Donna Jones
Last weekend 10 competitors from the Gympie based IKD Australia dojo travelled to Brisbane for the annual Karate Queensland Open Championships.
The team netted a total of 18 medals, including 9 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze.
Young Zachariah Belford had a cracking weekend, securing two gold, two silver and a bronze.
One of those gold was as one of the team members in the Children’s Team Kumite, along with sisters Dana and Damine Mostofizadeh.
Zach’s other gold was for 10-11 years Black Belt Division Kata, with a silver both in Black Belt and Kyu Division Kumite and a bronze in the 10-11 years Kata in Kyu Division.
Dustin Mostofizadeh scored three medals at the tournament, including two golds, one each in Under 21 Kata and Kumite and a bronze in the Senior Male Kata.
Younger sisters Delara, Diba and Dana also dominated the medal tally, with Delara taking Gold in the Junior Kata and Silver in the Junior Kumite, Diba getting Silver in Cadet Kata and Bronze in Cadet Kumite and Dana getting Gold for both 9 years Kata and Kumite.
Team member Sean Reynolds scored a Silver in the Senior Kumite and Jake Moynihan got bronze in the 12-13 years Kumite Black Belt Division in what was his first major tournament competition.
His sister Brittany also had her first taste of a major tournament, and narrowly missed out on a bronze in her matches.
“Terry (Belford), Brittany and Damine (Mostofizadeh) were unfortunate to miss out on the bronze medal matches but nevertheless made IKD Australia very proud,” said chief instructor and coach Hamid Mostofizadeh.
“The huge success achieved was as a result of the students’ persistence, vigorous training and team work.”
Sensei Hamid Mostofizadeh will also be heading to the upcoming National Championships as a Queensland State Coach, which will be held in Perth at the end of August.
Eight athletes from the Gympie IKD Australia dojo will be competing at the Nationals: Sean Reynolds, Terry and Zachariah Belford and Dana, Damine, Diba, Delara and Dustin Mostofizadeh.
Two referees from the IKD Gympie club, Daria and David Mostofizadeh will also be at the Nationals, representing Queensland.
“The team will compete against the best karate athletes from across the nation and we wish them all the best of luck, safe travels and a fair and successful championship,” said Sensei Hamid.
