Are there any Kyokushin Tournaments in Canada that include Kata?

[supergroup7]

I value, and love Kata. I can see so much that kata training offers a karate ka, and I want to share my enthusiasm, and spirit for kata with my fellow Kyokushin. I would like to represent my Dojo in Tournament for Kata competition. This would allow me to meet others Kyokushin who share my passion for kata.

However, I am finding it difficult to find an adult level competition for Kata in Canada. It almost seems that Kyokushin tournaments are only focused on Kumite for adults.

Would anyone of you know of a tournament in which I might be able to attend?

[AlexP]

Almost every Kyokushin tournament i attend here in Canada (Quebec) includes both kata and kumite. Lots of them are IFK tournaments however I'm pretty sure most of them are open to any organisation.

[Liu]

Be sure to check out Shihan Andre Gilbert's annual Eastern Canadian Championship. There is both Kumite and Kata. The next championship will be held in March, in Montreal.

[supergroup7]

Osu.. Thank you for the information!

Would you have a website, email address, or some other way that I could become aware of registration, date, and cost for these tournaments?

Osu

[AlexP]

I don't know of any websites for specific tournaments but here are the Canadian representatives of different organizations you can contact and ask about tournaments.

IKO1 : Shihan Andre Gilbert
IKO3 : Shihan Roman Szyrajew
IFK : Shihan Daniel Gauthier

[Liu]

This is the IKO1 Andre Gilbert's website: KARATE ANDRE-GILBERT

[supergroup7]

Thank you so much. I will investigate these avenues.

[sensei_pat]

Osu,

Here's some info on our next tournament in Nova Scotia on October 13th 2007. Kata, semi-knockdown and knockdown division. Check on our website, you will find the official invitation and rules for it. : www dot nskyokushin dot com.

Regards,

Pat

[supergroup7]

Thank you very much for the information on the next tournament in Nova Scotia in October! I will need a few more months than what I have available to be able to budget in the cost of such a trip. I'm looking down at the upcoming school supplies list, new shoes, backpacks, clothing for the kids, Christmas is just around the corner.. oh man. Did I mention that I have 7 children, with 5 still living at home?

But.. now I have a goal for next year.. Thank you.

[Shamo]

Quick question, is anyone here training for the Golden Cup hosted by the Ohan Brothers in Montreal, Quebec?

[Deaken]

For us it is too close to Shihan Gilberts tournamnet which is for our organization (even though we do sometimes go to other tournaments). To bad, maybe another year..... We have a good team training for Montreal for Shihan's Tournament, 2 women, 4 men. Our largest dojo representation yet.

[mary222]

deaken may i ask where you train
or i am behing nosy?
and shamo i am considering fighting in the gold cup (ohan brothers) since i'm not fighting at the end of march.

[Deaken]

Hi Mary222,

My dojo: www.torontokyokushin.com

[Shamo]

Hello deaken and Mary222, I'm looking for a place to train for the upcoming tournament, it's my very first and i feel I'm not getting enough training in my current dojo since there's not many men my size, any suggestions?

[Deaken]

Hi Shamo,

I grew up in Montreal and learned Kyokushin there. I go back 5-6 times per year as I still have family and friends there and I have passed all my dan tests there. When I moved 10 years ago I ended up opening my own dojo after a few years of trial at other locations and even with other styles because there wasn't anything close enough to me that was practical. I refused to give up Kyokushin.

Where do you train and which organization? What size are you and what category are you entering, which tournament? If you prefer not to disclose this publicly you can PM me and I will give you whatever council I can that may be of help.

[Shamo]

Osu Sensei Deaken,

I currently train in a small dojo in the north of montreal, on Maurice-Duplessi boulevard, inside the Marie Victorin cegep campus. My sensei is Adrien Rochon, we are with the WKO, under Shihan Kenji Midori. We also fall under the FKCO (Fédération Karaté Camille Ohan) run by Shihan Camille Ohan. I'm 6'1 and a 1/2 and I weigh 205 pounds, I think I can loose more weight, maybe get around 190 or 185. I'm a 8th Kyu and going for my 7th the 16th of Feb. I also train at Sensei Angelo di Bella's Karate/Kickboxing, but I really learn Kickboxing w Sensei Di Bella. I personaly know how to handle myself pretty well, not needless to say, friendly Kumite and tournament Kumite are different so I feel a little unprepared. The tournament, Oyama Golden Cup is the 8th of March, I don't know which category I'll be entering.

The reason why I feel unprepared is because he have 3 classes a week, Wensday, friday and Saturday morning. we mostly practice Katas since almost no one can come on Wensday, so the Kumite and Kihon part of training are usualy Fridays, but not always. I'm not looking to change dojos, since the people are very nice and the climat is pleasent, but I was moreso wondering if any one knew of a place where some karatekas gather to train.

Any kind of help is greatly appreciated! Even if it's just an advice for a beginner.

OS

[Deaken]

OSU,

So without going somewhere else where there are more people for you to spar with or where they spar more frequently (another dojo), I would recommend that you talk with your Sensei and see if he could add some extra sparring for 5-10 minutes at the end of the Wednesday and Saturday class for you and anyone else who are preparing for the March 8th tournament.

Conditioning and stamina training are just as important as Kumite time when preparing for tournament. More often than not, there is no clear winner and the decision will be given to the more aggressive fighter or the fighter that didn't run out of energy and so finished stronger. Add lots of bag training and round training for 3 minute intervals 2-3 times per week:

Warm up / stretch
1 round shadow boxing 3min
1 round heavy bag mawashi chudan and jodan alternating megi/hidari 3min
1 round skipping rope 3min
1 round heavy bag (or striking shield held by a partner) just tsuki and hiji 3min
1 round skipping rope 3min
1 round heavy bag mae geri alternating megi/hidari 3min
1 round shadow boxing 3min
1 round heavy bag all techniques 3min
Cool down/ stretch again

I think that the categories are 165-180 Middle, 180-200 heavy and 200+ super heavy? That's what they usually are. At 205 you would be very light in your category. If you are all muscle and cut then this shouldn't be a big problem, but if not then you may want to try and drop the 5 pounds and go into the lower weight class. I always find that you're better off being closer to the weight class upper limit than the lightest fighter in your catogory.

Also, don't fight with any contact for at least a full week before the tournament. This will let you're body fully recover from any impact injuries during your training and it will prevent you from accidentally injuring yourself right before the tournament.
and good luck!

[Shamo]

Thank you very much Sensei Deaken,

I will write down this schedule and follow it as best I can!

OSU, and thank you again