Mallorca hosts the first para-karate championship with students from Aspace
Fifteen participants will show the work done during two years of training in an adapted kata competition
PalmMallorca will host the 1st Para-Karate Championship on June 4th, an initiative promoted by the Kifudo karate school and Aspace Mallorca that aims to be a starting point for giving more visibility to adapted sports in the Islands. The project was born after two years of joint work between sensei Ian Bauzá and Aspace users.
"They have learned enough to demonstrate all that they have worked on," explains Bauzá, who highlights that the main objective is to bring karate closer to people with functional diversity and show that "karate is for everyone." The championship, in which a total of fifteen participants divided into two groups will compete, will be internal in nature, but it has the support of the Balearic Federation and the Spanish Karate Federation, which have a specific para-karate department.
The competition will include adapted kata (choreographed sequences) tests, specially designed for participants with cerebral palsy.
Bauzá acknowledges that organizing an event of this nature "is complicated", especially due to the administrative burden and initial lack of experience, although he appreciates the support received from the federation, Aspace, and the "la Caixa" Foundation.
The coach also regrets that there are still families unaware of the opportunities offered by adapted sports and encourages parents "to take the step" and discover the benefits of karate. "I would like people to see the students' overcoming and the work done over these two years. This is just the beginning and we want to do more", he assures, with an eye even on future state-level competitions or galas.
The championship will take place on Thursday, June 4th, starting at 11 am at the Aspace Foundation (old Bunyola road, km 8.2).