National All Styles Martial Arts Tournaments

Pride swelled in the heart of 20-year-old Amber Wilson as she emerged victorious after her eighth and final bout at the recent National All Styles Championships held late last year. Climbing onto the winner's podium she felt a mixture of exhaustion and elation, and was reminded once again why she loves competitive karate so much. Blitz caught up with her to find out how she became a champion.

The 2009 National All-Styles Australian Championships came to a thrilling conclusion in Melbourne on 28–29 November, with Luke Croxford walking away with the men’s Champion of Champions belt, and Samantha Palmer amazingly picking up a record-breaking third straight Champion of Champions win. We talked to these karate champions to find out more about their winning ways.

In an incredible display of technique and endurance over two of the hottest days on record, karatekas Lachlan Carr and Samantha Palmer took the Champion of Champions titles at the 27th Annual National All Styles Australian Championship for the second year running. Here, Lachlan and Samantha give us an insight into their training regimens and martial arts journeys — and just what it takes to win back-to-back titles at Australia’s premier all-styles martial arts event.

Samantha Palmer may sound like a new name, but her maiden name of Goulter will be recognised from NAS tournaments over the past six years. She is now recorded as being the first Victorian GKR karateka to win the NAS Champion of Champions title.

Samantha entered the 2006 NAS Championships only days before the tournament. She had been suffering from a strained hamstring and had been undecided about her fitness. A greater obstacle, however, and something that would make her victory all the more meaningful, was the recent passing of her sensei, Alan Murdoch, of Shukokai Karate.

By the time Karen Stone found herself in the Champion of Champions round, she knew she could walk away with the title — she’d already beaten her opponent earlier in the day. “It’s something I’ve been working toward for a while,” says Karen.