Kumite and Kata Karate tournaments in the city
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’re right on time for this dish of Sports Monday.
Climactic conditions continue to play havoc on the Belizean sporting landscape so we had to go indoors to the City Center yesterday where the 2008 National Open Karate championships and primary school competition was staged in both Kumite and Kata. We pick up the action in the heated Kumite contest as Kevin Flowers looks to take out Frank Tu in an effort to advance for the Flowers it’s an all out war as he times his opponent to floor him with this vicious straight right. Give Tu credit as he comes back with this brutal high kick that stuns Flowers but he hangs on. In response Flowers launches another straight right that again connects Tu with the mat. However, it would be Frank Tu who advances. So we had to go to the vice president of the Belize Karate Federation for the rationale right here, Herman Pastor Junior.
Herman Pastor Jr., President, Belize Karate Federation
“Sport Karate is a non-contact sport. If you have excessive contact, then you don’t get points; instead you get fouls. If you get fouls twice, points are given to the other person. So if you don’t understand the rules then it’s hard for you to win a tournament.”
Now that we have the rules right lets fast forward to the semi-finals as Reynier Veron jumps on Deon Vernon on his way to the finals. A very exhausted Veron does enough to satisfy the judges as he moves on to the finals. In the other semi-finals action the educated foot of Anthony Lord gives him an early lead over a game Argazuad Sankey. And indeed foot power was enough to get Lord over the hump against a well trained and heavier opponent. Which brings us to money time with Vernon facing Lord in the finals and Vernon immediately becomes the protagonist. Give Reynier Vernon credit people as he does come out on top to take top honour in Kumite at this the over sixteen class and we say congratulations. Anthony Lord, well he has to settle for second while Deon Vernon got an easy pass to third place as Frank Tu could not come out for that particular fight.
On the ladies side, only four contenders stepped up to the open sixteen and over class in Kumite and immediately Thara Blanco, fighting out the blue corner, displays her skills against Myra Pinelo as she makes it into the finals. Maurine Westby also makes it to the finals with this less than overwhelming display against Ingrid Chan. This forces Chan and Pinelo into the battle for third place and it is close, it’s rough it’s competitive but it’s Myra Pinelo who gets the judges’ nod for third place. In the match-up for top honours Thara Blanco provides much more offense than Maureen Westby and gets more points. So we say congratulations to Thara Blanco, the female Kumite champion.
Meanwhile in other Kumite action, Henrick Williams won the seven to eight year old class, Joseph Flowers the nine to ten, Henghief Williams the thirteen to fifteen year old class. Kenrick Williams, he took the Primary School category. On the female side it was Halle Spence in the seven to eight year old class, Cara Pastor eleven to twelve, and Nerici Pastor thirteen to fifteen.
In Kata Myron Pollard took the eight to ten years class, T’Jahrri Yearwood intermediate Kata, Jonathan Marshalleck eight to ten advance, Pablo Cawich five to seven advance, Cara Pastor eleven to fifteen years advance, Yumi Sankai sixteen and over, Ingrid Chan sixteen and over novice, Adrian Canul thirteen to fifteen years old novice, Joel Varela eleven to fifteen intermediate, Devereaux Carillo eleven to fifteen novice and Thara Blanco won advance Kata for sixteen years and over females. Halle Spence took the weapons contest, Michael Lin won at under eighteen judo and Melvin Armstrong the over twenty class.
In the meantime, Belize will participate in the nineteenth World Karate Championships to be staged on November thirteenth at Tokyo Japan. Thara Blanco and Leon Guild will represent the Belize at this karate occasion.
Meanwhile, folks in football neither the B.P.F.L. or the Super League of Belize have determined if football play resumes this weekend so stay tuned people. As soon as we get the understanding, we’ll certainly pass it on.
In basketball news, Maxi basketball opened its 2008 season at Big Bird’s Isle on Saturday with a three game schedule. Old Technical Rebels dropped Old Cemetery 59-55, defending champions Alberts downed Orange Walk Eagles 43-40 and B.W.S. Bulls ran over Maria Chang 56-46.
Hey folks, we certainly hope the weather improves. Nevertheless, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
