WKA Florida World Championships 2008 Day 4

Thursday/Day 4: Finals
Wow!!! What an exciting day of finals! Team Canada is kicking butt in the medal standings. So far after our first day of finals, Team Canada has 32 Golds, 26 Silver and 58 Bronze medals (I'm missing the results of 9 Team Canada members - promise to have them all by tomorrow!!) I can't wait to see our Team competing again on Friday!!

Starting off our day, Sempai Laura Schumacher performed an amazing kata and won a bronze medal in the Women's Veterans +35 Traditional forms division. I have never seen Laura more intense or more powerful in her form. It was a pleasure to watch her compete. Congratulations Sempai!

Next on the schedule, Junior Black Belt Mitchell Triplett won a Gold medal in the boys 12 and under, -45 kg point fighting division. Mitchell fought amazing! Great movement, quick hands, great kicks....the whole package!! Way to go Mitchell!

Alexa Littleton competed in the first of 5 final events today, starting with her Junior girls, 13-17 years, Weapons (without music) division. Alexa looked sharp and powerful with her Bo staff and won her first medal of these championships - GOLD!!!! Congratulations Alexa! It never gets boring watching Alexa spin her bo! :-) Alexa also had her finals today in her Junior girls, 13-17 years, -50 kg point fighting division. Alexa had a tough battle against a competitor from Italy. The Italian had quick kicks and Alexa really had to work her angles to get inside this competitor's amazing lead leg. Alexa fought back in the second round and closed the gap in points, but the Italian scored a few more points just as the time ran out on the clock. Alexa fought really well and won a silver medal. Congratulations Alexa! Two divisions down and three more to go on Friday!

Sempai Jeff Muir has the biggest smile on his face today!! Sempai Jeff won his first ever WKA Gold Medal in the Men's Veterans +35 years, -85 kg light contact kickboxing division. Sempai Jeff kept the pressure on his USA competitor with non-stop punching, kicks to the body and kicks to the head for the entire 4 minutes (2 minutes each round). It did not look like Sempai Jeff wanted to stop at the end of the match!! He was working hard the entire time, but made it look like fun! Way to go Sempai!! We are tremendously happy for you and proud of you! Be sure to check out Sempai Jeff's pictures in today's 'updated' photo gallery.

Nicole Triplett was up next in her Junior girls 13-17 years, -45 kg point fighting division. Nicole over-powered her opponent in the finals with amazing 'ring' work. Nicole was able to cut the ring and keep her opponent trapped in corners, where she was able to punch and kick her way to defending her title from last year as the Gold medal winner for 2009. It was a pleasure coaching you Nicole!! She always has a smile on her face no matter what! :-)

Nasrudeen Muhammed performed a great bo form in his boy's 12 and under Weapons (without music) division and won a bronze medal. This was Nasrudeen's first World Championships and he worked hard to win his first medal. Congratulations!

Tomorrow's competition will be intense and exciting. Out of our Bernardo Karate students on the team, we have Alexa Littleton competing in 3 divisions; Girls 13-17 years, light contact kickboxing, Weapons (with music) and Team forms with Mark Santoro. We also have Gilles Doiron competing in his Men's -75 kg light contact kickboxing division. I will update the Final Day of the World Championships tomorrow evening and will hopefully have the final medal count for Team Canada as well.

Shihan and I are having so much fun coaching Team Canada. All of our athletes are very humble and are displaying great sportsmanship whether they win or lose. We're proud of each and every one of you! Thanks for giving us this amazing opportunity and we look forward to Friday's final events.

I have updated another 30 or so pictures from today's finals. Enjoy!

Sempai Tammy