La Trinidad rules JKA interclub tournament

By Ramon Dacawi

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet --The host squad at the municipal hall here found firm foot-hold in kata (formal exercise) for an 8-4-9 team and individual gold-silver-bronze medal haul to rule the second Philippine Traditional Karate Federation-Japan Karate Association Inter-club here March 21.

Dwyneth Gunan in the boys 8-9 age bracket and Sean Pugyao in the 10-12 group for beginners opened up with Heian Sandan before Karen Ivy Titiwa made it in the distaff side with Heian Nidan.

Roxsan Sotelo also opted for Heian Sandan in the open female individual kata for white and green belts, as did Kevin Shane Lipad in the men’s side, while Jonathan Caluducan pocketed the gold in the 13-15 age bracket with Jodan Tsuki.

The trio of Elmer Brian Cabading, Thornton Aguirre and Glenn Gunan added the boys team kata title for blue belts while Janella Cabading,. Roxsan Sotelo and Titiwa made it in the girls’ side, both executing Heian Yondan.

JKA Headquarters, powered by twin individual gold medalist Adelaine Traquenqa, finished second on a 4-3-3 tally. She topped the female blue to brown belt kata category with Heian Godan before topping the kumite event in the same division.

Other Headquarters first-placers were Fitzmurphy Quintio by reverse roundhouse kick in the brown-to-black belt class, and Kevin Shane Lipad ( white-to-green individual kata),

Eastern Luzon Colleges notched a 3-0-1 medal aggregate followed by Cordillera Career Development College (2-3-6), Easter School ( 2-3-4), Besao (1-1-0), and Buguiqas (0-1-4).

Fourth dan blackbelt Hermi Pelingen said the inter-club meet served as the preliminary to a national competition being arranged with Kunio Sasaki, the JKA’s official representative to the Philippines.

Sasaki late last year designated Peling’s dojo (gym) at the basement of the Epiphany Church here, as the JKA’s national headquarters.

Other JKA chapters in the Cordillera are led by Teofano Daniel Pinas (LGU-La Trinidad), Kevin Cabading (CCDC), Julio Kiso (ELC), Leon Lonogan and Fernando Cancejo (EC), Crosby Dayawen (Tadian), Rhezza Payangdo (Buguias) and Johnny Agwiking (Besao).