Students from the Wānaka Samurai Karate Club returned from the 2022 NZ Open and Secondary Schools Karate Championships last week with a number of medals.

Wānaka students Ryan Enoka, Fergus MacRae and Taylor MacRae traveled to Christchurch to compete in both Kata and Kumite disciplines and all three students placed in their respective categories. 

Ryan placed second in male 14/15 kata, Taylor placed second in both disciplines at the female 12/13 age group and Fergus was awarded first place for male 12/13 kata and second for kumite. 

Ryan told the Wānaka App he hadn’t been able to compete in major tournaments since the arrival of Covid-19 and he was “very grateful” that the championship went ahead. 

He has been training since he was five years old, and said it had required “a lot of dedication and training to get to this point, slowly moving up in skill.” 

Gabriela Schmidt, Fergus MacRae, Taylor MacRae at the NZ Open and Secondary schools tournament in Chch.

This was Ryan’s third NZ Open, and his first time placing. Plans to end his competition career and focus solely on grading are being reconsidered after last week’s success.

Wānaka Samurai Karate Club sensei Gabriela Schmidt said that it has been difficult for the club to get exposure due to the location of tournaments: only one occurs in Otago each year. 

She said Covid-19 had also impacted students’ ability to train and while there had been some online training but students were “competition rusty'' as many were canceled. 

Gabriela said the club’s members are looking forward to future competitions, notably the nationals and the NZ Cup next month, and the Otago-Southland tournament on Labour Weekend. 

Wānaka Samurai Karate Club has existed in Wānaka for the past 20 years, though it lay dormant following the death of Sensei Chris McGregor. Since being picked up by Gabriela, it has grown to 35 students, mostly youth, with one adult class. 

PHOTOS: Supplied