In March this year Jack McCaughtrie, a quiet 12-year-old lad from Narooma, travelled with his family to Melbourne to compete in the National Karate Team selections tournament.
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As a result, Jack has been chosen to represent Australia at the Karate World Cup which is to be held in Limerick, Ireland in August this year.
The talented young Bermagui Karate Club member will compete against the world’s best in both Kata and Kumite.
Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements.
Competitors are judged by three judges on sharpness of technique, accuracy, balance, focus and intensity, discipline, fluency between techniques as well as overall presentation of the Kata.
Kumite is competitive free style fighting against an opponent using various techniques and incorporating moves from the Katas.
Points are scored by strikes to specific parts of the opponent’s body.
Jack is looking forward to competing at the World Cup in Ireland, but also realizes that the competition over there will be tough and the training leading up to it will be more intense than ever.
The young rising star generally trains every Monday and Thursday night at the Bemagui Dojo, under the expert instruction of Sensei Chris McKechnie, 4th Dan.
However, in the lead up to August, Jack has stepped up his training regime and is now training daily and making regular trips to Sydney.
Over the coming June long weekend Bermagui Dojo will be hosting its annual Gassuku where all JKA students from around the country are invited to train under the guidance of Sensei Nishimura, 7th Dan.
Following the training, participants will then undertake grading examinations on the Sunday afternoon.
Bermagui Karate Club is a small non-profit club, so will be conducting some fundraising over the coming months to help Jack follow his dreams to Ireland.
The young fighter will need plenty of support to travel overseas to represent his country and hopefully do the entire South Coast proud.
Special thanks to “Wazza” at Lighthouse Charters, Murramarang Beachfront Resort, South Durras and Arthur from 1080 Surfboards Designs for already showing their support for the Bermagui Karate Club by the kind donation of raffle prizes.
If you would like to purchase raffle tickets, or can help support the club in another way to assist Jack with this wonderful opportunity, please contact Leichelle on 0429 926 030 or Chris on 0407 518 380.
