Karate: Master remembered at tourney

The Gosoku Kai Annual Karate Tournament is being held in Rotorua tomorrow. Photo / Thinkstock

For the first time in the history of the popular Gosoku Kai Annual Karate Tournament - founder Hanshi Inuhaere won't be present.

The late karate master, who died this year, will be remembered during an "emotional" tournament at Rotorua Girls' High School tomorrow.

Inuhaere set up the Gosoku Kai Family Martial Arts Centre in Rotorua and has been a big part of martial arts in New Zealand over the past 50 years.

Inuhaere, a 9th dan black belt, was also respected overseas as a martial arts teacher, especially among the International Karate Association community.

Inuhaere's daughter Kyoshi Natasha Inuhaere will organise the event tomorrow, and said they would be remembering her father and fellow Rotorua club member Allen Anderson during the tournament.

"It is the first year without him, it is going to be quite emotional and quite sentimental," she said. "He set up the centre here [in Rotorua] and was a big part of bringing martial arts to New Zealand."

She said Anderson was also heavily involved with martial arts in the area and sadly died in a car crash earlier this year.

More than 150 competitors will attend the tournament tomorrow including five teams from Australia.

"This year is our fifth year in Rotorua and it was run five years before that in Taumarunui," she said. "At this stage we have got approximately 150 competitors [including] approximately 12 teams from throughout Australia and New Zealand."

Competitors of all ages, including as young as 5, will compete across the three main disciplines - weapons, teams, and sparring.

The event will wrap-up tomorrow afternoon with a feature match-up between New Zealand and Australia.

The Gosoku Kai Family Martial Arts Centre holds classes at three dojo in Rotorua, Taumarunui and Ngakuru. About 75 students are entered for the tournament tomorrow.

*The public are welcome to attend the Gosoku Kai Annual Karate Tournament tomorrow starting at 10am. Tickets are $5 for a child, $10 adults, and $20 for a family.