Karate team wins gold, silver, bronze in Trinidad

(CNS): The 23-member Cayman Islands Purple Dragon karate squad collected 25 medals at the recent Purple Dragon World Karate Championships, including a third place in the very competitive team demonstration. Additionally, in a ceremony following the two-day competition in Port of Spain, Trinidad, six members of the team were inducted into the Second Caribbean Martial Arts Hall of Fame. These were Senseis Floyd and Karen Baptiste; Sensei Geddes Hislop, Instructors Euclides Pitta and Cindy Moore; and Junior Instructor Benji Rivers.

The total medal haul included nine gold, seven silver and nine bronze.

The Cayman Islands team, sponsored by Mongoose Global Intelligence, Cayman National, Dart Cayman Islands, Appleby, Tower Marketing and Conyers Dill and Pearman, faced competitors from around the world in divisions that included creative and traditional forms; creative andtraditional weapons; point fighting and continuous fighting; and self-defense, allin a range of categories for beginners, intermediate, advanced and black belt levels.

“It was a very strong performance and we are tremendously proud of this team,” said Sensei Floyd Baptiste. “Every member worked hard and delivered their very best.” The Cayman team, both male and female, ranged in age from 5 years old to 50 years old. The competition took place on the 40th anniversary of the Purple Dragon School of Martial Arts, the longest-lived martial arts school in the Caribbean.

Gold-medal winners comprised Sensei Karen Baptiste and Instructor Pitta for traditional weapons. Instructor Pitta also won for traditional forms. Jared Stewart, Susan Eden and Instructor Cindy Moore won for continuous sparring; Zoe Conolly Basdeo for creative forms; and both Sensei Floyd Baptiste and Felicia Dunbar for creative forms.

Silver was won by Luke Byles and Susan Eden for point sparring; Bobby Schoenberg and Mario Dadal for continuous sparring; Alex McDoom for traditional weapons; and both Marilyn Conolly and Bobby Schoenberg for creative forms.

Bronze medals were taken by both Sensei Floyd and Sensei Karen Baptiste and Felicia Dunbar for point sparring; Susan Eden, Mario Dadal and Jamal Paddyfoote for creative forms; Joseph Williams for continuous sparring; and Bobby Schoenberg for creative weapons.

Sensei Geddes Hislop was also slated to compete but was unable to do so as he was in high demand as an experienced judge for the large competitor divisions during the tournament. Sensei Geddes was also honoured by being asked to judge at the highest level in the Night of Champions along with a distinguished panel of international judges.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, our members and the people of the Cayman Islands for their unflagging enthusiasm and support,” said Sensei Geddes Hislop. “It was a tremendous effort by everyone, and we gained tremendous experience, new training techniques and many new friends. We are looking forward to our next opportunity to represent Cayman on an international stage.”