Vegas USA Open

Photo curtesy of www.teamusa.org

USA Open is the largest tournament in the entire United States, people from all over the world come to compete in it. Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine, Japan, Russia, Venezuela, and tons of other teams came.

Day one was all kata I was competing in the Elite 15 year old girls division. I went up against a girl who was a former Pan Am Champion, I lost 2-3, then I waited to see if she would win again and she did. But in her third round she lost so I was out. My kata experience was short lived in US Open but then again there's always next year.

The next day was kumite, I won my first fight against a girl from New York. Then I lost my next round against a girl with trees for arms and legs. She has twice the reach I had. But she went onto the finals and I had to fight Venezuela. She was also tall and had a smooth cream porcelain doll face, and long light brown hair. I lost again. 

My last event of the weekend was team Kumite. For those of you who have no idea what team Kumite is don't worry I will explain. So Kumite is fighting so team Kumite is fighting with a team. But its not like a whole bunch of people fighting at the same time, I know that would be fun to watch. The teams are made up of 3-4 people. Each person from your team fights a person from another team. The two teams have three matches and whichever team wins two out of three of the fights wins. But if there's a tie, say team one won the first round and team two won the second then the third round tied, then it would come down to which team scored the most points. It's a little confusing but really fun to watch. I was fighting for team USA. Up first was Team Venezuela vs. Team Canada. Canada won because they're all six foot tall beasts with beautiful hair put in a ponytail braid. Then it was Team USA vs. Team Japan. Up first from my team was Rachel, she has a great reverse punch put she pulls her head which causes her to get hit a lot. She's the only person I know that has had six concussions from Karate. Anyways she wins her fight then it's my turn. I go out feeling confident and win 5-3. Since we already won two fights we go onto the finals against another USA team from California. Lexi goes first and wins her match. I'm second and I go against a girl I remember (specifically for her bad sportsmanship) from a tournament in Colorado. I start off and get two points then another one. She scores a punch so the score is 3-1. Then I score a head kick and that really made her mad. After that she started coming after me and knocked me down. Then as I'm on the ground she kicks me in the side. Who does that? So as you can probably see I was pretty mad and my ribs hurt, I get up and make a move towards her but restrain myself from punching her in the nose. She flinched pretty hard so I grinned as I walked over to my line. Thank god time ran out because I probably would of lost it. I go over to shake her hand but she turns her back and walks out of the ring. I shrug and walk out, my teammates stare wide eyed they say they've never seen such a disrespectful fighter. After a few deep breaths I start to relax. Our last match Rose, she is ahead the entire match until the last 10 seconds when the other girl scored a kick and won. Which mean the team from California wins gold and we win the silver. Even though we lost it was still the most fun event of the weekend. It's something about winning for your team, and having them cheer for you that it so powerful and fun.

Vegas Junior International Cup

Photo curtesy of www.teamusa.org

Recently I went to vegas for the 4th year in a row. In Vegas there is two tournaments going on in the time span of five days. First, was the Junior International Cup a fairly large tournament but mostly American competitors. That tournament lasts two days with kata on the first day and kumite on the second. So on the first day I woke up at 8:30 and walked over to the Paris where the venue was. Which was very convenient that we were only staying seven minutes away. Yeah but not in the fancy, bright casino, put a small mint on your pillow type Vegas hotel. No, we stay at the Jockey Club. Never heard of it? Don't worry no one else has either. The Jockey Club was built in 1974 one of the oldest hotels built on the strip. It's main customers are old people from the south that come to Vegas to gamble and smoke all day long. I'm not saying the Jockey Club is a horrible place, I mean the beds are comfortable, there's a full kitchen, and enough room for my family of seven so really it's the perfect place for us when we come for the tournament. But for your weekend getaway I wouldn't recommend it. 

So anyway first day we walk over to the Paris. First up is my brother, he's in the 10-11 year old boys division and it is stacked. There is about 30 kids in his division and they all look fierce. A couple hours later my sister goes up in the 12-13 year old girls division. Then shortly after I get called to staging (where you go to wait to be assignment a mat) for the 14-15 year old girls division. Surprisingly I only have to wait for about 15 minutes to go out. A lot of the girls I recognize from regional tournaments or Vegas last year. So I start warming up and getting my mind ready. Then it's time, we walk out in a single file line, bags stuffed with equipment, snacks, water, headphones slung over our shoulders. We sit next to a mat and wait for a boys division to end. Then we bow to the United States flag bow to the referees and start. I go third against a girl that I've never seen before. I win the match 4-1, next match against a girl I remember from last year, I win again 3-2, next match the semi-finals I go up and stumble slightly and scream to myself on the inside but I go on and finish strong, praying that the judges happen to be blinking. I walk back out and wait for the flags I win again and now I'm put into the finals.

But I'm going against my good friend from Florida, she doesn't favor kata but is still naturally good at it. So her dad makes her do it. She goes first and does an amazing kushanku then it's my turn I decided to do my newest kata that hasn't been out on the mat very often it has a 360 jump that is very difficult to land perfectly. I stuck the jump and won the vote. Now with the first day out of the way the stress levels go way down. Now it was time for more pasta, showers, and bed time.

Now onto day two, kumite. I started off good and won my first two matches and got to the semi-final round but then lost. Then I lost again going for 3rd place. The girls were all really great fighters and I feel lucky to meet and compete with them. 

Karate Champions

In my Karate life I have been lucky to meet and train with some of the best Karate competitors in the world. Tom Scott for example has won four gold medals in the Pan American Championships, six medals in the North American Championships, seven USA Open Championships, and three Karate Premier League Finalist. He is truly amazing. Tall and muscular, Tom is 6 feet tall and competes in male Kumite. He is currently ranked 3rd in the world. Also, he is a vampire. I swear he has all of the qualities of a vampire, tall, dark hair, pale, and super super fast. If you saw him compete you would agree with me. 


The next competitor is named Sakura Kokumai from Japan, she holds first place in Kata. She has won five gold medals in the USA National Championships, four gold medals in the Senior Pan American Championships, and four gold medals in the Junior Pan American Championships. I look up to Sakura because of how determined she is and how seriously she takes her training. 

Next is Maxine Lisot. Even though she is only five feet tall and 55 kg Maxine still dominates in Karate. She's been on the USA National team since 2007. Maxine is hilarious and always manages to find a way to make everyone feel more relaxed. I look up to her a lot, the majority of the time I have to go against girls twice my size that are much more powerful, but I just think about Maxine and realize that if she can do so can I.  

Another Kata campion is Antonio Díez. He is best known for winning gold medals in kata at the World Championships in France and Serbia, winning the World Games in Cali Colombia and a silver medal at the World Championships in Japan 2008. He started Karate when he was only five and has been doing it ever since.  

Last is Rubén Canedo, I met him last year when he came to Park City to teach a seminar. I learned many things from him that have improved my Kata tremendously. The first thing he told me that I will never forget is that Kata is not a dance. And anyone who performs it like a dance is doing it wrong. He also taught me how to use my Hada. (Your innermost power found below your bellybutton). "More hada!" He would yell. Over and over again "More hada!" But the best thing he told me is, "When you feel physically and mentally exhausted after your Kata you know you did good." Which I found to be true if I don't feel my muscles ache just a little then I know I didn't do it the best that I could. 

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