By Mark Squibb | Vol. 12 No. 24 (November 28, 2019)
Members of Team Atlantic Canada made an impressive showing at the 2019 World Karate and Kickboxing Commission World championship, bring home bronze, silver, and even gold medals. In back, from left to right, are Jimmy Yetman, Ryan Bennett, and Jacob Skiffington. In the middle row are Robbie Wiseman, Kyle Hickey, Lucas Crann, Shae-Lynn Hopkins, Faith Layden, Faith Patey, Alex Fahey, Katelyn Farrell, Grace Pardy,and Alex Foley. In front are Chloe Kieley and Mason Lee.
Submitted photo
The Southern Shore can now claim they’re home to some of the world’s best young martial artists.
14 young athletes from the Mount Pearl and the Southern Shore competed in the 2019 World Karate and Kickboxing Commission’s (WKC) World Championship in Niagara Falls this November.
“The atmosphere is unreal,” said Lucas Crann,16, of Mount Pearl.
“Just being there with all the competitors from different countries who have all done essentially the same thing as you, who have put in the hard work and training, and having that all come together to fight and see whose most determined and see who wants it bad enough. Because we’ve all done the same thing, we’ve all done this training, and it comes up to this big week of competition.”
Certainly, it was a big experience for the young athletes.
“I was nervous at first, but then I got used to it,” said Mason Lee, 9, of Petty Harbour—Maddox Cove. Lee, who ha been training for five years, earned a bronze in point sparring and bronze in team continuous sparring.
To qualify for Worlds, athletes had to place in the top four of their division in the Canadian national qualifier in Gatineau, Quebec in May.
In other words, it has been a busy several months for the students.
“The team did a huge training camp. They were getting ready for this for the last six or seven months. Five days a week, two to three sessions a day for some of them. So, to see the results and the pay off for all the hard work, that’s the best feeling,” explained Alex Foley, WKC Atlantic Director and owner of Alex Foley Academy of Martial Arts (AFAMA) in Goulds.
Eight students from Robbie Wisemans Rock Athletics in Mount Pearl and six students from AFAMA competed, with many bringing home bronze, silver, and even gold medals.
Ryan Bennett, 16, of Goulds earned himself two gold medals; one for continuous sparring and one for team sparring. Nine-year-old Chloe Kieley of Petty Harbour—Maddox Cove earned a gold in continuous sparring. Robbie Wiseman also earned a gold for continues sparring. Several silver and bronze medals were also awarded.
“Every time before I fought, I would be really nervous. But as soon as the ref would say go, I would take probably about 15 seconds and then it is all gone, and I’m ready to fight,” said Bennett.
“It’s a lot of fun.”
The 16-year-old has been training for about 10 years— it’s not uncommon for several of the young martial artists to tell you they’ve been training over half of their young lives.
“I’ve been doing it my whole life now. I love the discipline aspect of it, and how it gives me goals, and things to be determined about and work towards,” said Lucas Crann of Mount Pearl, who earned a bronze in continuous sparring.
After all, champions aren’t born overnight.
“I never won a trophy in my first six years. And then things just started clicking. And I started getting good. And that’s when I felt like this was an underdog type situation,” said Shae-Lynn Hopkins of Mount Pearl, who earned silver in continuous sparring.
And like many other teen and young adult athletes, she now teaches martial arts to younger classes, becoming the person she once looked up to.
“When I was younger, I looked up my instructors, who are now my teammate, and my coaches. And now being able to be that for other kids is an unreal feeling.”
It’s a sport however, where participants are not limited because of age— or gender.
“This sport is very diverse. I start kids here at three. And my oldest student right now I think is 56,” explained Foley.
Of the 14 athletes, six were female. Ages ranged from 9 up to adults.
“I like being part of the team, and the techniques you learn. You can learn self-defence and make new friends,” said Faith Layden,16, of Petty Harbour— Maddox Cove, who won silver in continuous sparring and bronze in point sparring.
“I like the feeling that if anyone ever tries to attack you, you know how to defend yourself,” explained Chloe Kieley, who took home a gold in continuous sparring and silver in point sparring.
Despite the intense competition in Niagara, these students aren’t ready for rest yet. There are plenty of local tournaments coming up, as well as Nationals and Worlds coming up once again in May and August respectively.
A full list of results follows.
Lucas Crann of Rock, who won bronze in continuous sparring 15-17 years minus-60 kg.
Alex Fahey of Rock, who won silver in continuous sparring 13-14 years minus-45 kg.
Kyle Hickey of Rock, who competed in continuous sparring 18-34 years 90-plus kg.
Shae-Lynn Hopkins of Rock, who won silver in continuous sparring 18-34 years 70-plus kg.
Grace Pardy of Rock, who won bronze in continuous sparring 13-14 years minus-60 kg.
Jacob Skiffington of Rock, who won bronze in continuous sparring 15-17 years minus-65 kg.
Robbie Wiseman of Rock, who won gold in continuous sparring 35-plus years 85-plus kg.
Jimmy Yetman of Rock, who competed in continuous sparring 18-34 years minus-80 kg and point sparring 18-34 years minus-80 kg.
Ryan Bennett of Foley's, who won gold in continuous sparring 15-17 years 80-plus kg and gold in team continuous sparring 15-17 years 80-plus kg.
Katelyn Farrell of Foley's, who competed in continuous sparring 13-14 years minus-55 kg.
Chloe Kieley of Foley's, who won gold in continuous sparring under-10 years minus-25 kg and silver in point sparring under-10 years minus-25 kg.
Faith Layden of Foley's, who won silver in continuous sparring 15-17 years minus-50 kg and bronze in point sparring 15-17 years minus-50 kg.
Mason Lee of Foley's, who won bronze in point sparring under-10 years minus-25 kg and bronze in team continuous sparring minus-10 years minus-35 kg.
Faith Patey of Foley's, who won silver in continuous sparring 13-14 years minus-60 kg and bronze in point sparring 13-14 years minus-60 kg.
