Karate: Combat Tang Soo Do and Haedong Kumdo South African Championship-13 medals on first international outing |13 June 2007

The six young participants won a total 13 medals – six gold, six silver and one bronze – in the recent Combat Tang So0 Do and Haedong Kumdo South African Championship.

Local karatekas were up against junior opponents in the championship held at the Wits University in Johannesburg on June 2.

Jude Gabriel was the only local karateka to win three gold medals in sparring, kata and haedong kumdo (traditional Korean sword art) in the green belt category for 17-year-olds.

Jigme Tsulstrim captured two gold medals in sparring and kata as well as a bronze medal in haedong kumdo of the green belt division for 12-year-olds.

Seven-year-old green belt holder Jean-Yves Lestrange triumphed in the kata event for the gold medal and fought his way to winning a silver medal in sparring.

The local school’s head David Esparon, who acted as head of delegation, described Axel Valmont as Seychelles’ most courageous fighter at the championship.

Esparon said that Valmont, 14, stayed on the mat despite a knee injury to win two silver medals in kata and sparring in the purple belt category.

Two other karatekas whom Esparon did not want to reveal their names clinched three medals - two silver and a bronze – in the nine-year-old and 11-year-old divisions.

While in South Africa, the young karatekas followed a training session under the guidance of Grandmaster Edward Jacobsen (7th dan black belt Combat Tang Soo Do and Haedong Kumdo) and Master Godfrey Jacobsen (5th dan black belt Combat Tang Soo Do and 4th dan black belt Haedong Kumdo).

Esparon, who thanked the parents of the young karatekas and all those who made their trip possible, explained that the school’s top senior karatekas – Naddy Banane, Andy Allisop and André Lucas – could not make the trip as they were held up by other commitments.

It is to note that the local Combat Tang Soo Do and Haedong Kumdo school was formed last year.

G. G.