2015 Reports | Vancouver Cup
Vancouver Cup
9 November, 2015
My name is Max Gillespie and I recently competed in the 2015 Vancouver cup karate championships. As with most tournaments, this tournament was a very positive experience for me, and I had a phenomenal time while I was there. This was my second, and definitely most memorable time being a part of this tournament. I decided to compete in both the teen kata division and the boys 13-14 heavyweight kumite division.
The Saturday before the tournament started like every other for me, with Saturday morning karate class. It was a great class, but I knew that what I was doing that weekend would be better. Not long after I left the dojo I found myself on plane en route to Vancouver, British Colombia, the long-time host of the tournament. The flight was short, but sweet, and before I knew it I was in the cold and rainy city. After we checked into the hotel, and met up with our fellow Calgarians, it wasn’t long before our stomachs took control of our minds. We immediately found a sushi place with good reviews and headed there. The sushi was amazing as it always is in Vancouver, and soon we were stuffed. Once we arrived at the hotel my friends and I decided to have a quick swim, but not long after noticing the water was pretty much an ice bath, we were all in our separate rooms trying to get some sleep. Once I was able to tame the butterflies in my stomach I managed to dose off.
The next morning everyone woke up early and we all met up at Denny’s for breakfast, I had my usual eggs benedict and was very pleased with my meal. Not long after, we arrived at the tournament venue. As we checked in and entered the competitors’ room, we were greeted by numerous friendly members of other dojos. It was nice to talk to some of the people from other dojos that I don’t get to see regularly. Sadly it wasn’t long before all of the morning competitors were lined up and ready to march on. Calgary had four competitors in this group, Rowan Gibson, Amelie Godin, Rachel Antonchuk and myself. Not long after that we marched on, and I read the fighter’s oath. We then marched off and began getting ready, it was time for kata.
It wasn’t long before it was time for teen kata, the division in which all of our morning competitors were a part of. Soon I was sitting on the edge of the ring awaiting my chance to display my kata. After one of our dojo’s best competitors and previous champion Rowan Gibson it was my turn. My kata started out great, I felt good with my stances and felt my ibuki breathing was up to par, but then tragedy struck. It was time for the first kiai in my kata, and as Sensei Brad had told me before, it had to be loud. I performed the move leading up to the kiai with no hesitation and then gave the kiai my all, and let me tell you, it was quite the kiai. I soon realized that my teenage vocal cords were not exactly fit for such a yell. Without warning my voice cracked violently. I was so embarrassed, I tried to keep a straight face for the rest of my kata, it was hard, but eventually I regained focus near the end of the kata. I finished strong, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile as they were tallying my scores. In the end Calgary’s four competitors were at the top of the leaderboard, a Calgary sweep. Rowan ended up talking first while Amelie, Rachel and I were right behind her. After our division finished it wasn’t long before we were all standing on the podium. We then returned to the competitor’s room were Rachel Rowan and Amelie breathed a sigh of relief knowing that they were done for the day. For the rest of Calgary’s competitors this was just the beginning.
After a quick trip to subway it was time for the afternoon competition. This consisted of the kumite and adult kata divisions. Calgary had a few afternoon competitors including, Isabelle Godin, Steve Antonchuk, Derek Hamill and myself. The afternoon started out with adult kata, Isabelle and Steve both did very well, both of them performing their katas exactly how they had practiced. Then it was time for the kumite divisions, and I was up first.
As adult kata was going on I had been in the competitor’s room warming up for my fight, and it didn’t take long after the kata divisions had ended for me to be escorted to the ring. Before my fight there was an incredible drum performance that heightened my sense of excitement. During the performance it felt as though my heart was a drum, it was pounding out of my chest with excitement. Before I knew it I was at the edge of the ring staring my opponent in the face, it was Anthony Nghiem, a competitor that I had fought several previous times. I had never beat him and I wanted a victory so bad. We then bowed in and the match began. From the moment the first punches were thrown, I knew it was going to be a close match, and it was. By the end of the fight both of us were gassed. In the end he ended up winning in a split decision. I was disappointed at first, but then I realised that losing was just another reason to train harder. We congratulated each other after the fight each admiring the other’s injuries. It wasn’t long after that before I started to perform the patented “Kyokushin Shuffle”, a very difficult limp like technique that only a kyokushin fighter can perform. Soon after I finished it was time for some of the “big boys” to go at it. Among them was Derek Hamill, Calgary’s only adult fighter this year. Derek fought well and ended up taking third place.
After the tournament it was time to head home. Everyone headed to the airport where we had dinner and eventually flew back to Calgary. It felt good to be home and I could not wait to get into bed that night, I was so tired. When I got home I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillow, it felt so good. All in all I had a great experience at the Vancouver cup. I would say that I wish my kiai could have been better, but hey, it makes a good ring-tone . In the end it was a great tournament, and a great start to the tournament season. I had a lot of fun and I look forward to going again next year.
