Four members of Williams Lake’s Shogun Martial Arts Academy will strive for martial arts excellence May 17-19 in Ottawa when they compete at the World Karate and Kickboxing Council National Championships.
Kurtis Olsen, 15, Tanna Lauriente, 16, Macy Lainchbury, 11, and Tracey Beauchamp, 18, qualified to represent Team B.C. after each finished in the top three of their respective events at the WKC Provincial Championships held mid-April in Williams Lake.
Shogun Martial Arts Senseis Sheldon and Lee-Ann Lainchbury will both travel with the team as coaches.
“Sheldon and I are both excited to be going,” Lee-Ann said. “Neither one of us wants to miss their performance.”
She said the four members of Team B.C. have all been putting in extensive training for nationals, including spending one extra day a week training.
Nationals will also be an opportunity for both Senseis to see the years of hard work their students have put in pay off.
“The more seasoned fighters have been growing over the years so we’re looking forward to seeing how their dedication translates into competition,” she said.
“The two competitors who are new to nationals have improved a lot and we are excited to see how they do.
“Regardless of the outcome we know they will all do their best and represent themselves, the club and B.C. with the utmost of decorum and respect.”
The top four fighters in each division at nationals will earn a spot on Team Canada for this year’s WKC World Championships.
Shogun Martial Arts Academy, in preparation for nationals, has been doing some fundraising around the community to help with the cost of the trip to Ottawa.
Lee-Ann said Windsor Plywood staff and everyone who came out to the Windsor Customer Appreciation Day Fundraising Barbecue were very generous.
Additionally, Shogun will be at Dairy Queen in Williams Lake this Saturday, May 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. helping take orders and serve food. They’ve also got an account setup with Amanda Enterprises bottle depot under Shogun Martial Arts.
“Currently the bottle money is used to help offset travel costs to the tournaments so thank you to Amanda Enterprises for their support and to those who have donated bottles,” she said.
If anyone would like to make a donation to help send the team to nationals contact Denise Beauchamp at 250-267-1561.
Shogun martial artist profiles
Name: Kurtis Olsen
Age: 15
School: Grade 9, Columneetza
Event: continuous fighting
Belt: yellow belt
Training: Trained at Shogun for 1.5 years
WKC provincial result: bronze
Nationals experience: first year
Future plans: Never quit kickboxing, work on the oil rigs or maybe become a Sensei one day and teach martial arts.
***
Name: Tanna Lauriente
Age: 16
School: Grade 11, Columneetza
Event: continuous fighting and point fighting
Belt: Double black belt
Training: Assistant instructor. Has trained at Shogun for six years.
WKC provincial result: gold in point fighting, gold in continuous fighting
Nationals experience: fourth year
Future plans: To be a general surgeon
***
Name: Macy Lainchbury
Age: 11
School: Grade 5, Nesika
Event: point fighting
Belt: purple belt
Training: Has been at the dojo since she was one month old.
WKC Provincial result: gold in point fighting, gold in weapons
Nationals experience: third year
Future plans: To become a massage therapist.
***
Name: Tracey Beauchamp
Age: 18
School: Grade 12, Columneetza
Event: kata, point and continuous fighting
Belt: green belt
Training: two years at Shogun
WKC Provincial result: gold in point fighting, gold in continuous fighting, bronze in kata
Nationals experience: first year
Future plans: To become a surgeon or anesthesiologist.