September 12, 2022, Birmingham, England – Canadian karate athletes of junior and senior levels took part in the Commonwealth Karate Championships last week and brought back several medals home. 

On September 7-8, the 2022 Commonwealth Karate Championships took place, where 2 athletes per country were allowed to compete per division. At this elite event, 17 medals were won by Canadians: 2 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze. 31 Canadian athletes were registered for the event where a total of 22 countries sent out 413 athletes to compete in 53 categories. 

Canadian medals at the Commonwealth Karate Championships per discipline 

An event filled with hope and reverence 

As the Commonwealth Karate Championship was coming to an end, England and the Commonwealth nations were learning about the passing of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. Together, all participants and spectators paid respect by stopping the event for an official announcement and a minute of silence, while the flag was lowered at half-mast, conveying an historic and emotional connotation to this special edition of the championship. 

This championship was the first CKF event sanctioned by Commonwealth Games England and supported by the Commonwealth Games Federation. It was even held on the same premises as the Games, which happened just a month before. The medals featured the logo of the Commonwealth Games and the winners are commonwealth champions for karate until 2024. 

Commonwealth Club Championship 

This year, an open competition, the Commonwealth Club Championships was being held on September 9-11, after the Commonwealth Karate Championships, in order to provide an international tournament experience for athletes up to the 40-year-old and above division. Any club within the Commonwealth could send athletes 12-year-old and up to participate. 

This event also attracted a lot of competitors. 974 athletes registered from 120 clubs in 18 countries. Among those, 13 Canadian athletes participated, winning 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals, for a total of 7 medals. 

Craig Vokey renewed as CKF’s general secretary 

The Commonwealth Karate Federation (CKF) held its congress in the margins of the Championships on September 6th. On the occasion, Karate Canada’s president, Craig Vokey, we re-elected for another term as CKF’s genral secretary, solidifying Canada’s impact in the sport. 

Craig Vokey with Sonny Pillay, CKF president.

About Karate Canada 

Karate Canada is a not-for-profit corporation with the objective of describing and incorporating all activities related to the promotion, organization, regulation and popularization of the sport of karate all over Canada, of protecting the physical and emotional health of athletes, and of promoting the interests of karate throughout Canada. 

Karate Canada and its 11 Provincial and Territorial Associations members normally assemble roughly 16,000 participants nationwide. Furthermore, Karate Canada is a proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, the World Karate Federation and the Pan American Karate Federation. See more at www.karatecanada.org.