Three athletes from the Kindersley Karate Club recently competed at the National Karate Championships in Manitoba and brought back some hardware. From left is Andrew Glass, Teagan Chester and Destiny Chester. With them is Sensei Dick Staples.

Submitted story

On Saturday, April 21, three athletes from the Kindersley Karate Club were competitors at the 2018 National Karate Championship of JKA International Canada. The competition was held at University College of the North in The Pas, Manitoba.

All three students performed very well over the course of the tournament, which saw athletes from seven dojos competing for top honours.

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Teagan Chester, the youngest of the Kindersley group, earned a bronze medal in Individual Kata for Female Yellow and Orange belts, under 10. Destiny Chester won silver both in Individual Kata and in Kumite for Female Orange and Green belts, 11-13 years.

Andrew Glass received a silver in Individual Kata for Female/Male aged 14-17 brown and black belts, and gold in Kumite for the same category.   

Sensei Dick Staples served as a ring supervisor for many of the events during the day-long competition. Sensei Jordan Staples, though unable to attend, was also instrumental in preparing the athletes for this important tournament.

The Kindersley Karate Club holds classes from September to December and January to April at Elizabeth Middle School on Monday and Thursday nights.

Though the club is done for this semester, students can begin training at seven years of age if a parent is also training, or at age eight on their own. Watch for details on registration in the fall.

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