The WUKF World Karate Championships started on 14th June 2018 in Dundee, Scotland, with a sell out spectator crowd and 2,500 competitors.
The Martial Arts Centre had an excellent start to the competition with Sensei Wilson earning a Gold Medal in the Veterans Kumite!
In the 15-17 year old team rotation Kumite, our England Champion Isla Scott was chosen (great news) and, with her colleague Charlotte from the EKKA association, they were to fight 1 & 2 in a large category. No. 3 fighter, no show, 1st reserve injured. So, step up Evie Higgon, never having fought in ANY competition EVER and she is just 13 years of age. The team were coached by Sensei Wilson. The team fought brilliantly through the rounds to the ¼ final against Team USA losing 10-9 in the closing seconds. A point the other way would have brought a minimum of a bronze medal – so close! A fantastic achievement for our girls and, have we found a new fighter in Evie…..?!
Our girls Kata team were representing their country for the first time. They were in the 15-17 year old category and were by far the youngest team (with Evie, who at 13 years old was allowed to move up an age group, Isla only turning 15 the day before and Abbie 15 years old). They finished the day 7th in the world and the top team in England!
Day 2 was Kata day and saw some good performances by our girls up against true World level competitors. Abbie and Paige put in really solid performances in their 1st appearances at this level with Paige finishing in the top 25. Evie, our youngest competitor finished a strong 19th in the world and narrowly missed going through to the final stages. Isla was 2/10th of a mark away from the final stages of her category. 3 girls in the top 25 in the world and our team in the top 7 in the world – Brilliant!
The final day of the Championships didn’t bring us any medals but, after a lengthy wait, we had some very good Kumite performances by Abbie and Isla. Whilst Abbie lost it was her best performance for some time and she was competitive against an older, more experienced and bigger opponent. Isla was by far the youngest in her group and started superbly and made the ¼ final where she lost to the current World Champion from Romania. 1 win away from a medal in this and the team event. So, 2 ¼ final appearances for her.
Here’s to the future – Well done team TMAC!
