2026 Stratford Tournament

The third annual North Island Novice Karate Tournament has once again proven to be a major success for both the Stratford Kyokushin dojo and the Stratford community.

Held in Stratford, the tournament attracted competitors from across both the North and South Islands, with 43 individual kata entries, 5 team kata entries, and 63 fight competitors.

The event welcomed a wide range of ages and experience levels, with competitors as young as 7 years old through to participants aged 50-plus, highlighting karate as an inclusive sport that people can enjoy throughout all stages of life.

Organisers say the tournament continues to grow each year and has become an important event for novice karate competitors around New Zealand. The strong turnout reflects the increasing interest in karate across the region and the positive culture being built within the dojo community.

“Karate is such a fantastic martial art,” organisers said following the event. “It teaches discipline, confidence, fitness, resilience, and respect, while also creating lifelong friendships and strong community connections.”