Celebrating a Gold Medal Win
Tue Apr 21 2009
The team at RACV Royal Pines Resort are celebrating a gold medal win, as the Resort's Japanese Services manager, Noriyuki Tamura (Tam), returns from the 34th Australian National Kendo Championships in Adelaide after gaining first place in the National Kata Championship.
Tam beat the three time gold medal champions to claim the gold and a new national record in the National Kata Competition for pairs category.
Kendo is a unique form of Japanese Martial Arts, which disciplines the human character through the application of Katana (sword) principles.
A level four martial Arts Black Belt, Tam trains with the Shuba Kai Club at the Nerang Community Centre, a minimum of 3 times a week. Having practised the sport for a total of 36 years, Tam's recent achievement at the national competition is definitely one of the highlights of his Martial Arts career.
"Going into the competition, I wasn't to confident of my abilities when comparing with the Australian standard and didn't think that I would get a high level. When I won I was really surprised and actually felt very lucky," said Mr Tamura.
In 2006 Tam achieved two silver medals at the National Kendo Championships held in Perth in both the National Kata Competition for pairs and the Kendo team open competition.
Now seen as the hero of Queensland Kata, Tam was the only competitor at the recent championships representing the Gold Coast.
"I was very proud to represent the Gold Coast, Queensland and RACV Royal Pines Resort."
An employee at RACV Royal Pines for the past 16 years, Tam is appreciative of the support he has received from the Resort and his co-workers.
"Royal Pines have made it very easy for me to compete in these types of competitions, they always give me flexibility to train and to take time off to compete, and they are all very happy for me when I place," he said.
The National Kendo Championships were held in Sydney last year, and will be heading to Melbourne in 2009 where Tam hopes for another gold medal.
