Three Kelowna athletes have qualified to represent Canada in the JKA World Championships, taking place Oct. 17 to 19 in Tokyo, Japan.
Brittany Wall, Kai Stackhouse, and Austin Medley qualified for Canada’s national team by placing in the top four at the Canadian national championships in Montreal in Black belt division.
All three athletes train at Kelowna Karate and Fitness Inc., under the guidance of Sensei Paul Atkin.
The Gichin Funakoshi World Cup is for the several million people worldwide who practice Shotokan Karate with the Japan Karate Association.
Here’s more about each local athlete:
• Kai Stackhouse—Won gold in Kumite ( sparring) and silver in Kata at Nationals and is the ongoing provincial champion for the last few years. He has been training since age 5. He is a Grade 7 student at Rutland Middle School.
• Austin Medley—Received gold and silver at the biggest international Karate Competition at the Ozawa Cup earlier this year in Las Vegas. He is in Grade 12 at Okanagan Mission Secondary School.
• Brittany Wall—Placed fourth at national championships and previous provincial champion. She has been training since age 9. Brittany is in her first year at UBC Okanagan.
