Goju Ryu Success at Uni Games

Six Goju Ryu karateka represented four different universities at the Uni Games this year with excellent results. 

Johansen Sidabutar from Otago University was competing at the games as a novice but decided to take up the challenge by entering in the Men's Premier Kata division.  He came a creditable 3rd equal and went one better in the Men's Novice Kata picking up the silver medal.  Auckland University's Isaac McFadzean took the gold medal after narrowly beating Stephen Iorns from Victoria University in a split decision in the first round of the Men's Novice Kata.  Stephen claimed the bronze.

Victoria University's Sanae Nakai was unlucky to be the only female novice at the games and was forced to compete in the premier divisions for both kata and kumite.  Her kata performance was very sound but she was unfortunate to be competing against the woman who eventually took 3rd equal in what was a very large and very experienced Women's Premier Division studded with many national stars.  Also putting in good first time appearances in the kata were Shaluka Maddugoda from Auckland University and Gabriela Slezakova representing Waikato University. 

Gabriela tasted success in the Womens Premier Under 60kg Kumite picking up bronze after a punishing encounter with the eventual gold medallist, and also bronze in the Women's Open Kumite.  Sanae also had a very good fight and came within one point of causing a major upset in the Women's Premier Kumite event for under 60kg.

The Men's Novice Kumite was won by Issac McFadzean from Auckland with Otago's Johansen Sidabutar claiming silver and Victoria's Stephen Iorns the bronze.  Showing typical Goju Ryu spirit Issac and Johansen also elected to fight in the Mens Premier Division and while the calibre of their competition was a little too high for them they did gain valuable experience and are keen to return to next year's Uni Games to add to their medal haul.