The STA Australian International Poomsae Open and Sparring Open will be held today Friday, October 30.

Juniors instructor Hamish Wait said that it was a fantastic effort to have 12 people representing Esperance at an international competition.

“Not everyone gets a chance to go, so everyone has been training really hard for this and we hope to walk away with a few victories,” he said.

Esperance competitors vary from 14 to 50 years of age and are blue, red and black belts.

They will be categorised by their age, weight and skill.

Representatives include: Elise Vickers, Kerri-Anne Barlow, Larissa Barlow, Elenor McCleave, Riley Totterdell, Kenichi Mori, Harley Barlow, Sophie Williams, Nathan Paparone, Mike Vickers, Hamish Wait and Leoni Plunkett, all of whom have been training for the past six months.

The academy has been operating in Esperance for 25 years and is going strong with 50 active members.

“It’s such a great sport because you learn how to defend yourself while getting a great cardio workout,” Mr Wait said.

“It also helps people with memory as there are sequence moves to remember.”