Karate: Young academy students excel in Oz

MARTIAL ARTS: Jazmine Park-Jolley, 17, (right) and fellow Rotorua Martial Arts Academy students made the most of two karate competitions in Australia recently. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 011113BF2

The Rotorua Martial Arts Academy almost required another plane to carry all their trophies home, after a great showing at two karate events in Australia.

A 15-strong team from the Rotorua academy flew to Dubbo and Brisbane last month to compete in two karate tournaments.

Academy head instructor Shihan Natasha Inuhaere said the two international tournaments were held within a day of each other and she was forced to split her team up to compete at both.

The Rotorua martial arts students did not let her down and won team of the tournament at both events.

Between them the local athletes picked up 37 top three placings, including 24 golds.

In a sport defined by discipline, Inuhaere said it was not the awards that made her proud.

"I am beyond proud. Not for the trophies, I'm proud because we had constant feedback from other teams about their respect levels and behaviour. All of that is what makes me proud the most."

The academy has been running for almost five years in Rotorua meeting at Sunset Primary School, with a sister academy in Ngakuru.

Inuhaere said most participants had been training three times a week for six hours a week.

"I picked [the group] through their performance and dedication to their training, as well as their respect and discipline," she said.

She said the group had all raised money themselves to go on the trip.

Participants who featured on the Australian trip included children as young as nine right through to adults.

Rotorua's Jazmine Park-Jolley, 17, won competitor of the tournament at the Ikama All Styles Inuhaere Cup Challenge event in Brisbane.

"It is because I entered the most events out of everyone, I think. It was a very full-on day," she said. "It was a fun experience."

Jazmine came first in her category for the team kata and team kumite disciplines, second for the individual kata and kumite disciplines and third for weapons.

The Western Heights High School student said she has been involved with the academy for about five years and simply loved it. "You learn to respect people more, it is all about respect really."

The academy will be holding its own international competition today at Rotorua Girls' High School.

The Te Rupe All Style Martial Arts Karate Championships start at 9am today and runs through into the afternoon. The competition includes kata and kumite disciplines.

Rotorua Martial Arts Academy representatives

Te Ashi Kai Shin International Martial Arts Tournament in Dubbo, NSW

Tiara Herbert

Kiana Walker

Tiana Inuhaere

Sean Squibb

Joshua Yates

Carlee Reihana

Kaylin Anderson

Kirra Inuhaere

Ikama All Styles Inuhaere Cup Challenge in Brisbane

Lara Dempsey

Jazmine Park-Jolley

AJ Hansen

Ngaru Omichi

Charissa Rehu

Warren Rehu

Lochlan Tawera