Kiwi Wins Karate World Championship For the First Time

Kiwi Wins Karate World Championship For the First Time

Vincent Cook Of The New Zealand Japan Karate Association Takes Out The World Title

Auckland, 14 May 2013 – Vincent Cook, a member of the New Zealand Japan Karate Association (http://www.jkaauckland.co.nz/) has won the premier event at the prestigious World Karate Confederation Championships in Melbourne which is the first time a New Zealander has ever won at this level.

Vincent is a Third Dan member of the New Zealand Japan Karate Association and successfully won the World Championship by defeating the current Serbian World Champion.

Vincent’s Coach for the last 20 years, Zeljan Unkovich of the New Zealand Japan Karate Association says his win is the biggest to date for the sport of karate in New Zealand.

“We are absolutely delighted that a key member of the New Zealand team we sent to the World Confederation Karate Championships in Melbourne has won the premier Shobu Ippon fighting (Kumite) event for the first time – this is as good as it gets and Vincent is a very deserving winner,” says Unkovich.

Unkovich adds that Vincent Cook beat a world class field of 40 other competitors to win the coveted title.

“Vincent showed absolute determination and dedication, as he always has since starting karate as a schoolboy, to beat some fantastic opponents including the previous world champion from Serbia. Vincent recently had 2 weeks training in Japan before heading to Melbourne with the New Zealand squad and this certainly helped focus his considerable skills and world class ability.”

The World Karate Confederation Championships in Melbourne is organised by the Karate Alliance Australia and held at the State Netball Hockey Centre, one of Australia’s premier event venues and host venue for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

ENDS

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