25 medals for local karate dojos
FORTY local Whitsunday karate competitors travelled to Melbourne to compete in the two-day Arnold Classic Kyokushin in Melbourne earlier this month returning home with more than 25 medals.
Whitsunday Kyokushin Karate shihan Wayne Hinschen congratulated all of the team who travelled from Proserpine, Hamilton Island and Cannonvale dojos to represent the region.
"Really they all have done extremely well - a big congrats to all of them, whether or not they came home with a medal or not they have all worked very hard,” he said.
Shihan Hinschen said the team had been preparing since Christmas and gave a special shout out to the Hamilton Island competitors.
"The Hamilton island guys have travelled over here every Sunday to train with us - it's a big cost to them and really shows their dedication,” he said.
Shihan Hinschen gave kudos to Kevin Tomas who returned with a second in kata and non-contact.
"Kevin was an older guy competing with younger people and he really showed you can get in there and have a go,” he said.
"He has a lot of heart.”
The next big competition for Whitsunday Kyokushin Karate will be the Junior and Colt Australian Championships on May 26 which the club will host in the Cannonvale State School Hall.
