Karate blue belt wins silver
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Karate Blue belt Lucas Coles defied the odds at the Canadian National Karate Championships in Ottawa, beating out all but one of his black belt competitors for a silver medal win. The martial artist was one of three fighters from Smithers Shogun Dojo to win big at the national tournament over the weekend of May 19.
Coach Marwan Abu Khadra said the achievement was made more remarkable because the 11-year-old Coles went into the tournament prepared for point fighting, but switched to continuous at the last minute. It was also his first national competition.
“Point fighting is like fencing — you score, you stop; it’s about strategy and speed. But continuous is like boxing. He was able to make the switch simply because he’s talented. He sees things. He sees how the fight works.”
Coles narrowly missed winning gold by one point in sudden death.
“[Silver] was a great accomplishment,” said Abu Khadra. “When you’re a blue belt fighting black, your mind plays with you. You have to beat yourself, before you can beat your competition. For the most part, he did.”
Approximately 350 fighters competed in 700 starts, or events.
All three Smithers fighters competed in light contact continuous, matches lasting up to two-minutes or until one fighter gains a 10-point lead. In addition to the three Smithers’ fighters, two from both Terrace and Houston joined the Shogun delegation. Houston’s Heidi Golsalves won bronze, and Smithers Jason Hann and Hank Lukyn won gold.
Hann, a super heavyweight at just 200 pounds faced six exhausting rounds against fighters 20 and 30 pounds heavier. But Marwan said the 27-year-old won his matches because of solid technique and an insistence to move forward in every round.
“If you’re tired, be tired, but do not show it to the judges because they will deduct points. This was Jason’s first year in super heavyweight — it couldn’t have been easy.”
Hank Lukyn, known for exceptional technical ability and a swift form, also won gold over the weekend. Abu Khadra said if anyone deserved to win, it was Lukyn.
“He trained harder than anyone else. He really wanted this.”
The four Shogun medal winners now qualify for the World Karate Championships in Germany this August.
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congradulations to the karate champions lucas cole,Jason Hann and Hank Lukyn, well done all of you and thanks to marwan for all of your awesome help in teaching and training us to become winners.
sincerely, Rachel Thompson ^_^