SKIF Kanazawa Group T&T host ninth-annual tourney

Paul Trim La Joya Dojo instructor, leaps into the air while executing a tobi yoko geri against Andrew Rivaux, also an instructor at La Joya as well as St Joseph Girls’ RC Primary School. Photo: courtesy Nikita Jugmohan.

Sean Taylor//

The black belts almost brought the house down during the climax of the annual Shotokan Karate International Federation Kanazawa Group Trinidad and Tobago (SKIF KG TT) tournament.

The ninth edition of the competition held on Saturday at the La Joya Sporting Complex, featured over 150 competitors of various ages and ranks competing in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) divisions.

And it was in the latter division where spectators were on their feet applauding as the tournament concluded with the adult male black belt kumite.

Jivaughn Jones was the eventual winner of the division, defeating Tyler Neptune in the hotly-contested final. But it was Jones’ semi-final round bout that truly set the division alight.

Hard techniques were exchanged between Jones and Andrew Rivaux with a place in the final at stake. Jones seemed to be in control, but the bout seemed to swing in Rivaux’s favour when he countered a spinning reverse roundhouse with a quick takedown. In the end, however, Jones won with a straight punch to the head.

In the other semi-final Neptune beat Aaron Marson with a series of kicks to the midsection which set up a keenly-contested final. But Jones however would go on to win the gold medal after a more strategic approach.

Earlier in the day in the kata division which featured both men and women, Rebecca Mohammed won gold after she performed Gojushiho Sho, an advanced kata. Jones finished in second and Paul Trim captured the bronze medal.

“Generally the tournament was well received both by the parents and the supporters,” said Ian Sammy, instructor and director in the SKIF KG TT. “The president of the organisation [Celeste Nottingham] found that there was a great improvement with the performance of the brown belts, so she was happy to see the students put their best on the floor.”

Kiel Mayers was one of the standouts in the junior divisions, as the brown belt won double-gold in both kata and kumite, dominating the latter division on the way to his second win.

The competition was the penultimate event on the tatami for the club this year, as grading is scheduled for the end of November. However, more events are in store for the club in the near future.

“This [tournament] is really a stepping-stone for next year,” explained Sammy. “We hope to host a small Caribbean event with a few countries, and a camp. So this is like a lead-up to that. That event will serve as a preparation to host the first SKIF Caribbean Champions in 2021.”

SKIF KG TT is a locally-based traditional karate organisation with branches ranging from Barataria, Port of Spain, Arima and La Joya, and is affiliated to the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF) which has branches in over 180 countries.

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