FSKA International Karate Championships 1998
The TOURNAMENT: The DATE: October 11, 1998 The PLAYERS:
The WATCHERS:
The GENESIS: We, being the UC Berkeley Karate Club participants, arrive at the Homestead High School gym in Cupertino at roughly 10 am, Pacific Standard Time. The event? The 11th Annual International Karate Championships organized by the Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association. We do the paperwork, eye down some competition, and head off to the changing room to change into our equipment (GOD I HATE that jock-strap) and gi's. The kiddies were still doing their thing (kata), and we had to wait until they were done. They took a long while. We restlessly shifted about, watching young children dance about doing their kata. Eventually the kata competition ended and the youth sparring began. How interesting it is to watch five year old girls run into each other and fall down. The KATA: At last the adults began, after a thirty minute intermission (my GOD, I thought we were going to be there forever). Ping and Petrice warmed up for their respective katas. They were on opposite sides of the gym, and what would you know, even performed at the exact same time. Very hard to cheer for both of them, but we tried. They both did well, but those wacky Shotokan people are pretty good, and very hard to beat. Eventually adult kata ended, and the time for adult sparring began. So here's where my story begins: The KUMITE: The INTRO: Alright, so Shin and I show up at Ring 6, and I'm the only Junior Lightweight (135 pds and below). Shin is Super Lightweight (145 pds to 154 pds) along with one other guy, and two guys were at Lightweight (135 pds to 144 pds) level. The others were heavyweights so we weren't concerned about them. A judge tells us that if we stay in our division, we fight just the people in our division. I therefore would get 1st place automatically and Shin at least second. I said I wanted "kumite" (fight), and the Lightweights agreed to combine all five peoples into one Lightweight Division. And so it was done.
The FIRST FIGHT (SINGLE ELIMINATION): Combatants:
We drew cards to see who would fight first (the loser of the first match would be eliminated--period). A Latino gentleman who was a Lightweight fought a Super Lightweight and won easily with reverse punches (I would come to notice that it was his only technique--he was smart enough to know that it was the technique that would be given a score if landed 90% of the time). I was next, and my cheering section roared into life. The SECOND FIGHT: Combatants:
I scampered to my marker, to await my opponent.
He tries to take advantage of the situation by coming in with a reverse punch (the technique that scores the most points in tournaments). I, spinning to my right, have my back towards him, but I think to myself, "Ain't no way in hell he's going to score when my back is turned like a FOOL!" So as I plant my left foot and continue spinning around, I roar out a monstrous kiai and whip out what Ping described later as a "tornado" backhand (patent pending) with my right hand. My forearm lands squarely on his neck with a loud "whack!" and his head jerks back as I snap back my arm. He gets his composure after standing dazed for a bit, and a "waza-ari" or half-point (I'm not sure if it was because he "touched" me with a reverse punch or I hit him too hard), while I get an "atenai yoni" (warning) for contact that is too hard. I step back to my marker, a little perturbed that I was now a half-point down. At the next "hajime," the fight begins anew. I continue feignting with my left front foot (I fight with my left side forward most of the time in). I notice his left hand is a little too far out (during sparring, unfortunately, as lower belts, we always tend to get too close). I grab his hand with my left hand, and deliver a left foot sokuto (side-thrust kick) to his midsection (while still holding onto his hand--think of it as me using it to bend him in two, with my leg as the bending object, and my hand grabbing his hand and his legs as the securing objects). Unbeknownst to me is that at this tournament they don't score very often with front foot techniques (I find this out after this fight). Needless to say I was a bit surprised when I didn't hear "yame" (stop). So we continue, and I eventually make up the deficit by landing two reverse punches to his midsection. First match down. Victory. Afterwards I go up to apologize for banging him in the head. No hard feelings. The THIRD FIGHT: Combatants:
