THE ALL AMERICAN CHRISTIAN KARATE GAMES TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST GATHERINGS OF KARATE-KA IN THE
AREA OTHER THAN THE IHOF. THIS IS NOT AN ACURATE ACCOUNT BUT BY MY GUESS THEY WERE MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
NORTH KNOX DUE TO WORK, VACATIONS AND SICKNESS WAS ONLY ABLE TO BRING 3 COMPETITORS, BUT THOSE 3 SHOWED
WHY NORTH KNOX ISSHINRYU IS BECOMING A LOCAL POWERHOUSE IN SPORT KARATE TOURNAMENTS.
THE 3 COMPETITORS IAN DICKERSON, TOMMY AND BRANDI BELYEA MADE A STRONG SHOWING BRINGING HOME 8 TROPHIES.
IAN DICKERSON IS A 7 YEAR OLD BEGINNER THAT TOOK HIS GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL RUNNING HIS BEST KATA EVER AND
EARNING HIM A MEDAL. IAN IN KUMITE HAD 4 FIGHTS IN WHICH HE WON THEM ALL ON WAY TO EARNING 1ST PLACE. THIS IS A GREAT BUILDING
BLOCK FOR THIS YOUNG KARATE-KA.
BRANDI BELYEA LOOKED VERY GOOD IN RUNNING WANSU KATA AND EARNING A COOL 2ND PLACE. NEXT UP BRANDI TOOK 1ST
PLACE IN WEAPONS RUNNING A SMOOTH BO KATA. IN KUMITE BRANDI WON HER 1ST FIGHT AND THEN DREW A COMPETITOR FROM MASTER
MILLS SCHOOL. BRANDI GIVING UP AROUND 6 INCHES IN HEIGHT MADE A STRONG SHOWING BUT IN THE END THE REACH WAS WAY TO MUCH AND
BRANDI TOOK A COOL 2ND PLACE.
FINALLY TOMMY BELYEA MADE A STRONG SHOWING IN ALL 3 EVENTS. TOMMY HAD NO ONE TO COMPETE AGAINST IN HIS AGE
GROUP SO WE STEPPED TOMMY DOWN TO COMPETE WITH THE YOUNG MEN. TOMMY RAN A VERY IMPRESSIVE WANSU KATA TO TAKE HOME 2ND PLACE.
TOMMY THEN AS HIS WIFE BRANDI DID TOOK 1ST PLACE IN WEAPONS BY RUNNING A SMOOTH BO KATA. IN KUMITE TOMMY LOOKED VERY SHARP
WINNING HIS FIRST FIGHT AND THEN LOST A VERY CLOSE FIGHT TO A VERY GOOD OPPONENT AND THE DIVISION WINNER. TOMMY'S EFFORT IN
KUMITE EARNED HIM 3RD PLACE.
ALL IN ALL IT WAS A VERY STRONG SHOWING BY THESE 3 WARRIORS. I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM ALL AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO HAVING OUR FULL TEAM TOGETHER AT THE UPCOMING ISSHINRYU HALL OF FAME.
