Freund’s fists of fury

YONATAN Freund has become the country’s undisputed karate champion for his age after taking home two gold medals from the 2015 Australian Schools and University Championships in Sydney, which was held in conjunction with the Australian Karate Open.

Hosted from April 10 to 12 at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, day two of competition saw Freund place first in the 12- and 13-years-old, sub-55kg male Kumite category while representing Reddam House in the school’s event.

The 13-year-old followed up that display on day three in the same age and weight category for the Australian Open Championship.

Fighting for his North Bondi-based judo, Jeffsan Karate, Freund beat out a much larger pool of fighters than the school’s competition to capture his second gold medal.

“It felt really great ‘cause it’s my first win at the Australian Open,” Freund told the AJN. “And my first win in the Schools Championships as well. The Australian Open was the harder competition – there’s more people, better fighters.

“Hopefully one day I will fight at the international level.”

Freund’s father, Stephen, said: “[Yonatan] has really put in a lot of time and effort towards improving. “For a few years he was going to tournaments and losing every single one. But he didn’t give up. He just wanted to win and eventually he learned how, practiced and kept at it.

“All of the sudden it’s clicked and this year he’s own the first three tournament.”

Freund’s success at the recent tournament has earned him selected to the NSW team travelling to Adelaide for the National Championship in August.

Three other Jewish fighters will join him on the state squad, with brothers Richard and Michael Basckin and Raelle Freinkel selected after excelling at the Schools and University Championships.

Richard and Michael won silver medals in the male 16- and 17-years-old sub-55kg Kumite category and male senior Kata, respectively, while Freinkel seized bronze for the female 16- and 17-years-old Kumite section.

ADAM BLAU

Yonatan Freund (right, in red) on his way to gold at the 2015 Australian Karate Open