Participants in action at the state-level karate championship. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, May 15: Over 100 black belts in karate displayed their skills in the Japanese martial art form at the 23rd senior state karate championship held at the Utkal Karate School on Sunday. As a selection process for the national championships, the event included participation of karatekas (karate players) from 26 districts of the state.

The martial artistes had to compete in knock-out bout as well as perform kata, the detailed movements of karate in a series of steps. The rounds were held for different weight categories.

“Women karatekas competed in five weight categories varying from below 50kg to over 63kg. Men competed in six categories of weight starting from below 55kg to above 84kg,” said Hariprasad Pattnayak, secretary of Orissa State Karate Do Association, which had organised the event.

The 130 participants were randomly selected for kumite or fights in their respective weight categories and tagged either as Aka (red) or Ao (blue). However, the kata rounds were open to all. The age of participants in the senior category, that included all black belts, ranged from 18 to 40. The players demonstrated aggressive moves during the fights.

“As per the guidelines of the All India Karate Do Federation, only one player each could be selected for kata in the male and female categories. All the winners of knock-out fights in different weight categories will represent the state in the national championship,” said Pattnayak.