 | | | Front row, from left: Kyle McKinnis, Caroline Tsuyuki, Mari-jo Suzuki, Kelly Suzuki, Asenath Yeung; Back row: Kassie McKinnis, Joseph Tsuboi, Keai Lucasey, Michael Doucet, Patricia Doucet Photo provided
| | | | | | A team of 10 local athletes from Northern California Karate-do (NCK) returned from the eighth World Shito-Ryu Taikai Tournament held in Vancouver, B.C., July 30-31, with 12 medals: five gold, three silver and four bronze. Eight of the 10 athletes are from Lamorinda.
The Taikai is a biennial international karate tournament held alternatively in Japan and North America. This year's championship showcased teams from New Zealand, Canada, Mexico and Japan among others.
Lamorinda locals Kyle McKinnis, Asenath Yeung, Joseph Tsuboi, Keai Lucasey, Michael Doucet and Caroline Tsuyuki all medaled in kata and kumite in their respective divisions.
Doucet and Lucasey both earned their Shodan rank, first degree, and were presented their menjo (certificate) by Soke Tsukasa Mabuni, head of the Seito Shito Ryu organization.
NCK's success at this year's Taikai comes at the heels of the team's achievement at the USA Karate Federation Championships and Team Trials held July 14-17 in Arlington, TX. The group of seven athletes returned home with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Four NCK athletes, including Campolindo senior Chris Wellbrook, earned berths on the USA Junior Karate Team. Wellbrook will also be competing in the Junior Pan American Championship in Fortaleza, Brazil later this month, and at the Junior World Championship in Melaka, Malaysia later this fall.
NCK athletes train with Sensei Mari-jo Suzuki, Sandan third degree black belt. NCK, established in 2008, is a 501-C3 non-profit dojo that counts almost 50 percent of its students are from the Lamorinda area. For more information on Northern California Karate-do, visit the website at norcalkaratedo.org.
TAI KAI RESULTS:
Kyle McKinnis (Moraga): Men 18-34 Advanced: Gold - Kata, Bronze - Kumite
Asenath Yeung (Moraga): Youth 14-17 Advanced Girls: Gold - Kata, Silver - Kumite
Joseph Tsuboi (Moraga): Youth 14-17 Advanced Boys: Silver - Kumite, Bronze - Kata
Keai Lucasey (Moraga): Youth 14-17 Advanced Boys: Bronze - Kata
Kassie McKinnis (Moraga): Youth 14-17 Advanced Girls: 5th - Kata, 5th - Kumite
Caroline Tsuyuki (Lafayette): Masters Women Beginner/Novice/Intermediate: Bronze - Kata
Patricia Doucet (Moraga): Masters Women Beginner/Novice/Intermediate: 5th - Kata
Michael Doucet (Moraga): Masters Men Advanced: Gold - Kumite
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA