CUTLINE: Leah Page with the 2017 Junior Female Demura Cup presented by Genbukai Canada Chief Instructor, Cameron Steuart.
On Sept. 23, 52 advanced Karate students from Genbukai Canada Karate clubs across Alberta and Saskatchewan met in Lloydminster for the Annual Demura Cup Karate Championships.
The event is named in honor of the Chief Instructor of Gebukai International, Master Fumio Demura of Santa Ana California. Competitors competed in four divisions, Adult Male, Adult Female, Junior Male and Junior Female (under 18 years). There were four events in each division.
Kata is a sequence of karate techniques. It is judged on correction of technique, speed, timing and spirit. Competitors each perform a Kata and a panel of judges select the winning performance.
In Compulsory Kata, competitors were assigned a Kata to perform. In Choice Kata, each competitor is allowed to choose their favorite Kata. In Kobudo Kata, competitors performed a sequence of techniques using a traditional Martial Arts weapon such as the Bo (staff), Eku Bo (oar), or Kama (rice cutters).
The fourth event was Kumite (sparring). Competitors faced off against each other using punches, kicks or other strikes to score points against their opponent. The overall winner in the four events won the Demura Cup for their division.
St. Paul Karate Student, Leah Page competed in the junior female division and won gold medals in all four events, thereby winning the Demura Cup. She will be presented a plaque from Master Demura when he is in Canada next May for his annual Seminar Series.
Leah has been training in karate at the St. Paul club for 10 years. Two years ago, she earned her Red Belt (Junior Black Belt).
In 2016, Leah’s sister Gemma won the Junior Female Demura Cup. This year, Gemma competed in the adult female division. Also competing in the adult female division was St. Paul student Michele Hardcastle.
St. Paul Head Instructor Cal Leckie refereed various events in the tournament and Deanna Michaels assisted with tournament draws and scorekeeping.
The next major event that St. Paul Karate students will be attending will be the 2017 Genbukai Karate Championships held in North Battleford on Oct. 28.
