RMA Karate Centres sent 7
competitors to the WKC Kickboxing & Karate provincial trials in London this
past weekend (April 21). The seven were among Ontario’s best in the
martial arts vying for their chance to represent Canada at the 2012 WKC World
Kickboxing & Karate Championships this October. The provincial
and national trials are black belt divisions with the ability of martial
artists not yet a black belt, able to compete among the higher
belts. For six of the seven competitors from the Barrie karate school,
this was such the case. Only the top eight competitors from each event
advances to the national team trials taking place in Montreal Victoria day long
weekend in May.
Leading the way was 7 time
Canadian national karate team member and RMA instructor black belt Tressa
Young. The seventeen-year-old competed in 10 events and medaled in every
single one. The second degree black belt won gold in eight of her events
including continuous fighting -60kg, traditional hard style kata, traditional
weapon, extreme forms, freestyle forms, traditional Korean forms, Chinese forms
and musical weapons. She also went on to win silver in -60kg speed point
fighting and bronze in creative weapons.
Following in her instructor’s
path is 3 time Canadian national karate team member Samantha MacDonald.
The thirteen-year-old advanced brown belt moved up an age class into the 13 to
17 year old female divisions and alongside her own instructor Tressa
Young. MacDonald advances in nine out of her 10 divisions she
competed in. She won silver in +60kg continuous fighting, bronze in
extreme forms, bronze in freestyle forms and bronze in musical weapons.
MacDonald also made top eight in Chinese forms, Korean forms, +60kg speed point
fighting, traditional weapons and creative weapons.
2 time Canadian national
karate team members Tyler Maroudas-Zenon and Brooke Zenon also attended the
competition and finished the provincials leaving their mark.
Seventeen-year-old Tyler Maroudas Zenon did extremely well in all three of his
events. The advanced brown belt won silver in Korean forms, bronze in
traditional weapons and placed fourth in Chinese. Younger sister and 2
time Canadian national karate team member Brooke Zenon advances in 3 of her 4
events. The eleven-year-old purple belt won gold in Korean forms, bronze
in Chinese forms and advances in the traditional weapons division.
New to the provincial trials
were seven-year-old Liam North, eight-year-old Ari Wilson and nine-year-old
Rachel Wilson. Orange belt Liam North won silver in the -30kg continuous
fighting and bronze in the -30kg speed point fighting. White belt Ari
Wilson won bronze in the -30kg continuous fighting and placed fourth in the
-30kg speed point fighting. White belt Rachel Wilson won silver in Chinese
forms and silver in -30kg girls speed point fighting.
The seven were all smiles at
the end of the day and are looking forward to the national team trials next
month. “We are very proud of everyone not only in their results but how
they carry themselves as a competitor and a martial artist. They are all
respectful and helpful to their fellow teammates always willing to help one
another.” Head instructor Craig Ridout stated.
REFERENCE:
WKC Canada – www.wkccanada.com
RMA Karate – www.rmakarate.com
World Kickboxing & Karate Council - http://www.worldkickboxingcouncil.com/
