Karate Championships get underway on Saturday

FROM PAGE 13

Other exciting elements to be seen at this year’s championships will include the kickboxing segment, Masters Cup, and honouring of the martial arts Grandmasters.

For the Masters cup, the very best in martial arts, starting from the 5th degree black belt level and above, will put on a showcase of their different styles and disciplines.

The styles the public can expect to see on display this Saturday will include Karate, Kung fu, Jiu-jitsu, Taekwondo and many others.

One of the event’s highlights aside from championship action will be the honouring of martial arts Grandmasters Alex Penn, Kenneth Lewis, Frankie

Adderly, and the late great Basil Rolle. “The grandmasters are those individuals who are Bahamians who have made it to the highest level of martial arts in the Bahamas, it’s amazing that we have four grandmasters, one is deceased but we have three sitting grandmasters of various different styles Kung Fu, Goju-ryu, [and] Jiu-jitsu,” Smith said.

The chief instructor added that between the grandmasters it is over 200 years of experience combined in The Bahamas and their goal is to honour them and give them their flowers while they are alive.

Smith said spectators are in for a treat.

“Spectators can expect to be thrilled, they can expect to see those great fancy kung fu moves, the fast moving feet by the taekwondo people, the precision of the punching and stances of the karatekas, this tournament is set to be awesome so come on out,” he said.

Tickets will be on sale at the event for a cost of $5 for adults and $3 for kids 5 years and under.