CAGAYAN de Oro City — Six beginner karate athletes from Barangay Lumbia brought home one gold, two silver, and three bronze medals at the 1st Bukidnon Invitational Karate Tournament held at Robinsons Valencia on Oct. 10.
The athletes represented the Mayfair Karate-Do Club (MKC)-DOPAKFS in the novice category, earning medals in kata, which focuses on forms and techniques, and kumite, or sparring.
Angelo Fernandez won the team's lone gold medal in Novice Kumite.
Dmitri Nathan S. Mangubat took silver in Novice Kata and bronze in Novice Kumite, while Jeesken Pamittan earned silver in Novice Kumite.
The other bronze medalists were Kim Franclyn Dauan in Novice Kata, Mhaire Ellaine T. Mahusay in Novice Girls Kata, and six-year-old Azrael Sullaturio in the 6-to-7 Novice Kata division.
Head coach Jovanne Gabule, a former Cagayan de Oro national player who represented the city in 1997, said the team was formed during the recent school break and trained only on weekends.
“They all started last school vacation, and since then, they haven't skipped a single weekend practice,” Gabule said. “Even though they are still beginners, they are very determined and follow all instructions.”
The Bukidnon tournament was the team's third consecutive competition in which its athletes won medals, despite their limited training experience.
Gabule said joining competitions gives beginners valuable experience beyond regular dojo training.
“I consider an invitation to a tournament like this as vital training for them,” he said. “From my experience as a player, competing in actual tournaments helps build an athlete's confidence far better than internal club training alone.”
MKC operates under the DOPAKFS banner and is associated with the Northern Mindanao Shotokan-Ryu Karatedo Federation and the Doce Pares Kangaroo Fighting System.
