Markham City Open to bring top karate and kubudo talent to Pan Am Centre

Nox Dojo Martial Arts School in Markham will host its 17th annual Markham City Open (MCO) Karate & Kobudo Championships at the Markham Pan Am Centre on January 10.

“After participating in competitions all over the world, I wanted to bring that experience home to Markham — with the goal of helping our city become a true Karate Hub,” said Nox Dojo founder Sean Wong. “The Markham City Open was founded to inspire grassroots passion and love for the sport, while promoting the core values of volunteerism, fair play, and community building that define who we are.”

The competition will welcome athletes from across Southern Ontario, Quebec, and New York. Participants include children, teens and adults, with divisions in Kata, Kumite, Kobudo, and Para Karate. Top qualifiers in each category will receive medals.

Experienced karate competitor Vera Jbanova praised the event’s welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to compete alongside her daughters. “Markham Open is an event that my daughters and I are always looking forward to. Organizers and volunteers are doing everything to make sure that every competitor has a chance to show their best skills and have fun. Divisions make sense, and judging is fair and consistent. Organizers try their best to make sure every competitor has a great experience and feels included.”

Visit www.noxdojo.com/mco for more details.

*Story submitted by Christina Manserra.