Tiger Claw Karate Championships today

ONE of the biggest martial arts tournament in Trinidad and Tobago will be staged today from 8 am at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, opposite the Jean Pierre Complex at Mucurapo.

The competition, billed as the Annual Open Karate Championship, is organised for the 15th consecutive year under the Tiger Claw Karate School programme. The effort is headed by the husband and wife team of Amanda and Kenneth Foderingham, both senseis or masters of the artform whose martial arts academy is located at Bagatelle Road, Diego Martin. Sensei Kenneth said that competition will be in approximately 100 divisions with participants ranging from five years old to adults. Events include Open Hand and Weapon; Self-Defence; Breaking; Sparring; Continuous Sparring and Team Kata.

Also expected to take part are overseas entrants Master Littlejohn Davis and Shihan Otis from the United States; and a nine-member Guyana team including three Black Belts. Outstanding performers will collect valuable prizes and trophies, some as tall as six feet. Sensei Foderingham gave the assurance that competitors will be required to wear protective gear always and there will be special rules for the “sport karate” category which is a non-contact form of the art. Qualified judges will also preside throughout the competition.