Martial artists from Barrie
attended the 2013 World Karate & Kickboxing Championships in Italy last
week as part of the Canadian national karate team. The handful of martial
artists who train at RMA Karate Centres in Barrie qualified for the national
team in May and as part of the team represented Canada at the international
event.
Second degree black belt and
RMA school owner Tressa Young transitioned well into the adult divisions
continuing to prove she is at the top of her sport. Competing in nine
separate divisions from traditional Japanese hard style to fighting, the
eighteen year old won 7 gold and 2 silver medals. The eighteen year old
continues to impress the officials every year at the annual event not only with
her skill but also with the level of class and sportsmanship she displays in the
ring.
Third degree black belt and
RMA instructor Linda Young, a first time national team member and international
competitor did extremely well competing in the women’s veterans Japanese hard
style and Chinese forms coming home with 2 silver medals. The forty-nine
year old gave herself a challenge and succeeded from national team trials to
the international event in Italy. “Tressa and several of our students are
extremely successful at this high level of competition and I felt it was time
to test the waters to see what I could do. It was an amazing experience
with excellent competition in my age group. I am happy with my
results but I am going to give it a try again next year with my goal being gold
for Canada”, Young stated.
Second degree black belt and
RMA instructor Tara Krale gave a strong performance in the women’s 35 years
plus divisions. The first time Canadian team member and international
competitor found herself on the medal podium three times at the world
championships. She won 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. Krale
was all smiles with her accomplishments and proudly wore her medals home.
Purple belt Liam North proved
that hard work and determination pays off. At the age of eight years old
this two-time national team member gave everything he had in the ring
impressing the judges who made a point of stating he had a ton of heart.
North’s presentation of his forms were top notch including the boy’s Chinese
forms division where he won a silver medal.
Between the four from RMA Karate
Centres they collectively came home with 15 medals for Canada.
