The World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (NZ) ended 2004 with a fantastic Semi-Contact and Forms tournament in Te Awamutu in the North Island in November. These tournaments are Semi-Contact Points and gained much interest from clubs all over the North of the island, Clubs from Whakatane, Taupo, Palmerston North, Hamilton and Auckland as well as local clubs all met to test their skills against each other. Elers Karate Academy showed their traditional Kata skill by both Steve Elers and Miho Minamikawa each taking first place in the adult traditional forms sections. Phantom Kickboxings Wiki Tutaki wowed the audience with his Bo-staff Form to music in the musical forms section. Anna Hausler and Bruno Butler both of Kotaga Ryu, Whakatane showed they could mix it with the best by taking first places in the Girls under 1.45Mtrs and Boys +1.60Mtrs respectively. Tysin Langridge of Taupo MODKA took both the junior Traditional Kata and the -1.60Mtrs winners trophies. Max Dobson of Phantom Kickboxing kept his unbeaten run by winning the boys -1.45Mtrs with some excellent spinning Hook kicks, and Glenview Martial Arts Rona Theobold showed some determination winning the girls -1.55Mtrs.
Sarona Samuelu v Miho Minamikawa (Womens -60Kgs)
The ladies fighting sections got the crowd on their feet with some spectacular fights with the victors Sarona Samuelu -60Kg, Georgie Tutaki -75Kg and Charlotte Meyers +75Kg. The much awaited mens sections got the crowd excited with Jyoshinmon Karate's Jess Carney having some hard fights against Glenviews Khong and Phantoms Tutaki. The fight between Carney and Tutaki had an element of grudge after these two had previously fought Full contact with Tutaki the victor, this time carnet turned the tables taking the win. ITF Clint King tested Phantom Joe Howells in a very technical fight but lost the match by one point to Howells. The heavy weights were last up with Big Steve Elers losing in the semi to Phantoms Clinton Rowe who met his stable mate and local hard man 'Bad Boy' Brad Johanson in the final. A hard match took place with some spectacular high kicking from both fighters but the 'Bad Boy's' experience took the winners trophy.
Brad Johanson V Clinton Rowe (Mens Heavyweights)
W.A.K.O. (NZ) will be kicking off 2005 on 29th January with a Full Contact and Low Kick fight night. Te Awamutu's waipa racing club will be hosting the first W.A.K.O. (NZ) Fight night of the year with 16 fights already booked and demonstrations of female submission fighting from mania Fighters Gym in Auckland and Hamilton Capeoira. The majority of fights will be Full Contact, over waist kicks, a number of competitions will be Low Kick which include kicks to the inner and outer thigh. All fighters will wear headguards and feet protectors in line with W.A.K.O. amateur ruling.
New Zealand President Rick Dobson is pleased with the response WAKO is getting in New Zealand as more and more clubs are getting involved with these competitions. A Semi-Contact & Forms Grand Prix is scheduled for three events of the year with the competitors gaining points throughout the events. The competitors of each division with the most points at the end of the year will receive the Grand Champions prize over and above the winners trophies of each competition.
Joe Howells V Clint King (Mens Middleweights -84Kgs)
Semi-Contact, Musical Forms and Full Contact National Championships are to be held in may and July to decide New Zealands Champions, and entrants to the WORLD Championships.
