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Shuhari-Kai's Aimee Sell, recently back from her win at the Commonwealth Karate Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, competed at the Junior Austrian Karate Championships in Salzburg, Austria on Saturday 21st June 2008, along with older brother
Alex Sell.
Aimee was competing in the Girls Under 14 years Kata event. After her initial bye in the first round she found herself against an Austrian opponent in the 2nd round but Aimee beat her comfortably 5 flags to nil. Aimee's 3rd round Swiss opponent
suffered the same fate losing out by 5 flags to nil to see Aimee into the quarter-finals. The 4th round quarter-finals saw Aimee against a German opponent and once again a 5 flags to nil win saw her comfortably through to the next round.
The 5th round semi-final saw Aimee claim sweet revenge as she faced her Italian opponent who had consequently beaten Aimee in the U12yrs event two years previously. This time Aimee pulled out all the stops overturning her previous 3-2 defeat into
a 4 flags to 1 victory to make the final for the third consecutive year. The 6th and final round pitted Aimee against another Italian opponent. Aimee, who had just turned 13 years old a week earlier, didn't disappoint as she claimed an impressive victory in this U14 years event
beating her opponent 4 flags to 1 adding yet another international title to her growing list. Aimee won this event last year and this was a fantastic result to retain a title on foreign soil. This was a tough tournament, especially in the latter rounds and Aimee put in a
tremendous effort in her Katas where it mattered, a champions performance.
Alex competed in two events at these championships but unfortunately couldn't match his Gold and Bronze from last years championships and came away empty handed this time round. In the Male U18yrs Kata event Alex won his two compulsory rounds 4-1
and 5-0 respectively but lost out in the quarter-final round 4 flags to 1. Alex made repechage and won his initial repechage round 4-1 to make the repechage final but his Suparimpei Kata couldn't match the power of his opponents Unsu Kata and the judges went for his opponent 4
flags to 1.
Alex then competed in the Male U18yrs, U70kg Kumite event. Alex started well winning his opening round 8-0 in double-quick time but came unstuck in his 2nd round fight. Alex's opponent proved a lot trickier and forced Alex into two Jogi mistakes
that cost him the fight as his single penalised point was the only score in the match leaving Alex a surprised early casualty. Disappointed but wiser for the experience Alex still enjoyed the experience - almost as much as Aimee.
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