Barbados to compete at Shoto Cup London 2024

ive adults and six youth athletes will represent the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Barbados at the upcoming ISKF World Shoto Cup in London. The team will compete at the UEL Sports Dock on University Way in Beckton from September 19-22.

Over 350 competitors from 18 countries spanning six continents will be in London for this year’s Shoto Cup, along with coaches, families, and ISKF leaders. According to the organisers, “It will be a fantastic experience for the ISKF family to come together in this way to celebrate karate and friendship.”

The fourth edition of the global competition will welcome the mixed seniors team of Michael Roberts, Maria Warren, and Sueleman Nana; along with the women’s team of Sisporansa Stanford, Maria Warren, and Shona Griffith.

The quintet will be competing in the senior (45-55) as well as the super senior (55 plus) divisions, in team and individual kata.

The junior team of 7-10 year olds will be represented by Levi Kelly, Jayden Jobe, and Enowshua Delpeache. They will compete in team kata as well as individual kata and kumite.

The teenage competitors are Terrique Jordan, Latrell Knight, and Trinity Knight, who will contest both individual kata and kumite.

According to ISKF Barbados, the seniors would have participated in events such as the 2016 World Cup in South Africa, and the 2018 Pan Am Championships in Mexico.

For the youngsters, who will be competing at this level for the first time, the younger ones will be in the purple belt category, whilst the teens will be in black and brown belt.

According to ISKF Barbados, this group has been training hard over the past eight months and are expected to do well. However, they will be facing the best in the global ISKF family, and it will be important for them to soak in the experience.

The competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday (September 21-22 ). On Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September, training seminars will be led by Hiroyoshi Okazaki Shihan. On Friday, the seminar will be followed by Dan examinations, and referee and judge training and examinations.

The University of East London, in the SportsDock of the University’s Docklands campus, offers a state-of-the-art space for training and competition.

(TF)