Podgorica is welcoming another exceptional club, as Kobra Kai achieved second place in the Montenegrin Karate Championship for beginners, pioneers, and hopefuls, standing out among 40 competing clubs, following the dominant Omladinac.

In contrast to Omladinac and other clubs with long-standing traditions and a history of winning major medals, Kobra Kai was established only on January 9, 2023.

“We secured five gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals. This achievement in a competitive field of clubs with rich legacies reflects the hard work and professionalism of our team. We reached this milestone in just our second appearance. We focus on every detail, and I am genuinely thankful for the commitment of coaches Aleksandar Popović and Andrija Danilović, who, alongside me, strive daily to help our members advance,” said Marina Kovijanić, the founder of Kobra Kai and Montenegro’s most decorated combat athlete.

Now, Marina shares her extensive experience and knowledge, honed through her success as a leading Montenegrin athlete, with young talents, including medals from prestigious competitions like the European Games in Baku.

“There is an abundance of talent, and the children are dedicated. Amazingly, in our debut at the national championship, we placed fifth, and now we are second! Moreover, we have already produced Balkan medalists; Itana Grbović and Pavle Lazović earned bronze last year in Turkey. Our coach, Andrija Danilović, also competes successfully and will represent Montenegro at the senior European Championship in Armenia on May 7th,” Kovijanić states with pride.

Apart from managing the karate club, Kovijanić also conducts individual training sessions, yielding impressive results: gold medals at the national championship in Kolašin last weekend for Itana Grbović, Maša Todorović, and Pavle Lazović. The top spots in the junior category were claimed by Maša Grk and Ksenija Rakočević, while Milena Piljević and Anika Rakočević took silver, and Vasilije Radusinović and Lana Soković earned bronze.

“All accolades belong to the competitors; we had a total of 12 participants, all engaged in combat, two of whom have been training for only four months as beginners. Therefore, the outcome is something to commend, given that 462 competitors battled for supremacy at the championship,” Marina concluded.

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