After losing their training location on Keen Street a few weeks ago, Sensei Barry Potts and his karate students soldiered on and competed in the national all styles martial arts tournament in Melbourne.

Barry said the four students who competed in the National Titles did well, despite the disruption to their training when Northern Rivers Shukokai Karate was forced to close.

The closure came after a lengthy battle with Lismore City Council over the dojo’s “illegal” operation and the karate school’s ongoing development application compliance issues.

“Despite the recent turmoil and upheaval in recent months, our competitors displayed courage and sportsmanship to achieve results,” Barry said.

“Duncan Kirch competed in the 8-9 year old category (10th to 6th Kyu ranking),” Barry said. 

“Out of 20 competitors in his division, he did very well and ranked in the national top ten.

“He did a great kata but unfortunately didn’t place, even though he achieved his personal best score for any tournament so far.”

A kata is a sequence of movement against an imaginary opponent in which the competitor demonstrates skills and techniques.

“In Point Sparring, he had a slow start, but finished strong - but unfortunately also missed out on a win," Barry said.

Tynikah Hampson-Hick (14), who is a karate State champion, finished the competition ranking second in Australia in her 12-14 year old (10th to 6th Kyu) division.

“She scored silver in Point Sparring (Kumite) and silver in the Team State v State Point Sparring.”

Team State v State Point Sparring is when there are five competitors in a team and each member competes one on one with another team’s competitor, and the team with the most points wins.

Barry said his student Sarah Taylor-Ross, competed in the 14-15 years division (10th to 6th Kyu).

“It was her first ever National Titles and she achieved silver in Point Sparring and Gold in the Team State v State Point Sparring,” Barry said.

Barry’s student Christopher Hampson-Hick, who was last year’s national Australian champion and is this year’s State champion, competed in the 14-15 years division (10th to 6th Kyu).

“He achieved bronze in Forms for his kata,” Barry said.

“He also got silver in Point Sparring and gold in the Team State v State Point Sparring.

“Christopher also competed in an Exhibition Point Sparring Bout in the 16-17yrs (10th to 6th Kyu) division.

“Christopher actually won this bout, but as it wasn’t his official bout, and he was just giving the single competitor an opponent, he was given a Bronze medal, even though he was winning on points.”

Barry said that losing the dojo before the competition disrupted the students’ training.

“We went to another club to train, but not being in their own place and having other competitors watching them was distracting.

“They felt uncomfortable and lost focus, but they went and did it anyway.

“They are feeling better now and are pleased with their results, but are a little disappointed they didn’t achieve what they wanted to achieve.”

Barry said the forced move from their own dojo distracted everyone, including himself.

“l was distracted by the whole process of going through the DA with council and trying to save the club, instead of concentrating 100% on the kids.”

Barry is now hunting for a new location to train with his students.

“I know there are community and church halls out there, but we have a lot of gear that needs to be brought in for every class and we can’t just leave this in a hall.

“We have over 100 mats, focus mitts, punch mitts and kick pads – it’s 16 years of accumulated training and equipment.

“The sooner we get stability into the club, the better it is for our students to focus and achieve the results at the end of this year.

“If anyone has a place that would be suitable for us, I’d love them to email me.”

Barry’s email address is barry@northernrivers-shukokai.com

Read more: Karate dojo closes and needs new location