Local martian artists, Shihan Mark Yates (Listowel & Tavistock) and Renshi Becky Schweitzer (Heidelberg, Milverton, New Hamburg & Wingham) won several Virtual World Karate Titles in 2020.
Due to Covid-19, live karate tournaments were cancelled so this year’s karate world & tournaments went virtual.
Participants of the tournaments would send in videos of themselves performing their selected karate divisions , then get scored online against others in the same division.
Divisions ranged from kata, weapons, self-defence and sparring skills.
Among the many virtual tournaments both Yates and Schweitzer competed in this year, the North American Sports Karate Association World Virtual Tour was the toughest and most rewarding. There were 2000 competitors from 18 countries competing virtually this season.
This year Yates won in a variety of categories including 50 & 60+ Black Belt traditional Weapons, CMX Weapons and Grand Championships in both 50+ Black Belt Men’s Kata and Weapons. Yates also won second in 18+ Black Belt Men’s Sparring Skills.
Schweitzer won World Titles as well, winning 18+ Black Belt Women’s Kenpo, 30+ Black Belt Women’s CMX Forms & CMX Weapons and a Grand Champion in 30+ Black Belt Women’s Weapons.
A new virtual karate season starts in January.
