Karate gears up for open championships

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE Papua New Guinea Karate-Do Federation (PNGKF) sixth Open Karate Titles have been confirmed for this weekend in Port Moresby.

Federation president Carl Mari said the tournament coincided with a scheduled two-day development squad training camp on Thursday and Friday.

The camp will recess for the tournament and resume on April 15 for three days. 

Mari said members of the development squad from Bougainville, East New Britain, West New Britain, New Ireland, Manus, Morobe, Madang, Oro, Eastern Highlands, East Sepik, Central and the National Capital had been confirmed to attend the two events.

Disciplines in the karate tournament include point contact kumite, full contact kumite, kata (traditional), musical kata, kobudo and tameshi-wari. The categories for the open titles for men and women are seniors (+18 years), Under-21 (18-20 years), juniors (16-17 years), cadets (14-15 years, and children (7-13 years).

Mari said this was an open tournament and martial artists from other styles like taekwondo, kickboxing, hapkido, tang soo do, choi lee fut were  welcome to attend.

He said for details people could contact Willie Leslie on 72776677 or federation treasurer Joseph Ku­bul on 71690504.