This year it was fantastic to have a contingent from Seido again (strong fighter) but also to have so many luminaries, fighters, dojo operators, high grades and family from the NZKOK.  Our event has evolved into something quite unique over 12 years so it was fun to be able to share a format we enjoy so much with everyone.

Overall we are stoked with how the night went and very proud of the Poneke guys/girls who were given some really tough matches.  Just bowing in to a Kyokushin fight gives you superhero status in my book.  It is the little things that mess with your head like having an injury, not feeling fit, not being in the mood, forgetting your gear, being outweighed or being relatively inexperienced, not wanting to lose, not wanting to be seen losing.   It is the ability to let all that noise go and try win anyway that is most transferable to life.   I have sat in a lot of crowds watching all types of fights and I have only just figured out that the single thing that causes any crowd to lift the roof is a glimpse of hunger and hope in a fighter who has got it stacked against them.

It is really apparent, watching people watch fights, that we value hope and determination way more than anything else.  Even a tiny window of hope beats beautiful technical skills which we admire like artwork and it beats the affiliations we have with ‘our own’ fighters.  It even beats the win.  It IS the win!  Congrats everyone for jumping in.  We hope everyone had a good time and we hope the fighters are very proud of themselves and understand why the crowd loved you.

HUGE thanks to all the helpers too!!!

Poneke Dojo -

Victoria came 2nd in the Kata (best trophy!)

Libby took round 1 in her match fight, lost round 2 and then traded wazaari’s in the 3rd round but lost 2-1.

Josh won the heavyweight colts round robin. 

Tim despatched an Aussie in round 1 of the men’s novice.  Tom got a bi and then had to fight Tim in round 2.  Unlucky!  He travelled a long way and cut weight for a month to end up fighting a dojo mate in an open division (loss)!  I would be sympathetic if it wasn’t for a certain spider incident!  Alister got a bi and then won a fight against an Aussie in round 2 putting him in the final with Tim.  Tim made a bit of a leap it has to be said.  No more novice divisions for that boy!  He got his groove on and used his ridiculous strength and good solid basics to take all three rounds. 

Jamie got a bi first round.  He won by half point against Reece ‘Iron ribs’ Henderson from Mt Druitt (NSW) in the second round.  My word Reece can take a pounding!!!  Jamie’s next fight was against Hyota Sugihara from Revesby Dojo in (NSW) who did his level best to stay out of Jamie’s long range making it a punches and knees fight.  (Loved it!)  It went to Jamie by wazaari.  Jamie’s next round was a huge battle against a heavy Carlos Castro from Brisbane Dojo.  Carlos is a fighter with big legs reminiscent of Shihan Temura.  Arguably this was the fight of the day and an epic NZ vs Aussie battle.  Going two extensions, it was a good test for Jamie and he earned the tournament ‘Fighting Spirit’ trophy as well as the win to put him in the final against Steven Cujic from Caringbah (NSW).  With a munted right shin and ankle the challenge for Jamie was going to be not throwing off that side but watching the fight I’m not sure anyone would have noticed he was working with less weapons than usual.  Certainly Jamie was in it to win it and was well matched against the significantly more experienced fighter but lost by close decision in the first round (2 x draw, 3 x decision).  I don’t think I need to express how proud and impressed we are, as always, with Jamie’s performance.  It’s an absolute pleasure to have a fighter and character of his calibre representing Poneke Dojo… but that said, we couldn’t be more proud of the whole team, or NZ, or even South Pacific!  

Sorry, I said “short form”… on with the rest of the results…

Rob had an awesome fight against a much heavier opponent, Ferry Lee from Revesby.  Rob demonstrated what a beautiful technical fighter he was and showed, possibly for the first time outside the dojo, that he can hold his own against a big strong fighter but lost it by wazarri (chudan mawashi) right on the gong.

Chris Eades had a massive battle with Anthony Tockar (North Bondi).  Anthony came in hammer and tongs and slapped Chris in the face with a mawashi geri within a few seconds.  Fortunately Chris is now well accustomed to that flavour of brotherly love and warmed our hearts by matching Anthony’s ferocity.  Possibly we’ve dumped Chris in above his head over the years because we sniffed extraordinary talent.  While that’s been great developmentally it hasn’t helped him understand how to win.  Shihan Chris often talks about the transition that occurs in a fighter’s career when they understand winning.  I believe we watched Chris make that transition in the second minute of the extension.  Unlucky it was too late to swing this fight back enough for the win but expect to see a different fighter next outing!  

Of the other Kiwis… Corey lost in round 1 by decision to Jeff Ainsworth (Brisbane).  Jack got a bi but lost by decision in round 2 to Nathan Goodin (Brisbane).  Conrad lost in round 1 to Carlos Castro (Brisbane).  Maia lost in round 1 to Shaune O’Farrell (Brisbane).  Lyndon got a bi but lost in round 2 to Anthony Tockar.  Eddie took round 1 against Mark Claridge (Revesby) but was KO’d by Steven Cujic in round 2.   Not a great run on paper but it certainly wasn’t a walkover, nobody in the event was completely outclassed and the calibre of all the fighters was very high.  When they are being nice the Aussies like to say NZ punches above it’s weight in sport and I think it’s fair to say, despite being a relatively tiny org, the South Pacific IKO is punching well above it’s weight this year!

The team is:

Top 8 (fully sponsored)

Jamie Eades , Hyota Sugihara, Nathan Goodin, Carlos Castro, Shaune O’Farrell, Simon Kennedy, Anthony Tockar, Stephen Cujic

Bottom 8 (partially sponsored)

Reece Henderson, Jeff Ainsworth, Jack Tuhega, Conrad Tuhega, Maia Peters, Ferry Lee, Lyndon Pehi, Eddie Te Ahu

Congratulations to all and gambatte!

Osu!

http://www.podiumsportsjournal.com/2011/01/05/five-important-ways-sportsparents-can-best-encourage-young-athletes/

Osu, Sensei Chris