National Karate Championships a launchpad to Olympics- Khouri

Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) president, Sensei Amir Khouri, said Sunday’s Senior National Karate Championships slated for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall are being used to prepare fighters for the World Championships/2020 Olympics.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport on Friday, Khouri said the significance of the competition was to ensure the best fighters on display will have an opportunity to show off their skills. The karatekas will be vying for the honour of representing Guyana at various international tournaments while gaining the necessary experience required to participate at the international level.

With Guyana having done well in past tournaments, the senior instructor believes that the competition will help the fighters to intensify preparations ahead of upcoming assignments; and this, he says, could allow them to make strong cases ahead of the Olympics.
A total of five clubs, the likes of National Martial Arts Association (NMAA), ASK-GYN, Berbice Shotokan Karate Dojo (BSKD), Shotokan Karate Guyana (SKG), Guyana Karate College (GKC) and 3-Ryu, will participate in the one-day event, which kicks off from 10:00hrs with a series of elimination matches.
Open to males and females, the tournament will be contested under different weight classes and ages. For the Males over 18, the five weight classes are: Under-60kg, -67kg, -75kg, -84kg and 84+kg. According to the sensei, fewer females are participating in the tournament. Ladies will therefore compete in the following weight classes: -55kg, -61kg, 68kg, 76kg, 76+kg.
Fighters will compete in Kata (exercise consisting of several of the specific movements of a martial artist) while the highlight of the day will be the 3-versus-3 team battle. Also, there will be a junior category (Green-Black belt) for karatekas aged 14-17 years, with boys competing in: -55, -68, 68+kg categories and girls competing in -48, -56, 56+kg.
Speaking about a few of the challenges the GKF encountered while preparing to host the annual tournament, Khouri pinpointed the lack of equipment as well as the lack of certified equipment. He said this lack forced the local body to tweak a few rules. He explained that fighters are required to have internationally-approved brands for their helmets, instep foot guards and gloves when participating in competitions; and the international body has 10 approved brands, but acquiring such pieces of gear could likely cost US$500 per person, while fighters are required to have two separate Gis (uniform) for Kata and Kumite (grappling hands).
The action kicks off with the eliminations at 10:00hrs and the opening ceremony starting at 13:00hrs, followed by the finals.