Gabb: "you have trained him hard and well," Dermer told Gabb.

Kim Crosby placed 1st in the 72kg senior female division: "an amazing woman who did good considering she was sparring with a black belt". Dermer herself came runner up on 2nd degree black belt division. "I had a really good fun, I enjoyed it. For me it's not a matter of winning I always teach my students get in there win or lose, it doesn't matter it's how they enjoy competition and meeting all sorts of competitor and judges," she said, adding her respect for a "fantastic sparring opponent."

Twelve-year-old Hermione Lesley Pomare took 1st place in stand-up sparring for the 35kg junior female division: "Hermione was amazing [and] competing against a 2nd degree black belt was good experience for her." Father Billy Pomare finished 3rd in the sports jiu jitsu heavyweight section of the senior male division: "Showing a good competitive attitude, Billy gave everything he could but in the end of the competition, [the main thing was,] he totally enjoyed it." Billy's wife, Kathy, competed in the delta group division and "did a marvellous job against the other opponents from an absolutely awesome group".

Christian Linder, 14, took 1st place in the 72kg division of the men's Brazilian jiu jitsu class: "After winning in Raglan earlier this year, this was his 2nd first place. He did amazing, keep it up Christian, train hard and be ready for next year."

BACK ROW. Stefan Thames, 92kg, came 2nd in the stand-up sparring section of the senior female division: "Absolutely wonderful how she went out there and had a good spirited event competing with a senior male competitor, I take my hat off to you, Stefan." D'Arjae Gemmel, aged 12, came 2nd in the junior male division having been convinced by Rose to compete at the last minute.

Justin Anderson finished 1st place in the stand-up sparring of the 92kg senior male division: "You did well, Justin, considering you have that control for sparring, everyone enjoyed watching you compete." Grayson Whataure, 16, competed in the 72kg senior male division: "Your sparring is getting better, you had a good competitor and also competing in delta group was good for you."

Last but not least, Brownie Martin Walters, competed in stand-up sparring at the 72kg senior male division and also placed 2nd in the delta group where he sparred with 6' long bo kata (sticks); "You went out there and gave everything you had, took a few hits but were still standing, you showed that warrior spirit."

Sempai Dermer said all her students who travelled and fought could be proud of themselves. She also thanked a long list of individuals for their help, support and encouragement and which included various Kiaido Ryu Martial Arts Club stalwarts from around the North Island, the students' opponents for displaying good sportsmanship and attitude, and various locals in the Kaitaia fitness industry for preparing students through a variety of cross training methods. She also acknowledged the wider Kaitaia community for supporting the club's regular sausage sizzles and also gave kudos to all of the parents for supporting her students by bringing them to training regularly and on time etc.

For more information on the activities of the Kaitaia dojo of the KRMAC, contact Rose Dermer, (021)0815-9767.