Pinoy karatekas represent country in international tourney

MANILA, Philippines – A group of Filipino karate practitioners will try to hoist the Philippine flag aloft as they will represent the country in the International Shotokan Karate Federation’s 37th annual U.S. National Championship and International Goodwill Tournament from November 14 to 15 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel in San Francisco, California. 

The yearly karate competition customarily allows participants from North and South America regions only, but ISKF made an exception for the Philippines to participate following the nation’s stellar performance at the 2012 World Shoto Cup, which was held at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City. 

The Philippines came out on top of the quadrennial tourney as it finished with a total of 18 gold medals, 15 silvers and 9 bronze honors. 

With the privilege that was given by ISKF to the Philippines, the country will be represented by Karate Development Arts & Sports (KDA), one of the largest Karate education providers in the archipelago with more than 15 clubs all over Metro Manila and two overseas dojos in United Kingdom and New Zealand. 

KDA will be sending 16 elite karatekas with ranks from first to seventh dan, who have strutted wares on various international stages such as the biennial Southeast Asian Games and the pancontinental Asian Games. 

“Before we only have the Monday training, which is for the black belts, instructors and active athletes, but we added one to two additional training sessions for this one that focuses on the competition aspect,” KDA’s instructor and marketing head Erica Samonte shared on the team’s preparation. 

Joining the Philippines in the two-day competition are the United States, Canada and Mexico. The country with the most number of gold medals captured will be declared champion.

The categories to be contested are the juniors (8 to 17 years old), adult (18-44) and seniors (45-above) in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) events.

In addition, the tournament will adopt the Shubo Ippon system, wherein a player has to score the first two points to win in the kumite. 

Samonte stressed that an impressive outing by the Philippine team will initiate and boost support from the Philippine Sports Commission and different private sectors in the country’s campaign at the 2016 World Shoto Cup in South Africa.

“If we do well this year, we can get support from the PSC if we are sending athletes in 2016. We could get support not only from the government, but also from private groups,” she stated. – Rappler.com