Saturday, October 4, 2014 the Beaver Valley Karate Championships took place in the Fruitvale Memorial Hall. Both the Beaver Valley Chito-Ryu and the new Rossland Chito-Ryu Karate Dojo’s members participated in a Registered Amateur Sport Tournament to decide who claim the title of “the best in the Valley”. Attending the Shiai were some very special guests from across the Kootenays and from the Okanagan. Sensei Maurice from Castlegar’s Shotokan Karate Dojo, Sensei Roberts from Salmo’s Shotokan Karate Dojo and our honoured Guest Sensei Chris Taneda, 7th Dan Chito-Ryu and 7-time National Kumite champion all attended the event.
“Thanks to a grant from the Columbia Basin Trust administered by the Regional District of Kootenay Boundry we had a very successful event.” remarked tournament organizer Sensei Scott Hutcheson. “The metrics which I base that on, is witnessing the progress of those focused enough to practice more intensely on their training to achieve success for a specific event on a limited timeline. To see students try competition for the first time and some to try Kumite who may never have otherwise done it unless in a friendly competitive environment where safety was paramount, that’s priceless.”
Competing in their first tournaments in the Novice Kata Division from the BV Dojo Evrik Bergstrom won Bronze for 4th place, Rossland’s Cristobal Ruiz won Bronze for 3rd place, Cooper Reed won Silver and Emily Gardner won the Gold medal. In the Intermediate Kata Division BV’s Dawson Stemler won Bronze for 4th place, Andrea Buckland won Bronze for 3rd place, Tyson Nelson won Silver and Meagan Campsall won Gold. In the Weapons Kata Division Andrea Buckland won Bronze, Tyson Nelson won Silver and Meagan Campsall won her second Gold medal. In the Team Kata Division Team Buckland with Lil’Jess, Lohan, and Andrea who won the Bronze medal, Team Rossland’s Pablo Rivas, Tobi Hillis, and Cristobal Ruiz who won the Silver medal and BV’s Team Tyson Nelson, and Meagan Campsall who won the Gold medal. In the Kumite Division, all fighting for their first times, were Lohan Buckland who won Bronze, Silver went to Meagan Campsall and Tyson Nelson won Gold. In the Black belt Kata duel, Sensei Roberts and Sensei Scott came to a Hikiwake.
Winning the Best Male athlete award with 2 Silver and 2 Gold medals was Tyson Nelson, winning the Best Female Athlete with 3 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal was Meagan Campsall and winning the most coveted of prizes this year, a Playstation4, with unanimous votes by all the Judges was Meagan Campsall from the BV Chito-Ryu Dojo.
On Sunday we had a Clinic with Sensei Taneda and 5 hours training with him was a privilege. Coming together to train were students from the Beaver Valley, Castlegar, Rossland and Salmo dojos. This shows that training in authentic traditional karate is a very social thing to do as well as an activity that provides exercise, sport, self-defence, art and culture.
For more information about The BV Chito-Ryu Dojo call Kelly with BV Rec. 250-367-9319 or the Rossland Chito-Ryu Dojo call Robin & Pam with Rossland Rec. 250-362-2327.
