Rising to the Challenge: Success at the 1st Open Kyokushin Karate Novice Kumite Tournament

On Saturday, 19th October, the 1st Open Kyokushin Karate Novice Kumite Tournament – “Rising to the Challenge” – brought together young karatekas from across the UK for a day of intense competition, grit, and Kyokushin spirit. Juniors, from the ages of 6 to 13, stepped onto the tatami to showcase their months of training, fighting for top honours across various weight and age categories. Here’s a breakdown of the action and results from this thrilling event.

Juniors 12-13 Years Old – Boys Heavier Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Dawid Gruzdz – Burton Kyokushin (@kyokushinburton)
🥈 2nd Place: Devesh Mishra – HAITO Karate
🥉 3rd Place: David Alexandru Buzatu – HAITO Karate

Juniors 12-13 Years Old – Boys Lighter Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Ahmad Emran Assir – IKK
🥈 2nd Place: Mateo Catrinoiu – HAITO Karate
🥉 3rd Place: Darius Junevic – HAITO Karate

Juniors 12-13 Years Old – Girls Category

🥇 1st Place: Milana Tanavina – HAITO Karate
🥈 2nd Place: Susan Adam – MK City Kyokushin Karate

Juniors 10-11 Years Old – Boys Heavier Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Alexander Stelmasik-De Sousa – HAITO Karate
🥈 2nd Place: Tomas Paskevicius – Northampton BST
🥉 3rd Place: William Fisher – HAITO Karate

Juniors 10-11 Years Old – Boys Lighter Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Ahmad Erfan Assir – IKK
🥈 2nd Place: Thomas Clarke – IKK (@ikk_ashfordkyokushinkarate)
🥉 3rd Place: Stanley Michael Crossan-Ward – HAITO Karate
🏅 4th Place: Mithran Chandramohan – HAITO Karate

Juniors 10-11 Years Old – Girls Heavier Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Gabriele Narkeviciute – Northampton BST
🥈 2nd Place: Lola Gorochova – HAITO Karate
🥉 3rd Place: Rebeka Pulina – HAITO Karate
🏅 4th Place: Mija Anastasija Oneil – HAITO Karate

Juniors 10-11 Years Old – Girls Lighter Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Lara Clarke – IKK (@ikk_ashfordkyokushinkarate)
🥈 2nd Place: Dominika Dubiel – HAITO Karate
🥉 3rd Place: Ava Adam – MK City Kyokushin Karate

Kids 8-9 Years Old – Boys Heavier Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Benas Paskevicius – Northampton BST
🥈 2nd Place: Kevinas Kaupas – HAITO Karate

Kids 8-9 Years Old – Boys Lighter Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Oluwatimilahin Adelabu – HAITO Karate
🥈 2nd Place: Robert Cristian Buzatu – HAITO Karate
🥉 3rd Place: Aronas Armonas – Northampton BST
🏅 4th Place: Evanas Petrovas – Northampton BST

Kids 8-9 Years Old – Girls Category

🥇 1st Place: Kotryna Skiba – HAITO Karate
🥈 2nd Place: Meda Eigirdaite – Northampton BST
🥉 3rd Place: Leonor Sofia Malheiro Da Silva – HAITO Karate
🏅 4th Place: Zainab Shahjahan – HAITO Karate

Kids 6-7 Years Old – Heavier Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Benas Baranauskas – Northampton BST
🥈 2nd Place: Lorenzo Balauca – Northampton BST
🥉 3rd Place: Henry Richard Crossan-Ward – HAITO Karate
🏅 4th Place: Aasiya Marzia Shahjahan – HAITO Karate

Kids 6-7 Years Old – Lighter Weight Category

🥇 1st Place: Jacob Barker – HAITO Karate
🥈 2nd Place: Adinath Kannan – HAITO Karate
🥉 3rd Place: Adam Petrovszki – MK City Kyokushin Karate
🏅 4th Place: Tauras Jucevicius – HAITO Karate

This incredible day wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless support of so many people behind the scenes. A heartfelt thank you to all the judges, whose keen eyes and fairness ensured every bout was fought in true Kyokushin spirit. To the parents who supported their young warriors through every step of their journey, your dedication and encouragement are invaluable.

A special mention to toys4all.shop, whose generous contribution of toys for the winners added an extra layer of excitement and joy for our young competitors.

We also want to give a big shoutout to www.blitzsport.com for their support with providing equipment and accessories, ensuring that every competitor had the best tools to perform at their best.

Additionally, a huge thank you to Alanta Photography for capturing the unforgettable moments throughout the day. Your work ensures that the memories of this incredible event will last a lifetime.

And finally, to every volunteer, instructor, and supporter who made this tournament a success – we couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to many more events where our karatekas can continue to rise to the challenge!