OSU
The Saturday before the tournament started like every other for me, with Saturday morning karate class. It was a great class, but I knew that what I was doing that weekend would be better. Not long after I left the dojo I found myself on plane en route to Vancouver, British Colombia, the long-time host of the tournament. The flight was short, but sweet, and before I knew it I was in the cold and rainy city. After we checked into the hotel, and met up with our fellow Calgarians, it wasn’t long before our stomachs took control of our minds. We immediately found a sushi place with good reviews and headed there. The sushi was amazing as it always is in Vancouver, and soon we were stuffed. Once we arrived at the hotel my friends and I decided to have a quick swim, but not long after noticing the water was pretty much an ice bath, we were all in our separate rooms trying to get some sleep. Once I was able to tame the butterflies in my stomach I managed to dose off.
The next morning everyone woke up early and we all met up at Denny’s for breakfast, I had my usual eggs benedict and was very pleased with my meal. Not long after, we arrived at the tournament venue. As we checked in and entered the competitors’ room, we were greeted by numerous friendly members of other dojos. It was nice to talk to some of the people from other dojos that I don’t get to see regularly. Sadly it wasn’t long before all of the morning competitors were lined up and ready to march on. Calgary had four competitors in this group, Rowan Gibson, Amelie Godin, Rachel Antonchuk and myself. Not long after that we marched on, and I read the fighter’s oath. We then marched off and began getting ready, it was time for kata.
It wasn’t long before it was time for teen kata, the division in which all of our morning competitors were a part of. Soon I was sitting on the edge of the ring awaiting my chance to display my kata. After one of our dojo’s best competitors and previous champion Rowan Gibson it was my turn. My kata started out great, I felt good with my stances and felt my ibuki breathing was up to par, but then tragedy struck. It was time for the first kiai in my kata, and as Sensei Brad had told me before, it had to be loud. I performed the move leading up to the kiai with no hesitation and then gave the kiai my all, and let me tell you, it was quite the kiai. I soon realized that my teenage vocal cords were not exactly fit for such a yell. Without warning my voice cracked violently. I was so embarrassed, I tried to keep a straight face for the rest of my kata, it was hard, but eventually I regained focus near the end of the kata. I finished strong, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile as they were tallying my scores. In the end Calgary’s four competitors were at the top of the leaderboard, a Calgary sweep. Rowan ended up talking first while Amelie, Rachel and I were right behind her. After our division finished it wasn’t long before we were all standing on the podium. We then returned to the competitor’s room were Rachel Rowan and Amelie breathed a sigh of relief knowing that they were done for the day. For the rest of Calgary’s competitors this was just the beginning.
After a quick trip to subway it was time for the afternoon competition. This consisted of the kumite and adult kata divisions. Calgary had a few afternoon competitors including, Isabelle Godin, Steve Antonchuk, Derek Hamill and myself. The afternoon started out with adult kata, Isabelle and Steve both did very well, both of them performing their katas exactly how they had practiced. Then it was time for the kumite divisions, and I was up first.
As adult kata was going on I had been in the competitor’s room warming up for my fight, and it didn’t take long after the kata divisions had ended for me to be escorted to the ring. Before my fight there was an incredible drum performance that heightened my sense of excitement. During the performance it felt as though my heart was a drum, it was pounding out of my chest with excitement. Before I knew it I was at the edge of the ring staring my opponent in the face, it was Anthony Nghiem, a competitor that I had fought several previous times. I had never beat him and I wanted a victory so bad. We then bowed in and the match began. From the moment the first punches were thrown, I knew it was going to be a close match, and it was. By the end of the fight both of us were gassed. In the end he ended up winning in a split decision. I was disappointed at first, but then I realised that losing was just another reason to train harder. We congratulated each other after the fight each admiring the other’s injuries. It wasn’t long after that before I started to perform the patented “Kyokushin Shuffle”, a very difficult limp like technique that only a kyokushin fighter can perform. Soon after I finished it was time for some of the “big boys” to go at it. Among them was Derek Hamill, Calgary’s only adult fighter this year. Derek fought well and ended up taking third place.
After the tournament it was time to head home. Everyone headed to the airport where we had dinner and eventually flew back to Calgary. It felt good to be home and I could not wait to get into bed that night, I was so tired. When I got home I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillow, it felt so good. All in all I had a great experience at the Vancouver cup. I would say that I wish my kiai could have been better, but hey, it makes a good ring-tone . In the end it was a great tournament, and a great start to the tournament season. I had a lot of fun and I look forward to going again next year.
OSU
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