First dan black belt, Tim Smith is set to take on some of the best in the world when he heads to China in November to compete at the fifth IKO Matsushima World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament.
Smith’s selection for the prestigious tournament comes on the back of his victory at the 2018 Australian Non-Contact Karate Tournament held at Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre last month, where he clinched the national title in the open non-contact event
It’s the second time the Lower Portland university student will travel to compete overseas, after he competed in Barcelona at last year’s European Kyokushin Karate Championships.
This year’s world tournament is an invitation-only event, and Smith is one of only three Australians that caught the eye of selectors.
“I was ecstatic [to be selected],” he told the Gazette.
“I am training pretty hard at the moment, I am usually training about 15 hours a week. I also attend uni studying a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Science at ACU.
“I am going in a little nervous because it’s my first time in a world tournament but I am also pretty excited.”
Smith has competed in karate for 15 years, and is currently training under the watchful eye of his dad, Owen Smith, out of No Limits Gym in Richmond.
Owen Smith said his son had his eyes set on an even higher goal for next year.
“He has been working hard for a long time and the aim was always to get to Japan next year because that’s the cream of the crop,” he said.
“We are at the pointy end now, we are training six days a week. It’s difficult training.”
The fifth IKO Matsushima World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament will take place in Shanghai from November 15 to 20 of this year.
