 | | | From left, front row: Caroline Tsuyuki, Declan Tsuyuki, Alyssa Tsuyuki, Ian Ho and Nia Ho; back row: Keai Lucasey, Joseph Tsuboi, Asenath Yeung; (not pictured: Kassie McKinnis, Selina Lee and Ammon Lee) Photo Rod Suzuki | | | | | | A team of 20 athletes from Northern California Karate-do (NCK) competed in the 10th Shito-Ryu International Karate-do Kai Taikai Tournament held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport on Aug. 1 and garnered a total of 31 medals: 12 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze. Ten of NCK's competitors were from Lamorinda. Taikai, a biennial international karate tournament held alternately in Osaka, Japan and North America drew 255 participants from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and the United States. The 2015 event was attended by 21 of the organization's highest-ranked Shihan instructors in traditional karate. Lamorinda athletes Asenath Yeung, Keai Lucasey, Joseph Tsuboi, Declan Tsuyuki, Ian Ho, Nia Ho, Selina Lee, Ammon Lee and Caroline Tsuyuki all medaled in Kata (forms) and/or Kumite (sparring) in their respective divisions. In addition, Asenath Yeung, Keai Lucasey and Joseph Tsuboi earned their Nidan rank, second-degree black belt. NCK athletes train with Sensei Mari-jo Suzuki, a Yondan fourth-degree black belt in Seito Shito-Ryu traditional karate. Several NCK athletes have competed as members of the USA Junior Team in the Junior Pan American Championships and Junior World Championships.
|
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA