Trio remain on track for titles

Kansai Karate's Kyle Robinson, Maki Kamada and Tom Hallam. Photo supplied.

KANSAI Karate competitors, Maki Kamada, Tom Hallam and Kyle Robinson fine tuned their preparation for this year’s Queensland State Titles in May after impressive displays at the Queensland Karate Association Summer Championships held at the Redbank Collingwood Park Sports Complex last weekend.

Kamada, Queensland’s premier female karate athlete and reigning national champion, clinched gold in both her weight divisions and also took out the top prize in the Kata form.

Hallam, 23, was equally impressive dominating the men’s 75kg kumite division to win gold, while Robinson, 17, captured the men’s open kata division and finished second behind Hallam.

Overall the Sumner Park-based Kansai Karate club scooped 14 gold, seven silver and 16 bronze medals from the championship.

Sensei Stephen Kelly was happy with the result and added it was important Kamada and Hallam performed well as they build towards securing a spot at this year’s World Senior Championships, which are to be held in Serbia later in the year.

“Huge, because this event, even though it is a smaller tournament, this is where we measure how pre-season has been for us,” he said.

“From here we’re able to calculate what else needs to be done for upcoming events.

“With the world champions held this year, it’s a big year for them two (Kamada and Hallam) who are focused on gaining selection.”

Hallam went to the last World Senior Championships, which were held in Tokyo in 2008, and Sensei Kelly believed Hallam would go better this year if he returned.

“The Tokyo experience was priceless for him,” he said.

“While he didn’t go as well as he had hoped, he certainly got a lot out of it and next time Tom wants to prove to himself he can do better.”