The small Tūrangi Karate Club has done it again with podium placings in a major karate meet.
From March 10-13, members of the club, including Kataraina Mareikura-Fremlin, Lisa Bell and daughter Emily Bell, represented New Zealand at the 12th Traditional Shotokan Karate Federation/International Shotokan Karate Federation Australian Championships 2025 held in Perth.
The four-day event included three intense days of training culminating in tough competition for the 120 competitors who had come from throughout Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
Kataraina, a Year 10 student of Tauhara College, gained invaluable seminar training and tuition from renowned New Zealand and Australian chief instructor, Takahashi Shunsuke Shihan and his three sensei, who had travelled from Japan to provide guidance.
The three-day gruelling training paid off as she who went on to compete in two events during the final day’s championships to place second in the Junior Division 1st-3rd Kyu for Kata.
Lisa was placed third in both the Kata and Kumite for the Women’s 1st-3rd Kyu division.
Club publicist Irena Wanikau says Kataraina is well on her way to following in the footsteps of ex-Tauhara College senior student, Emma Speedy, who successfully competed at the London Karate World Championships in 2024.
