A group of karate athletes from Greater Victoria is heading off to Switzerland to compete in an international Kimura Shukokai Karate tournament.
The group trains at a pair of dojos in Brentwood Bay and Deep Cove run by David and Kristina Bentley, and for brothers Isaac and Lex Petrick, it will be their first international tournament and their first time travelling outside of North America.
B次元官网网址漁bviously we are a little nervous for internationals, weB次元官网网址檝e never really been abroad before, but IB次元官网网址檓 pretty sure we are going to be able to do well,B次元官网网址� said Isaac Petrick. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot tougher competition than we are used to on the Island though.B次元官网网址�
The pair have been training since 2016 and have competed in numerous Vancouver Island and provincial tournaments since. What started as an opportunity to learn a bit of self defence and enjoy a solo sport after learning team sports were not for them, karate has become a passion and a source of many friendships.
But like all of the 23 competitors and parents heading to Switzerland, the Petricks have had to earn their spots in the tournament, and their preparation for it is no joke.
Lex said beyond their regular three days a week at the dojo, they have been attending extra practice sessions and filling much of their free time performing katas B次元官网网址� detailed series of karate moves performed without an opponent to help train and improve transitions between moves used in an actual match.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e always working on the basics because that generally makes your fight better. ItB次元官网网址檚 your base, so if you have a tower without a good base, you wonB次元官网网址檛 do well,B次元官网网址� said Lex Petrick.
While they have yet to make their international debut B次元官网网址� that comes on July 22 and 23 when the tournament gets underway B次元官网网址� the Petricks are already planning for the future.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to do a couple more worlds at least, stick with it for another few years. IB次元官网网址檓 hoping to win gold eventually, probably not this time, but eventually,B次元官网网址� said Isaac Petrick.
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