Osu Team

We wanted to send out some final thoughts from last weeks National AAU Tournament. It has been a long eight months of training, gathering almost every Sunday to practice. Finally, we get to the last tournament of the year and everybody put on their game face and stepped up to the plate. We had many new faces join the team this year and for many of you, who have been on the team for several years, this was the first time going to a national event. Not everyone was able to bring home a medal this time…the level of competition at this tournament was driven by some of the best in the country.

Many of you had to compete in some of the largest divisions we have ever seen. These events ranged from a low of 10 to a high of 42 competitors with most averaging 18 to 20 competitors in each division. What we saw from everybody was some of the best Kata, Kumite and Kobudo we have seen all year. The determination and execution we saw as coaches from you guys was fantastic…your Katas could not have been any better. Remember what Shihan Dai Sue said over the past couple of weeks; “as long you went out and did the very best it did not matter if you brought home a medal…you could feel in yourself that you did your very best and should not have any complaints”.

Anthony Perniciaro started us off right after the opening ceremonies. With Anthony only being with us for the past couple of months and this being only his second tournament, he did an outstanding job with his Kata getting a ribbon.

Others team members competing that first day were Sensei Sue who also did fantastic earning a Gold in Kobudo long and a Silver in both Kata and Kumite. William Augustine earned a Silver in Kobudo and a Bronze in Kumite. Dan Peterson earned a Silver in Kobudo and a Bronze in Kumite. Dan kept his cool and held his own especially during the Kumite rounds. Tanya Rautine competed against very experienced competitors. She did her best and earned a 6^th place in Kata and did an excellent routine in Kobudo. When you consider that some of the competitors at this tournament have been black belts for many years longer than William and Tanya have been in martial arts, they did a great job. They performed their Katas just like they practiced it - what more can you ask?

On the second day of competition, a majority of the younger team members participated.

Marissa Kirker, Mike & Mark Burnett, Brook Zeller, Zach LaMora, Brian Amaratunga, Michael Favreau and Carrie Viscanti competed in individual and/or team events. What a time that was trying to get all the coaches around to all of the rings. A majority of you had division of 22 competitors with Mark having the largest with 42 and Carrie the lowest with 11. One thing I can say, in talking with Shihan Dai Rick and the other coaches is that you guys put on one heck of a performance with your Katas. Mark repeated round after round with his Katas, as well as, Mike, Zach and Michael (with the broken wing no less). Marissa won her first round of Kata impressively, lost her second but was competitive throughout. Brook and Brian also had some very tough matches with single elimination in Kumite. Both went toe-to-toe with their opponents with some heavy contact at times. Carrie also did well with her competition, winning her first round of Kumite decisively against a competitor who beat her at the regionals, but lost her Gold round match to take a Silver in Kumite.

On the third day of the tournament, the remainder of our older teenagers and Senpai Kyle participated in their individual and team events.

Colleen Viscanti and Gabe Stallman were the first up both of them in large divisions going up against seasoned veterans from other national events like the Hawaii team. Colleen performed her Kata twice slowing her Kata way down the 2nd time through & had a wonderful performance. Gabe gave strong performances against a very talented field. If you consider he had to wait about an hour between Katas, he performed wonderfully.

Kellie Carpenter, Andy Laswell and Steven Augustine also had some of the fiercest divisions seen all week. All performed some of the best Katas and Kumite matches we have seen all week at the competition. Steven has only been training with the bo for a few months yet he was very representative of what we teach at U.S. Budokai.

Senpai Kyle - Kilo Kumite - went against the three time World Champion from Hawaii. I think it was a good learning experience & Senpai didn't appear intimidated or back away at all. Tough 1st draw for Senpai but she represented Budokai well. Mandatory Kata - Another tough division - very talented, very experienced & very deep. Senpai performed well. Just because you don't get the flags doesn't mean you didn't do your best - she did.

Krissy Yee did an outstanding job making it through the preliminary round during the week to get to the finals on Saturday evening. She fought many hard matches earning herself a well deserved Silver medal in kumite when the finals were completed that evening. Krissy needed to fight in two different matches on Saturday. Ippon Kumite at 8am that morning - Not much room for error with Ippon Kumite. She held her own against some very experienced fighters both Friday & Saturday.

And while Nikki performed with the Hawaii Team she was instrumental in our training over the past eight months. She got 4 Golds:  long and short Kobudo, Kata in her age group and also in one of the mandatory groups. She also earned a Bronze in the Sanbon Kumite.

Once again congratulations on a great season…you have a lot to be proud of especially with the tremendous improvement you all have shown. Special thanks to Kyoshi and the family members & friends who came out to support the team at the Nationals and throughout the year.

See you in 2009.

Shihan Dai Sue, Shihan Dai Rick, Sensei Sue, Senpai Kyle, Coach Andy, Coach Nikki, Coach Mike, Coach Jeff & Coach Vince