Team in Action

November 4-8, 2009 - National Team In Italy

The SWKKF National Team competed at the World Traditional Karate Association (WTKA) World Championships. The tournament was held in a town called Marina di Carerra just outside of Pisa, Italy. With roughly 50 countries present, the SWKKF represented Canada with a total of 12 athletes. Each athlete competed in a variety of events including individual kata, individual kumite and team kumite. We saw many styles of karate, were privileged to compete against talented karate-ka and were honored with success as well. Every member of the team came home with a medal. Results include:

Sensei Michel Gosselin: 1^stin team ippon shobu kumite, 3^rd in ippon sanbon kumite, 3^rd in individual point karate kumite.
Sensei Jeff Gervin: 2^nd in individual kata, 2^ndin team ippon shobu kumite, 3^rd in team ippon sanbon kumite.
Sensei Scott Hill: 2^nd in team ippon shobu kumite, 2^nd in team ippon sanbon kumite, 1^st in kickboxing.
Sensei Kevin Bowes: 3rd in individual kata, 2^nd in team ippon shobu kumite
Sensei Shannon Kaye: 2^nd in individual point karate kumite, 2^nd in individual ippon sanbon kumite, 1^st in team ippon shobu kumite, 3^rd in ippon sanbon kumite
Sensei Mike Rust: 3^rd in team ippon shobu sanbon
Sensei Kelsey Ross: 2^nd in individual point karate kumite, 2^nd in individual kata, 3^rd in individual ippon sanbon kumite, 2^nd in team ippon shobu kumite, 3^rdin team ippon sanbon kumite, 3^rd in team point karate kumite.
Sensei Cassey Sumbler: 3^rdin individual kata, 2^nd in team ippon shobu kumite, 3^rdin team ippon sanbon kumite, 3^rd in team point karate kumite.
Sensei Samantha Fitzel: 2^nd in team ippon shobu kumite, 3^rdin team ippon sanbon kumite, 3^rd in team point karate kumite.
Sensei Emilie Gosselin: 1^st in individual kata, 2^nd in individual point karate kumite, 3^rd in individual ippon sanbon kumite
Sensei Evan Junkin: 1st in ippon shobu, 1^st in team point karate, 3^rd in team sanbon

Sensei Ron Mattie: 1^st place Iaido

More important than the medal standings was the impact our team had at the tournament. When we arrived on the first day of competition, no one knew who the SWKKF National Team was. As our athletes competed, however, we started to gain recognition for our karate, our spirit and above all, the values we competed with. We gained the respect from other competitors by upholding the true spirit of karate and as such, by the last day of the tournament, we were well known and favored. The experience gained us invitations to other competitions, to train with competitors and many wishes of great success.

Overall, the tournament was an incredible success with results and experiences. The SWKKF Team thanks everyone at home for all the support. If we did not have our organization to train us, push us and prepare us for these experiences we would not be successful.

Much appreciated.

- The National Team

Shintani Team outside the competition area

SWKKF National Team with Team France

SWKKF National Team with Belgian Team

October 1, 2009 - SWKKF National Team Goes to Italy!

The team is currently in it's last few weeks preparing to go to Italy for the 2009 WTKA World Championships! Team members have been training hard since the last session in July on a variety of katas (SWKKF and international) and of course, kumite! We will update the site when we return with our experiences and pictures from the trip.

Thank you to sponsors, training partners, dojos, and members of SWKKF for the support!