South Australian Japan Karate Association students returned successful from the recent JKA National Championships and seminar held on the Gold Coast.
Twenty-three students and instructors from the various JKA Dojos throughout South Australia took part in the three-day seminar, conducted by the JKA Australia chief instructor Takahashi Shihan (OAM) from Japan.
The championships were held over two days following the seminar, with 14 South Australians competing.
The South Australian State Kumite Team consisting of Simon Thorburn from Whyalla Dojo, Greg Shultz and Lester Tobitt from Gawler Dojo picked up the bronze medal in the State men's Kumite.
Coloured belts competed on the first day with several medals being won by South Australians.
Trish Ritchie from the Peterborough Dojo won gold medals in both the Kata (forms) and Kumite (fighting) for women's tenth to seventh kyu grades.
Sam Schofield (Adelaide Metro Dojo) won double gold medals in the men's sixth to fourth kyu grade competition.
Scholfield's effort during the seminar and competition also earned him the Jeff Green Memorial Trophy.
In the same event Michael Ritchie (Peterborough) collected a bronze medal in Kata and silver in the Kumite.
Although not winning medals junior coloured belts Ella Mathew and Jesse Ritchie (Peterborough) and Charlotte Rugless (Adelaide Metro) performed well at their first national championships.
Black Belts continued on the fine form of the South Australians the next day with Matty Stevens (Adelaide Metro) picking up a bronze medal in the black belt boys under 150cm Kumite event.
His older brother Mikey followed suit by collecting a bronze medal in the black belt boys 150cm to 170cm Kumite.
Australian team member, Tracy Fitzgerald, (Adelaide Metro) bought home a silver medal in the black belt women's Kata and bronze in the Kumite.
Reigning Australasian Black Belt Kumite Champion, Adam Pearce (Adelaide Metro), also an Australian team member came away with a bronze medal in the black belt men's Kata.
He also won gold in the blue ribbon event, black belt men's Kumite.
Samantha Abbott, Pearce and Fitzgerald will take part in the World Shoto Cup to be held in Toyko, Japan, in September.