Nine Toshikan Martial Arts students aged seven to 10 participated in the Saltspring Karate Invitational tournament on Saturday, May 24, and had very successful results.
In attendance were 120 participants from 12 karate schools from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. For all of the Courtenay students - Van Cudmore, Aria Orr, Aryo Behzad, Ben Howlett, Peyton Bauders, Saphira Evers-Jamieson, Tristan Stushinoff, Arlo Richardson and Owen Valmorbida - this was their first tournament experience.
It was very positive. They came home with a total of 12, first to third place medals between them, for kata and sparring, but most importantly, they all exhibited true karate spirit and respect, and they had fun.
"Although it was a regional tournament, the quality of martial artists was high, and many of the Toshikan students were competing against participants who were a year older and higher belt level, so I am very proud of how they represented themselves and our dojo," Newton said.
– Toshikan Martial Arts