A Tauranga Breeze Breakfast announcer has won gold for the seventh time at the New Zealand National Karate Championship.

Mount Maunganui resident, Mark Eagle, 43, has been involved in Karate for more than 30 years and has won six gold medals in a row in the over 35 division since 2012.

He says now that he's getting older and younger people are entering the competition, it's quite nice to be able to beat the ‘young whipper snappers'.

'There was some good competition. The guy that faced me in the final, I've faced him before, and he's beaten me and I've beaten him a few times.”

He thrives on the revelry and says it's good to see people coming back every year to improve their skills further.

'I love that it teaches you more about how to defend yourself, and it's great to get kids into. It teaches you coordination and balance, and that when things get hard in life, you've got to work harder to overcome them.”

The over 35 karate division focuses on Kata, which is all about minor movements and positioning.

The five judges have a set criteria where they look at aspects, such as the karateka's stepping and turning while maintaining perfect form.

'If you have a small step out of place, like a trip or something, well you can pretty much kiss the championship goodbye.'

During the competition karatekas will have either a red or blue belt and will each do their Kata separately on the floor before coming together to raise the flag for the winner.

In 2009 Mark won first place, in 2010 he came third, 2011 second and then 2012 onwards has received gold.

As well as being a Breeze Breakfast announcer he is also a sensei at Fushin Ryu in Ohope.

He says he sees a lot of potential in some of the children he teaches and can see them in a few years' time competing in the nationals.

'The great thing is in three years, for the first time ever Karate will be considered an Olympic sport, which is really cool for the kids to aspire to.”

When asked if he would consider competing in the Olympics himself, he says he's too old, but isn't going to stop competing in the nationals anytime soon.

'I'm too old, but I might ask them if they need an experienced commentator.”