Pan-American Championships, Brazil - Full Report
Over the weekend of the 14th and 15th April 2007, the 8th Pan-American Championships was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - hosted by Mr Edimir Kawakubo, 5th Degree.
Present at the tournament was our ITF President Master Choi Jung Hwa, as well as Master Galarraga 8th Degree head of the ITF tournament and Umpire Committee, and Master Maidana 7th Degree Secretary General of the Taekwon-Do Association of Argentina.
Traveling from England was Master Wolf, Miss Lucy Wolf, Mr Richard Belle and Mr Kevin Guy.
The first day of the event, Saturday the 14th April was the colour belt competition involving both pattern and sparring contests. In the colour belt section was Ozzy Brussee, a student of Mr Jan Kwant, from Holland. He won his division the junior under 70Kg section, thus scoring the first gold for Europe!
Sunday the 15th April saw the commencement of the black belt events beginning with the pattern divisions. The standards were very high and the winners included competitors who will be representing their countries in the up and coming World Championships!
Next up was the team sparring. Although there were only three mens black belt competitors from Europe, Master Wolf was asked if he would enter them as a team. The team included Mr Christian Oriolani from Spain, along with Mr Kevin Guy and Mr Richard Belle from England.
They first faced the Brazilian team and with some very tough matches, they each were victorious and found themselves in the final against Argentina. These fights were very exciting and the team from Europe had no room for error as they had already forfeited two bouts having only three competitors. Once again after some very tough matches the team from Europe won the day!
In the individual sparring Mr Kevin Guy won in the over 80kg division so he is now the current Pan-American Heavy Weight Champion as well as the Team Champion.
Mr Richard Belle also won his sparring category in the individual event in the under 80kg sparring category making him the current Pan-American Light-Heavy Weight Champion, and Team Champion.
Mr Christian Oriolani, from Spain collected three Gold medals in total having won the 4th degree pattern section, the under 71kg sparring category and the gold in the team event.
Overall the competitors from Europe did amazingly well! This was a great tournament very well run with top quality competitors.
We would like to thank Mr Edimir Kawakubo the event host, and all of our Taekwon-Do friends from Brazil and Argentina who made the trip an enjoyable and memorable occasion.
Footnote: A special thanks to Master Wolf - from Christian Oriolani, Kevin Guy and Richard Belle - for coaching them successfully through their individual and team events.
Video footage and photographs from this event coming soon on the MWTA Gallery.
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