Karate duo medal at national titles

The karate careers of two girls from the Moreton Bay Region have scaled new heights this month.

Petrie’s Emma Martensson and Sienna Downey, from Murrumba Downs, won medals at the National Karate Championships (August 5-6).

Representing Queensland in Rockhampton, Emma took the silver medal in the 10-11 years Kumite (fighting) and Sienna bronze in the 12-13 years Kumite.

It puts both members of Seiko-Kai Karate Centre, at Kallangur, in the top three in Australia for their respective categories. 

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Emma said her medal was an “amazing award from the highest level” she had fought in. Sienna said it is her “best result at the highest tournament in Australia.”

Both started early - Sienna was three when she joined Seiko-Kai and entered her first tournament aged six. Emma was four when she began fought in her first tournament at six.

Sharynn Punyer, Administration Manager at Seiko-Kai Karate Centre said Sienna was “one of the youngest we have accepted to teach as she was ready”.

“The day she came onto the mats she knew this was her world,” she said. “Once she was old enough to go into competitions she shined and has won numerous medals and trophies.

“Emma has always had the determination to succeed and has put that drive into her karate. She always listens to her coach and this is one of the reasons she has such good results.”

Emma was in the Queensland team last year, but the titles were cancelled due to COVID.

Sienna first represented the state in 2019 when she was fourth in Tasmania and selected for the 2020 and 2021 nationals, but both were cancelled.

Her goal is to be “national champion at kumite, represent Australia and go to the Oceania competition and one day the worlds.

“It would be great for karate to be re-entered into the Olympics for Brisbane in 2032 as it was in at Tokyo, but not the next Olympics,” she said.

Emma is aiming to “get a black belt, keep placing in top positions at the Queensland tournaments for my age and weight so I can keep being selected for Queensland and competing at the National Championships.”