By RUSSELL BENNETT
HAMPTON Park’s 15-year-old Ngaheretia Kingi has taken the karate world by storm, playing a huge role in putting Dandenong’s Shukokai dojo on the map.
She is fresh off returning from this year’s World Karate Federation Junior World Championships – held near Madrid in Spain – where she fought in the female 14-15 54-plus kilogram cadet class.
Ngaheretia may only be 15, but she’s already an eight-year karate veteran with a fighting resume that stacks up against the very best the country has to offer.
She won gold at last year’s Australian Karate Federation National Championships in a season that also saw her claim top spot in the Victorian Open, Sydney International and Australian Open tournaments.
She backed that up by winning this year’s Victorian Open, and top three finishes in the Australian Open and National Championships.
Like most other Shukokai fighters, Ngaheretia just keeps going back for the whole club atmosphere.
But she’s also made a reputation on putting in the long, hard training hours in the lead-in to big tournaments and – clearly – the results speak for themselves.
In preparation for the world titles, she trained for around 25 hours per week – that’s more than a part-time job.
“We all want that gold medal,” she said.
“We wouldn’t be here doing this otherwise.”
But a world championship fairy story just wasn’t to be. She “got smashed” 4-0.
“They’re always one step ahead at that level,” Ngaheretia added.
“It’s a big jump up from the nationals.
“We’re the best here, but over there we’re at the bottom again.”
She is currently weighing up whether to embark on another two-year plan that could take her to the next world championships.
But should she make it back, she knows she’ll have to lift her intensity. She said the biggest lesson she had learnt from this year’s tournament was to never take an opponent lightly.
The championships in Spain featured about 1300 competitors from 92 countries. Qualifying, alone, was a massive achievement.
Dandenong’s Shukokai has long had a reputation for producing world-class fighters.
Chief instructor, Sensei Ennio Anselmi beamed when describing Ngaheretia’s effort in Spain.
“There are two-minute rounds that are just hectic,” he said.
“You’ve got no time to take it easy.
“All it can take is one point to lose a fight – a single moment can change everything, and if you lose a point, you have to recompose yourself within seconds.
“It’s such a rollercoaster sport, but I’m so proud.
“Only the best of the best make it to these big tournaments.
“Just like the Olympics.”
