Shogun Martial Arts Academy students Gabrielle Nustad (from left), Macy Lainchbury, Kira Abu Khadra (Shogun Smithers) and Isaac Lauren prepare for their respective kata divisions at the BC Open. The event was at Earl Marriott Secondary school in Surrey.

Shogun Martial Arts Academy students Gabrielle Nustad (from left), Macy Lainchbury, Kira Abu Khadra (Shogun Smithers) and Isaac Lauren prepare for their respective kata divisions at the BC Open. The event was at Earl Marriott Secondary school in Surrey.

Shogun Martial artists test skills at BC Open

Shogun Martial Arts brought a contingent of 13 athletes to Surrey late April for the BC Open Martial Arts Championships.

Shogun Martial Arts brought a contingent of 13 athletes to Surrey late April for the BC Open Martial Arts Championships.

Kai Richardson, Macy Lainchbury, Adanna Nustad, Gabrielle Nustad, Liam Lauren, Isaac Lauren, Brody Nustad, Darby-Lynn Ferguson and Jeremy Munroe all competed in kata.

In weapons were Richardson and Munroe.

The largest group, point fighting, consisted of: Richardson, Adanna, Brody, Liam, Isaac, Raiden Lainchbury, Sensei Sheldon Lainchbury, Dominic Baird, Leah Blokland, Ferguson and Munroe.

Shogun Martial Arts Academy Sensei Lee-Ann Lainchbury said first-time competitors included Brody and Ferguson. Competing for the first time in continuous sparring was Baird, who won a gold medal.

“The competition was intense in some of the divisions, but all of the children did their best and gained some valuable experience,” Lee-Ann said.

The following are the results for the weekend:

Kata

Gold: Brody and Richardson

Fourth: Isaac and Macy

Open Weapons

Bronze: Munroe

Hard Style Weapons

Fourth: Richardson

Point Sparring

Gold: Adanna Nustad (won two gold medals)

Gold: Raiden and Sheldon

Silver: Baird and Blokland

Bronze: Richardson

Fourth: Brody

After Sensei Sheldon won his division in point fighting he then went on to compete in the Super Grand Championships in adult point sparring.

“Super Grands is when all of the winners in each division compete for the Grand Championship title,” Lee-Ann said. “He ended up losing by one point in the final round coming in second in the last fight of the event.

“It was so fun to watch him in action again as he retired a couple of years ago but decided last minute to have some fun. Some of the other competitors complimented him on the fact that he still had it.”

Williams Lake Tribune