Games | The Stawell Times-News

Twenty students of the local martial arts school Zen Chi Ryu Kempsey travelled to Coffs Harbour to compete and officiate in the Australian Martial Arts Championships (AMAC) on April 2. The event had competitors travel from across the state to compete in events from full contact sparring, to kata and fun events for the children such as Sumo. Zen Chi Ryu Kempsey, were exceptional in the talent and sportsmanship on the day and was able to bring home over 40 places – ranging from 1st to 4th place, in many competitive divisions. For some of the students this was their first ever tournament and they did their martial art school proud. One of the highlights was the Demonstration team - lead by Sempai Chelsea Peet, were they performed kata and self defence techniques on each other. They are the 2016 Australian Champions and it looks like after their win at this tournament they will be the team to watch throughout 2017. This Coffs Harbour Open tournament, was the first event that Shihan Debbie Swanson, Head Instructor of Zen Chi Ryu Kempsey, attended in her new role of NSW Regional Technical Commissioner for AMAC. This role sees her managing and directing officials and competitors in the Regional Tournaments of NSW such as Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Newcastle and Port Macquarie. This is a great honour for her to be selected in such a position within the Australian Martial Arts Championships. Another highlight was that two of the Zen Chi Ryu Kempsey team, have been selected to join the Australian Team to compete in New Zealand in October of this year and were presented with their Australian Team uniform, at the tournament. Tristan Vogler and Chelsea Peet, were selected in 2016 after many tournaments, coming in the top 5 at the Australian Titles in December. They have already attended one Australian Squad training camp in Sydney and they have another coming up in July. This is such an amazing effort for these two students to have achieved such massive accomplishments within their martial arts career. The cost for sending these two students, their instructors and families to New Zealand is going to be a huge cost, so Zen Chi Ryu Kempsey are getting behind Tristan and Chelsea and will be holding various fundraising events over the next few months, to get them to compete on an International platform. If any businesses or people woud like to get behind these two students and sponsor them to get to New Zealand please contact Debbie Swanson on 0402 233 531, for how to do this.

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