SKILLS CHALLENGE

This event is for students aged 5-13, white belt to blue belt.  We have also now added a Masters Kata event for Novice and Intermediate students who are 40+. Master's participants only participate in a kata competition - the rest is for the kids. 

To date, our dojo is the only one is BC that hosts an event based on the fundamentals of karate.

Participants are active for the majority of the event, as the 5 to 6 rings run concurrently and all groups rotate every 20-30 minutes. Stations include Paddle Kumite, Kata, Kumite or Tag Kumite, timed Obstacle Course, Fitness (pushups, planks, standing high jump, etc), and Kihon. There is often a Team Kata event, usually after the lunch break.  The entire event is usually finished by 2pm.

The Skills Challenge was designed by Donna Gardecki to reflect the training and competitive needs of the young athletes as defined by our new Long Term Participant (Athlete) Development model (LTPD).  

 Kata ring, with competitors patiently waiting

The timed obstacle course circuit combines karate skills with things like jumping through hoops and onto stacked mats.