Nine students from Mandurah’s Wood Dojo will compete for Australia in the World Shoto Cup in Ireland this August.
The group have become members of the world-famous Japan Karate Association based in Tokyo and were chosen to represent Australia after putting in prolific performances at a recent tournament in Melbourne.
The students will compete in both kata and kumite against the world’s best at karate.
Training under chief instructor Jim Wood at his custom-built dojo in Mandurah, the group are currently undergoing relentless and exhausting double-training four nights per week.
“All my students fought well and really earned their place in this elite and prestigious squad,” Wood, a seventh Dan JKA, said.
Wood is one of the highest qualified JKA instructors in Australia, and is now the chief executive officer of one of the country’s largest JKA karate groups.
“Overall, a total of 26 students from our JKA Association were selected for the national team,” he said.
“I am really proud of my students, and they know the real hard work starts now.”
