Visit to Tauranga a drought-breaker

Taekwondo travellers: Back in Gisborne after their successful tourney in Tauranga are, back (from left): Tekapua Karauria, Lexx Karauria (master instructor) and Mikayla Craig. Front: Selina Mill, Awhina Karauria, Toa Karauria, Noah Kemp, Ariki Karauria and Veeshaye Smiler. Absent: Rungatera McGregor/Hokianga, Stanley Parata and Serita Karauria. Picture by Paul Rickard

A SMALL team from Tu Mana Toa Martial Arts travelled from Gisborne to Tauranga to break a Covid-induced drought of sporting contests.

The Bay Open taekwondo tournament was held during Queen's Birthday Weekend and although it was scaled down to a one-day event this year, the atmosphere was described as “amazing”.

Tu Mana Toa Martial Arts had a team of 10 at Tauranga. They ranged from a four-year-old white belt to adult black belts.

Two weeks before the tournament, three of the club's junior black belts had returned from a national high-performance/national selection camp and were keen to put what they'd learned into practice.

Taekwondo New Zealand has appointed the club's chief master instructor, Lexx Karauria, to be a national high-performance coach and selector. In a further boost, five members from this region have been selected in the first New Zealand draft squad for 2022. The selection process consists of training camps, competition and performance reviews.

Master Lexx said he was proud of club members' performances at the tournament.

“They performed above expectation and conducted themselves with great sportsmanship,” he said.

“What more can a coach ask for in his players?

“Noah Kemp and Toa Karauria were our players of the day. Noah beat both his opponents convincingly and Toa competed well out of his own age group but fought with the heart of a lion.

“Many of our players filled the gaps in other divisions to ensure everyone had a match. However, the tournament ran smoothly and finished well before midnight (it had finished after midnight in the past).”

Master Lexx said that having represented New Zealand himself, he had always wanted to coach at a national level and now he had that opportunity.

He had a goal to bring all the clubs in this region together to help the development of local players and provide a pathway to the international stage and ultimately the Olympics.

“We are lucky to have four master instructors in the Tairawhiti region — Master Ed Karauria (my dad), Master John Grace, Master Cherry Henry and me.”

He was sure that with input from them all, the Olympics would be more than a pipe dream.

Kyorugi (fighting) results —

Ariki Karauria (four-year-old white belt): Gold medal/under-5 male yellow belts.

Noah Kemp: Gold medal/under-9 male green belts.

Toa Karauria: Bronze medal/under-11 male green belts.

Veeshaye Smiler: Gold medal/under-11 female green belts.

Mikayla Craig: Gold medal/under-14 female green belts.

Selina Mill: Silver medal under-14 female black belt.

Serita Karauria: Gold medal under-17 female black belt, silver medal senior female black belt, gold medal senior female open.

Rungatera McGregor/Hokianga: Gold medal senior heavyweight male black belt, silver medal heavyweight male black belt open.

Stanley Parata: Gold medal senior middleweight black belt, silver medal open men's black belt

Poomsae (forms) results —

Awhina Karauria: Silver medal/junior female black belt.

Selina Mill: Gold medal/cadet female red belt.