Toatakai Karate

Had a chance to speak with John Campbell on Radio NZ this morning about the Treadmill Everest Fundraiser! Have a listen below 📻⛰️👊

** In the moment I made a big mistake, talking about winning the first medal at a WKF Youth League, and aspiring to take the first ever World Championships Medal.
To confirm, this would be the first for the Male Kumite (Point Sparring) event. We have had amazing success and atheltes medalling in Kata at this level in the past!
Shout out to Chris Rahardja, Leticia Carr, Richard Rahardja, Josiah Ling, Kate Sung and Tomoya Ogawa who have done so!

Why Team NZ's karate coach is hitting the treadmill A Hamilton man has been selected to coach Team New Zealand at this year's Youth World Karate Championships in Poland later this year.Three athletes from Toatakai Karate will represent the country in October. The problem is he's got to fund his own way there. So, Barney Gill, is getting creative and....

🏔️ I'm climbing Mt Everest... on a treadmill.

This October, I've been selected to coach Team New Zealand at the WKF Youth Karate World Championships in Poland. Three athletes from Toatakai Karate will also be representing New Zealand after an incredible year, including our team winning New Zealand's first-ever WKF Youth Karate 1 Kumite medal in Manila.

Unfortunately, this year the coaches are required to self-fund the entire trip, leaving me with a much bigger cost than I'd planned for.

So I've decided to do something a little ridiculous.

On Sunday 13 September, I'll attempt to climb the entire height of Mt Everest on a treadmill in one continuous challenge. Every step will be livestreamed in the Dojo, and (because apparently climbing Everest isn't hard enough!) viewers will eventually be able to donate to make the challenge even tougher.

If you'd like to help me get to Poland to support these young athletes on the biggest stage in youth karate, I'd be incredibly grateful.

Every donation and every share genuinely helps.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/8849m-for-team-nz-my-treadmill-everest

8,849 metres. One treadmill. One very long Sunday. Let's do this. 🥋🇳🇿

8,849m for Team NZ – My Treadmill Everest Climbing 8,849m on a treadmill to help me coach Team NZ’s young karate athletes at the 2026 World Championships in Poland.

👊 GRADING DAY 👊

Action shots from Manila 📸💥🥋
Awesome job from the boys representing Toatakai on the World Stage.