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| By Sensei Laura McPherson and Sensei Elizabeth Cappa |
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Winning any sort of championship takes commitment, and with this commitment comes a positive mindset and the longing for the success that a person rightfully deserves. Team Cappa, a small, yet noticeable karate group, commanded full attention at the Battle of the Desert AKKO 2008 Championships. Only five Cappa Karate students participated in this elite tournament and all came out as winners- yes, literally and figuratively. They walked out with three full knockdown titles, a kata title, and a second place finish in the men’s middleweight semi-knockdown.
The competition began with two Kata demonstrations; one of the samurai sword, performed by
the well-known blind man Shihan Mike Armstrong, and the other by Sensei Angel Chung who showed a Shotokan Kata. Laura McPherson, the only female member in Team Cappa, competed in the advanced blackbelt Kata division. Performing her clean and precise Pinan-shi Kata, she received judges scores of 9 across the board, earning her the first place spot.
Following Kata, Team Cappa’s next member, Iriack (Easy) Suarez prepared himself for the men’s beginner semi-knockdown. Easy started practicing Kyokushin Karate in Shihan Cappa’s dojo four weeks before this competition. When Easy began training, he never would have imagined competing for a title in as little as a month’s worth of practice. Easy’s opponent in the fight was a white belt who had been practicing various styles of Karate for three years. Although Easy did not win this fight, he placed second in this category; imagine, a newbie in Martial Arts winning his first competition with a second place trophy!
Sensei Juan Perez, one of Cappa Karate’s black belt students, fought in the men’s lightweight full
(L-R) Iriack (Easy) Suarez, Sensei Laura McPherson, Sensei Jaun Perez, Kyoshi Armondo Cappa, Sensei Albert Garibay, and Sempai Douglas Espinoza
knockdown division. He fought against another Kyokushin student, Sensei James, who seemed equal in Juan’s stature and method. Juan and James both executed crisp and strong kicks, but what determined the match was Juan’s flying hiza-geri (knee kick) to the head that was completely unexpected to the crowd. Juan delivered this kick at the right time and with the right momentum, which allowed him to take first place in the lightweight division.
In the middleweight division, advanced student Sempai Douglas Espinoza, fought his competitor Sensei Julius. At first, Julius threw several punches, while Douglas responded with chudan-seiken-tsukis (straight punches). The overwhelming power of these punches led up to Douglas’s short punch that impacted the liver. In a matter of seconds, the middleweight title was awarded to Douglas because of the body knockout.
Albert Garibay, Team Cappa’s last member up for a challenge, fought in the semi-final and final rounds of the men’s heavyweight. The semi-final match was long fought and was determined by a decision. With only a small break after his win, Albert had to quickly catch his breath and prepare himself for the final. Albert beat his final competitor by throwing leg kicks and punches to the body’s vital areas. Despite his long and arduous final match, Albert’s win was also given by a concise decision by the judges.
Team Cappa won in all aspects of this championship. At the end of the day, it was obvious that these modern day gladiators gave it their all; the spirit of Kyokushin filled their minds and they were able to succeed at great altitudes.
