Top-class karate action will be seen in Port Elizabeth at the weekend as United ShotokanRyu and its affiliate, East Cape Shotokan-Ryu, convene the first round of the 2019 Sunshine Coast Karate Open Championships (SCKO) at the Boardwalk Hotel on Saturday.About 300 athletes of all ages and belt levels are expected to compete in individual kata (forms) and kumite (fighting) categories at either novice, intermediate or elite level.Eastern Cape karate dojos will be well-represented, including a large contingent of karateka from East London, with a number coming from Shotokan Circle of Karate under instructor Sean O’ Connell and ISKF under instructor Russell Symes.Other athletes are expected from the Western Cape, Garden Route and Gauteng.“The men’s open kata and kumite promises to be an exciting and action-packed category,” organiser and USR chair Gary Grapentin said.“Athletes in this category include Lutho Singata and Brent Smith, both from the Rhodes University Shotokan Karate Club, and Thanduxolo Royi from the Joza Karate Club.“The trio will also represent United Shotokan-Ryu at the WUKF World Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia, from June 20 to 23.”Grapentin said Saturday’s championship would be excellent preparation for the world championships.In 2018 Singata became the first South African to win a medal (bronze) in a senior men’s kumite category at the WUKF World Championship in Dundee, Scotland.“The Boardwalk Hotel will provide a luxurious and atmospheric setting for the Championship,” Grapentin said.“The championship venue will comprise four competition arenas with comfortable ringside seating for spectators.”The venue opens its doors to the public at 7.15am, with the first categories getting under way at 8.30am.The men’s open categories start at 9am, with the women’s open categories taking place in the afternoon.The entry fee for spectators is R50 for adults and R30 for under-18s.The second round of the 2019 SCKO Karate Championship Series will then take place at the Fish River Resort on July 27.For further championship inquiries, Grapentin may be contacted at: garyg@geenet.co.za