Penarth Leisure Centre hosted the Welsh Karate League on Sunday 28 September, with participants travelling from across the UK.
Around 500 male and female competitors took part throughout the day ranging from under 8s up to veterans, in both the Kata and Kumite categories.
There were also 25 competitors, ranging from wheelchair users to people with Learning Disabilities, competing in a range of categories in the disability section of the league, which takes place alongside the mainstream competitions.
Simon Jones, Disability Sport Wales Development Officer for the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “I think it’s brilliant that disabled competitors are included in the Welsh Karate League. The numbers taking part in a competitive setting is also something for the Welsh Karate League to be proud of.”
The style of karate that the disabled participants perform is Kata, which detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. These movements can be adapted to suit each participant where they then face off against an opponent in a safe and controlled environment.
Rob Copeland, President of Karate Wales, said: “Clubs all over the country are attending with ever growing squads as a culture of attending a friendly, regular and professional competition structure has embraced Karate in Wales.
As well as a marked and continuing improvement in the standard of our young competitors, it is also very gratifying to see our Special Needs and Wheelchair Users categories bustling.
As Karate Wales’ reputation as a vibrant and high quality Governing body grows, we are also welcoming more and more visitors from outside Wales to the Welsh Karate League, which in turn helps to test and further develop our Welsh competitors.”