The next fight is Shin and the other lightweight who won the first match (the Latino). Shin dances around, and lands a few kicks, but of course they don't count for some reason--perhaps he did not kiai loud enough. Sidenote: the Shotokan "karate-ka" (karate practitioners) that we saw at the tournament were generally waiting fighters--they wait until you attack and counter with a reverse punch. Anyhow, Shin's backing this guy up, and lifts his lead arm just a bit, but it was enough to let the other guy land a reverse punch in that section. Shin - 0
Shin tries to make up the difference, but they aren't scoring his kicks or face punches (they didn't score many at all). Eventually the 3 minute limit runs out and it is announced that Shin has 0, and the lightweight has 1. A "hantei" (judgement) is called for, and the decision goes for the lightweight since he scored. Next fight. The FOURTH FIGHT (3rd and 4th place): Combatants:
The next fight is with Shin and "Glasses" (the other Lightweight--remember that the first fight had the Super Lightweight eliminated). Shin, a bit disappointed with the results of his first match, comes after this guy. Unfortunately he doesn't get any calls. One particularly funny moment was when the other guy only tried reverse punches, like five in a row, and Shin just stood there with his arms together (vertically), blocking his stomach and the punches (the Lightweight's futile attempts just go to show that reverse punches are the only things that score--he didn't try a single other technique--kind of sad). Eventually, Shin gets away and then lands a reverse punch to the guy's midsection. I'm not sure if he scored again, but in any case, the match ended with Shin victorious. He had clinched 3rd place. Up next: the championship round with TQ Bui and the Latino Lightweight. The FIFTH and FINAL FIGHT (CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT): Combatants:
I step up to the marker, red as my color (fighters are designated as either "red" or "white," depending on who is called up first--s/he gets a red ribbon tucked in his/her belt). I can vaguely hear the shouts from the others that have come to support me. We are told this is the championship round, for 1st & 2nd -- three half-points to win. I was a bit suprised because I had only fought one other person, but that's the way the eliminations work. "Shobu Sanbom Hajime!"
I kiai as I assume my fighting stance, as does my opponent.
I get an "atenai yoni" (warning) for unnecessary contact to the head.
We begin again.
I continue feignting. He bites a couple of times, trying to slide forward and reverse punch with his left hand, but I parry those pitiful attempts easily, almost laughing at his sorry excuses for an attack. Unfortunately I am not quick enough to counter before he gets back into a ready position. So I let him do this a couple of times and I continue my feignting left front foot kick to try to get him nervous. A few front left hand jabs are added to the mix to get him to bite. Eventually he moves,
I land a fierce reverse punch with my right hand to his midsection as I scream out a blood-curdling kiai.
The score is tied. He eventually staggers back to his feet,
He tries a few offensive reverse punches again (they don't make great distance) and even front foot kicks (with his right foot). None are effective. The red bag signaling the three minute time limit has been exceeded is thrown in. Since the score is 1-1 the judge calls aloud for a "hantei" (judgement). I stand there, waiting, unable to see what the judges behind me are signaling with their red & white flags. But the two in front cross their flags, signifying a tie. Roscoe tells me later that of the two judges behind me, one signaled tie, the other in favor of me. It is a "hikiwake" (draw) since there must be a majority decision, and an "encho-sen" is announced (extension/overtime). We are told directly by the lead judge that there will be a 2 minute, sudden death overtime. The judge shouts "shobu hajime!"
It appears that the reverse punch (a very effective counter) is the be-all-and-end-all of the tournament. The timekeeper calls 30 seconds left. We clash,
He gets nervous.
He tries to land some punches on his way down,
Stop!
Game
The EPILOGUE: After the nerve-wracking events were over, we could finally relax, and bask in our accomplishments. We stayed long enough to watch in awe as Kyle Funakoshi kicked some butt in kata and free sparring--that boy's damn good. We leave eventually, and after a (*ahem*) mixup, we finally get to a restaurant where we order lots of good food and drink (pictures on another page). The day was over, and it was good.
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