By Justin Flynn
Sunbury martial artist Ben Hayes’ first karate competition in 12 years yielded a silver medal at the Shukokai Karate Tournament in Dandenong on June 16.
The 34-year-old competed in the Adults Kata (form demonstration) development division for 3rd Kyu and above.
Hayes said the second-place finish “shocked” him.
“(It was) sort of unexpected really – I didn’t expect to place anything because it’s been a massive lapse since I stopped competing in tournaments,” he said.
Hayes took a back seat from karate around 12 years ago after accidentally injuring a teammate and friend. Then COVID came along, but the fire reignited when karate was included in the Tokyo Olympics.
Hayes’ father and grandfather were martial artists and that, combined with watching the Olympics during lockdown, got him back into training.
“They just gave me the right push to say ‘you know, I think I want to get back into this and try it again’,” he said.
“Maybe not for sparring or Kumite, but certainly at least for doing Kata demonstration.”
What makes Hayes’ silver medal special is that he trained in a different karate style (Goju Kensha) than his tournament opponents (Shukokai).
“I don’t train in the Shukokai Shotokan style of karate, but this was an open event to anyone,” he said.
“So I think what made it shocking was the fact that I placed second and I’m actually not someone who practises that style of karate.”
Hayes’ local club is Goju-Ryu Australia and trains on Wednesday evenings at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Primary School in Sunbury from 7pm.
“I’ve been going there for years and my dad’s been at that club since he was about 25-years-old or so back then in the ’80s,” he said.
“They’ve just been a really good club. The club is run by a man named Gary Jackson, who owns multiple Goju Kensha karate clubs around Victoria.”
