This past weekend, Cobra Karate and Self Defense Dojo, Saint Lucia Shotokan Karate Association and Budokai Karate participated as a unified team in the 8th edition of the Golden Kimone Open International Karate Championship in Guadeloupe.
The Saint Lucia team received a warm welcome from the organizers for its decision to participate and make the six hour journey to Guadeloupe via boat. Other countries in attendance were Puerto Rico, Martinique and France.
The team had seven podium calls, winning 1 silver and 6 bronze medals more than doubling their medal count from their competition in Martinique earlier this year.
The medal winners are as follows: CiannaDalson – 2nd place female Junior Kata; Kaylean Griffith – 3rd place Girls Kata; Terry Charlemagne – 3rd place Boys Kata; Klay Dorius – 3rd place Boys Junior Kumite; JameeleLeonce – 3rd place Male Intermediate Kata and Kumite; Karim Sifflet – 3rd place Male Senior Kumite.
Though this was the first competition for some of the Saint Lucian competitors at this high level tournament, they valued the experience vowing to return next year to be more competitive against the seasoned regional competitors.
The Saint Lucia contingent comprised 20 athletes, 4 coaches and 10 parents all of whom expressed their excitement to have been part of the rewarding experience.
Sensei’s Glen Simon and Anthony Leonce of Cobra Karate and Self Defense Dojo believe that karate is about holistic development of participants, and not simply about kicking and punching.
Thus their annual programme of activities includes not just tournaments and grading exercises, but lectures and presentations on various topics, visits to other karate dojos, outdoor excursions and the like, all with 100 percent parental involvement.
The hope is that through efforts such as this karate will be further developed and proliferated on island for a more disciplined, healthy and productive Saint Lucia.