House of Shotokan wins big in Merida
The House of Shotokan is quickly earning a reputation as a force to reckon in karate. The athletes have earned an additional sixteen medals after competing in kata and kumite in Merida. The competition took place over the weekend and victory is sweet for the athletes who hope to be invited to compete in other events in Mexico.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The House of Shotokan made another impressive medal count when its members competed in kata and kumite. Recent victories occurred in Cancun, this time the showdown was in Merida.
Shihan Ray Kelly, Grandmaster House of Shotokan
Shihan Ray Kelly
“We were again invited to participate in a taekwondo tournament—first time for the House of Shotokan Karate Academy to participate there with the students. We brought a total of eleven students down there with us with family members from Belize. The event was this past Saturday. Out of the eleven students, we won a total of sixteen medallions: eight gold, seven silver, and one bronze. Again the students did phenomenal—they worked hard, they trained hard and it was very encouraging to hear when the Mexican officials said the country of Belize when our students stood on the first place grand stand and says first place winner; House of Shotokan Karate Academy from the country of Belize.”
Carmelita Kuylen
Carmelita Kuylen, was very prepared and clearly on the cutting edge of two wins as shown in her demonstration.
Carmelita Kuylen
“I have gold medal for kata form and silver for fighting.”
Jose Sanchez
“When it comes to the fighting, what all did you have to do for that medal?”
Carmelita Kuylen
“We have to kick mostly. They were taekwondo and we are Shotokan karate which we do both taekwondo and other martial arts discipline but mostly we had to do kicks—fight a little bit different.”
Martin Sylvester
Martin Sylvester
“I won first place for fighting. It was very challenging when I saw who I was going to fight. He had to kick me in my head to let me get the sense what I was really doing. So I followed him up and I beat him.”
Ralph Hulse
Ralph Hulse
“This one I was fighting against someone from my school. And I was not fighting him hard. But I’m gonna get him next time. And this one I got in kata because I was doing good; I was doing good stance.”
Ethan Sanchez
“This silver medal I got it for doing kata. I tried to do my best.”
Jose Sanchez
Ethan Sanchez
“This other medal; what is it? What you get it for?”
Ethan Sanchez
“I got it for fighting. I did a lot of kicks and a little bit of punches because only kicks score points.”
Jackie Liu’s Kata was impeccable but he intends to do more at the next event.
Jackie Liu
Jackie Liu
“I got a silver medal for kata and my kata was yute. For fighting, I didn’t get a medal because I had to face one opponent and the score fell short—nine to eleven—but I hope to get them next time.”
Sensei Carla Kuylen
Sensei Carla Kuylen
“I got second place on my kata and first place on kumite. It was a little challenging from the one before because there were over six hundred to seven hundred competitors and I had to fight experiences taekwondo fighters. So it was challenging, but at the end of the day, I came in first in my fighting because again we train with the best so what can we expect—we’re the best.”
Jose Sanchez
“How many fighters did you actually have to face?”
Sensei Carla Kuylen
“Well actually they divided the categories so it’s only one fight and you either win or get defeat. So I actually just fought one girl this time. But we are looking forward to one we have in Chetumal August the sixth and we have one in Tabasco, August the twenty-seventh. So we’re gonna train hard. You guys will see us running in the streets of Belize City training hard.”
Shihan Ray Kelly
“And we’re doing a bang up job right now doing that. So I’m excited, ecstatic. There is another upcoming tournament in Tabasco, Mexico. Our students have never been there, I have never been there. It’s going to be a first timer for us again and as expected the country of Belize will shine because our students are training very hard for that competition. Yes, Mexico will be waiting for us again.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
