Karate kids head overseas

By Carol Saffer

Two Moorabool teenagers will travel on a trip of the lifetime to Turkey in October, and they will be representing Australia.

Justin Robins from Bacchus Marsh and James Simone from Merrimu both aged 14, have been selected to represent Australia at the Junior World Karate Championships 2022 in Konya, Turkey.

Justin will compete in the cadet Kumite 57-63kg division, with James in the cadet Kumite 52-57kg division.

The age group for cadet competitors is from 14 to 15 years, and only the single best for each division from across Australia is selected.

The boys’ achievement is even more notable as they are at the cadets’ younger end of the age range.

Junior World Championships are held every second year, with both boys competing in the karate Kumite (sparring) method.

Kumite is where an athlete trains against an adversary. Justin chose it “because it is fast, and you have to think on your feet.”

Justin’s mum Kerry said each competitor could touch his opponent with his feet or hands but not inflict hurt or pain. “It is all about respect and control,” she said.

“There is an amazing discipline in Kumite and physical well-being.”

Justin and James train at Shindo Karate Academy in Bacchus Marsh under the close watch of Victorian and National Coach Sensei Wayne Noble, Sensei Max Noble and Sempai Ben de Bortolli.

Upon completion of the National Karate Championships in Rockhampton on August 6, the announcement was made of the Australian team selected for the Junior World Championship

Justin and James represented Victoria in Rockhampton, winning three medals each. Fellow athletes from the Shindo club took away 17 gold, eight silver, and 14 bronze medals, a record for the club, with medalists from nine years old to veteran level.

The boys have represented Victoria since they were nine years old and represented Australia at the Oceania Karate Championships in June this year.

“My final goal at the moment is to win at the senior level World Championships and ultimately win an Olympic medal when Karate becomes an official Olympic sport,” Justin said with a big smile.