02/10/2026
Osu WCK!
Now that we've had a chance to catch our breath after an incredible trip to the 2026 Australian Kyokushin Nationals in Brisbane, I've been reflecting on what has been an amazing few months of hard work, growth, challenges, and success.
Before anything else, I want to say thank you to everyone who played a part in making this journey possible. There are so many people who helped us along the way, and if I've accidentally missed anyone, please know your support was genuinely appreciated.
First, a huge thank you to Shihan Tahi for your support, encouragement, leadership, and belief in our team. Your message about training with integrity and doing the right things when no one is watching became something we talked about often and carried with us throughout the journey.
Thank you to Senpai Anton for giving us a "home away from home" dojo for all the extra training. Thanks for sharing your kumite knowledge and experience that helped take our preparation to another level. The fitness watches you provided were also a fantastic tool for our athletes to track their progress.
A big thank you to Sensei Kev, Kihikihi Kyokushin Karate Club, and all the karateka and clubs who welcomed us and gave us extra sparring opportunities every Friday night over the past year. Those sessions played a huge role in helping our team improve and prepare for what lay ahead.
To all our WCK members, supporters, and sponsors, thank you. Every bit of support, whether big or small, helped make this trip possible.
To our amazing parents, grandparents, whānau, and friends, thank you for everything you do behind the scenes. The travel, fundraising, training runs, late nights, early mornings, encouragement, and belief in our athletes make a bigger difference than you probably realise.
To the more than 30 supporters who travelled from New Zealand and Australia, thank you for bringing the WCK spirit to Brisbane. Hearing your voices from the stands and seeing WCK shirts throughout the venue gave our athletes an incredible boost.
A special thank you to Sheryl and Cherie. So much of what you did happened quietly behind the scenes, but it was absolutely critical to the success of the trip. From organising details and keeping everyone informed, to helping make sure everything ran smoothly, we are incredibly grateful for all the work you put in.
And finally, to the team.
I couldn't be prouder of every one of you.
Many of you have competed in every tournament over the past year, and the growth I've seen has been incredible. Not only have you developed as karateka, but you've grown as people. You trained hard, stepped outside your comfort zones, supported each other, and represented WCK with respect, humility, and determination.
The medals tell only part of the story.
Yes, we came home with 3 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze medal, and that's something we should all be proud of. But what matters even more are the experiences, lessons, friendships, memories, and confidence that came from competing on the international stage.
This isn't the finish line.
It's another step forward.
Take some time to enjoy a well-earned break, celebrate what you've achieved, reset your goals, and recharge.
Then we'll get back to work and continue the journey together, stronger, wiser, and more motivated than ever.
The future is bright, and I'm excited to see what's next for this team.
Osu.
Sensei Maia
Send a message to learn more
