Tu Mana Toa receive best-represented club award at Taekwondo NZ tournament

TUMEKE TU MANA TOA: Tu Mana Toa Combat Systems martial arts club members with their medals and the trophy for best-represented club at the Central District Open taekwondo tournament. Back (from left) are Te Kapua “TK” Burns-Karauria, Ngaru Grayson, Beau Collier-Wilson, Awhina Burns-Karauria, Jaykayaar Wimutu-Muir, Whatarangi Green and club instructor Lexx Karauria. Middle: Toa Burns-Karauria, Jimmi Collier-Wilson, Charlotte Proffit, Micah Tapsell and Rangimarie Sturm. Front: Serita Karauria. Absent: Kyan Karauria and Ravin Walker. Picture by Liam Clayton

Tu Mana Toa Combat Systems instructor Lexx Karauria had every reason to be proud of his students’ medal-winning performance at the Taekwondo NZ Central District Open Tournament.

Tu Mana Toa’s 14-strong contingent, ranging in age from six to 13, brought home four gold and 10 silver medals from the Tauranga-hosted competition.

They capped a successful weekend by receiving the award for best-represented club.

Five of their fighters competed at black-belt level for the first time, while six were first-time fighters.

Gold-medal winners were Charlotte Proffit (yellow-belt division), Beau Collier-Wilson (yellow), Ngaru Grayson (green) and Ravin Walker (black).

Silver-medal winners were Jimmi Collier-Wilson (yellow), Toa Burns-Karauria (yellow), Rangimarie Sturm (yellow), Micah Tapsell (yellow), Te Kapua “TK” Burns-Karauria (green), Awhina Burns-Karauria (black), Jaykayaar Wimutu-Muir (black), Serita Karauria (black), Whatarangi Green (black) and Kyan Karauria (black).

Members are now looking forward to the club’s hosting of its first multi-style event at Gisborne Girls’ High School gymnasium on Saturday, August 18.

They encourage all local martial artists to enter.

As well as the competitive element, they will be promoting awareness around depression and suicide, and some of the proceeds will be donated to community organisation Ka Pai Kaiti.

Multiple martial arts are practised at the club including Topana Taurite, meaning balanced force — a mixture of classic martial arts formulated by Lexx Karauria, who teaches it using Maori language and tikanga.