DHM Karate in Darmstadt

Traditionally, karate competitions start with the "kata" category. Katas are fixed sequences of techniques that were used in ancient times to pass on the martial art from teacher to student. The challenge for each individual athlete is to focus and demonstrate the accurate execution of the techniques, body tension ("kime"), concentration ("zanshin") and speed for which they have previously trained with great effort within this predetermined sequence under the eyes of the five judges. Our yellow belts Greta (2nd place) and Sophie (3rd place), who were competing for the very first time on this day, were particularly successful in the "Ladies, 9th-4th Kyu" class. The men's kata team from 3rd kyu upwards, although not quite complete after Selim fell ill, achieved second place.

This is followed by the free fight ("Kumite"), in which the karateka compete against each other in a non-contact fight for points. Points are awarded for the explosive and precise execution of techniques to the body or head, which requires a high degree of control as the opponent must not be touched. Benedikt from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences achieved 1st place in his weight class.

In the over 84 kg category, Desmond and David, who had to compete in the next higher class after the weigh-in in the morning, faced each other in the first round. So, unfortunately, two men from Karlsruhe faced each other right at the start. Of course, the two didn't give each other anything and so David was completely out of breath and Desmond left the fighting area with a bad knee. In the meantime, however, everyone has recovered and is happy to have been at the DHM in Darmstadt that day.