Gutierrez bags bronze in international karate tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Raniella Isabel Gutierrez bagged the bronze in the 10 -11 girls’ kumite in the seventh International Wado Ryu Karate-do Championships held Aug. 21-24 at Tokyo Bodukan, Ayase Adachi-Ku in Tokyo.

It was the first time the Philippines was invited to the annual event. The Philippine Wado Ryu Karate-do Federation readily responded by forming its delegation of outstanding karate students.

Other team members were Joko Vasquez, Jeramiel Gutierrez, Christian Judge Decano, Jason Macaalay, Jaime Macatbag, all of whom   reached the semifinals after being pitted against 50 other kids in their age group. Some of their opponents were national champions of Japan and medalists from other countries.

They were trained by coach Enrico Vasquez and assistant coaches Clarence Decano and Ramil Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, 11, is a consistent champion in many other karate-do events since she took up the sport three years ago.

She has won silver medals in the 10-11 girls’ kumite of the 21st and 22nd PKF National Open Karate-do Championships in May 2008 and April 2009 respectively, and in the International Philippine Goodwill Karate Games in May 2008.

She and her teammate and brother Jeramie, 9, are supported by their parents, Ramil and Maribel Novales-Gutierrez. They are students of La Marea Academy, Dagupan City.