Ohimain, Muse highlight benefits of karate for all ages championship

Organisers of the just concluded one day ‘Karate For All Ages’ Championship said that the tournament enabled karatekers to horn their skills, improve their competition level as well as help coaches and instructors to access what they’ve taught their fighters.

The championship which is in its 7th edition, came to a successful end on Saturday, December14, 2024 at the Gymnasium Hall of the National Institute For Sports, Lagos and attracted more than 400 karatekers from various clubs.

According to Sensei Alfred Ohimain, Chief Instructor and member of Nigerian Association of Shotokan Karate, the huge turn out of athletes is an indication that the championship is a household name in the country and they’ll continue to improve on the successes recorded over the years.

” Basically, the major reason why we organise this championship every year is to develop karatekas, give them enough opportunity to exhibit their skills and also give coaches and instructors enough opportunity to access what they’ve taught their athletes and I can tell you that we’re getting it right with the championship.

” As you can see, we have a very large turnout of athletes who are about 450 which is the biggest anywhere in the country. All the athletes who are of all ages, had the opportunity to participate in both Kate and kumitae and I can tell you that with this championship, we’ve succeeded in moving the sports forward in the country
Ohimain, a 7th Dan who also doubles as a board member of Karate Federation of Nigeria expressed appreciation to their sponsors for identifying with them even as he appealed for more sponsorship of Karate competitions to enable Nigerian athletes up their game and be at par with their counterparts from other parts of the world.

In his remarks, one of the organisers, Ibrahim Muse while highlighting the importance of the championship said that it has helped in further development of the game noting that the large turnout of athletes, coaches and instructors is an evidence of it’s popularity and acceptability by all karate stakeholders in the country.

” We the organisers are happy that the number of participants keep on increasing every year and what the athletes learn at the end of every championship cannot be quantified because it enables them to compete in a friendly environment, watch the skills of others and note their areas of weakness and how to improve on their skills”, he stated.

Meanwhile some of the athletes who participated in this year’s championship have commended the organisers for putting up a seamless competition.
A gold medalist, Azeez Abdulahi, who said this year is his second time of participating in the championship noted that the experience he garnered in last year’s edition propelled him to go for the gold medal.

” I was here last year but couldn’t make a podium finish but the good thing was that I learnt a lot and when I went back home, I improved on my skills which gave me gold this year. So, I must give kudos to the organisers for the exposure and opportunity to improve on our form which the competition has afforded us and I urge them to keep the flag flying as the championship has really changed the face of karate in the country.
In her own remarks, Miriam Tijani said that although she was not fortunate to win a medal but she commend the organisers for the amazing championship which she said afforded her the opportunity to learn new things about the techniques of the sports.
At the end of the championship, medals and certificates were issued to participants in the various weight categories.