With only three students competing, the Yass dojo was one of the smallest in attendance at the event, which featured over 500 competitors from across the nation. 

However, by the tournament’s end, Yass had made up for its lack of numbers when all three of its students came away with medals. 

Club sensei (instructor) Chris Pothan said that it was “a really good event” for the Yass dojo. 

“It was very daunting for our students, coming from the little dojo at Yass,” Pothan said. 

“They’ve been to a couple of regional tournaments in Canberra, but when they got there and it was a big basketball stadium down there and it was packed … it was a good experience for them.” 

The tournament featured competitions in katas, which are patterned movements which ingrain students’ techniques, and kumite, which is effectively sparring. 

The Yass dojo finished with two silver medals and a bronze for its junior students, while Pothan himself and Sensei Mandy finished with a silver and bronze medal respectively. 

The result was a “great confidence boost” for the kids, and served to prepare them well for future competitions. 

“Jasper, the young black belt, he’s been competing since he was probably five years old, so it wasn’t anything for him,” Pothan said. 

“But the yellow belt and the young blue belt, it was just a whole different world for them. 

“Something where the crowd’s watching, they loved it. So I’m thinking next year we’re gonna really promote that side of karate and hopefully get a bigger group together next year.” 

The results were also a helpful confidence boost for the Senseis to have their students perform so strongly in an entirely new environment, as a sign that they were on the right track with their training. 

Since the competition, Pothan, Sensei Mandy, Sensei Cayla, and Jasper also underwent a successful grading ceremony in Sydney.