Category Archives: Sport Karate

Deja Vu

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It seems like I have lived this experience before. I was only 17 at the time when I competed in my first tournament. It was one of Sensei Cezar Borkowsy”s big tournaments at the Etobicoke Olympium. Well before the movie Karate Kid and only a yellow belt, I had no idea of what to expect. With butterflies in my stomach, the grandeur of the event was overwhelming. Perhaps a thousand competitors had gathered to be the best. On that day however, it was not meant to be me. I lost. In fact, I got smoked by athletes with more experience that I had. There was no chance since my scores likely place me in the bottom half of the division. That experience however taught me that in order to win one day, I had to lose today.

Fast forward today, April 18th, 2011. I still have butterflies, except its not for me anymore. We have a new team for the 2011 season. They are young, inexperienced, excited, and also filled with butterflies. Unlike my training regimen during my youth however, this team is a dedicated crew with its own training times and coach. Our team, Team Meibukan, consists of 8 athletes. Andrew McAdam-Wong, Kiana Wong, Maria Cruickshank, Dharini Mohan, Trenyce Superville, Brian Plante, Connor Doyle-Dimou, and Vander Cats. Half of them have never competed in Provincial level tournament. Although they have been training for months for this day, they and I share a little nervousness.

Will they mess up? Will they freeze? Will they forget their kata? Will they get hurt? So many things ran through my mind as each competitor stepped up to represent their families, dojo, and of course – themselves. I was not alone as the stands were filled with friends and family members who would support them no matter what. If they lost, we all lost. If they won, we all won. We were a team. Lessons are learned either way and in the world of sport, we must know how to equally deal with glory of winning and disappointment of losing.

As the owner of the dojo and chief instructor, I feel very proud to say that my students have surpassed me. While at my first event, I had placed in the bottom half of my division, at this season’s very first  Karate Ontario event, every athlete of Team Meibukan placed in at least the top 5 and brought back a stack of hardware to include 5 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronze. It was a happy day for for all of us and a good sign for future events.

Our next tournament is a recreational event on May 29th in Markham.

London Wins the Meibukan Cup for 2010

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It was a challenging day for Markham Karate athletes on October 25, 2010. In 2009 Markham had won the Meibukan Cup just by a hair. The Meibukan Cup currently has 2 tournaments per year where each athlete earn points towards the dojo. 2008, it was the first year of this unique team challenge. Typically, Karate tournaments reward individual athletes but not the entire team. The Meibukan Cup is first of its kind where athletes that compete earn points for their entire dojo team. Therefore all athletes benefit and contribute to the day win, lose, or draw. It is inaugural year, London took home the cup by dominating the kobudo event. 2010 would be a leap-frog year for them as regain the cup once again.

Markham had won the first event of the season on our home turf when we went against London and competed on our Main Street – Markham tournament last Spring. We had won by a couple of hundred points. I believe our team became a little complacent believing that London could never catch up to such a large point spread. Our team of 15 entered the London event with a strong performance but the efforts of the small team was not enough to earn enough points to win the entire year. London had their own superstars and more than twice as many athletes to capture enough points to take the day.

Although Markham lost the cup for just one year, the event proved itself as a proving ground for some of our up and coming athletes. London’s event had a separate division for athletes with less that 3 months experience which was a great way to introduce athletes to competition for the first time. Many of our under 6-year-old event also did well in their very first event.  Markham champ, Andrew McAdam-Wong came out of hiatus and demonstrated that he still had game winning both Kata and Kumite. Our own Special K, Kiana Wong who is Junior Olympic Champion, also won 2 of her divisions. The entire team of 15 did an excellent job with all returning with podium hardware. It was a day to be proud of.

London’s Meibukan Games 2010 made for a fun day for the entire family. Parents and students with hopscotched schedules were able to finally get together with each other and reminisce.  In the spirit of good sportsmanship, athletes met new friends between dojos and kyu belts were able to witness black belts in competition. After the events parents, students, and coaches from both London and Markham continued the spirit of camaraderie with a shared meal at a local Chinese restaurant. By day’s end, everyone forgot about medals won or lost and the memories were replaced by the new friends and experiences that we gained.

Go Markham Go!