Mother and daughter martial artists Karen and Isobel King represented their local dojo, Jin Ryu Kan, at the National World Koshiki Karatedo Federation (WKKF) Karate Championships in Brisbane on 6 April, returning home with a string of strong results and national rankings.
Isobel King competed in two kata divisions and two kumite (fighting) divisions. Kata, a set sequence of karate movements performed with precision, was her first event. Despite facing more highly ranked competitors, including both boys and girls, she delivered flawless performances and placed 4th and 5th in her divisions.
In kumite, Isobel fought a total of three matches. In her first division, she finished 3rd out of a field of eight girls. Her final bout nearly ended in an Ippon (knockout), after she delivered a strong punch that knocked her opponent off her feet. She then went on to take 2nd place in her second division, earning the title of Reserve National Australian Champion in the 10–11 Years Female Kumite category.
Karen King also competed, taking part in two kata divisions. She placed 3rd in the Senior Open Female Black Belt division and 6th in the Mixed Veterans Open Kata.
Both athletes train under Jin Ryu Kan, with Shihan Lisa Marshall (5th Dan) leading the Glen Innes branch. Their head coach is Kyoshi Nick King (7th Dan).
Karen and Isobel are now turning their attention to the upcoming WKKF World Championships, which will be held in Brisbane in October.
