LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Pangasinense athletes of Jev Karatedo (Falcon) team dominated their rivals to capture the overall championship in the fourth Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Association (OSKA) Shikodan Philippines national tournament at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) here recently.
The champion team from Malasiqui town hauled 32 golds while Shodokan Escote Dojo from Antipolo City won 21 golds to place second and Sta. Rosa Educational Institute School of Martial Arts (SREI SOMA) from Laguna finished third with 14 golds.
The Mugenkai Martial Arts Association (Pangasinan), the Shorin Strike (Bataan) and Athena Martial Arts (Quezon City) took the next three spots.
OSKA Shikodan Philippines president Jeremy Escote thanked the provincial government, led by Gov. Amado Espino Jr., for its “all out support that assured the successful staging of the two-day tournament that drew 300 participants.
Five-year-old Nicole Valdez of Falcon team was the youngest entry who competed in both kata and kumite competitions while the oldest competitor was 74-year-old Felino Ampil from SREI SOMA (Kata).
Others that took part in the event were the Philippine Cats Claw Martial Arts Association (Kuwait), DLSU Shodokan, OSC PRC, Shorin-Yu Shodokan Clan (Bicol) and Mugenkai Martial Arts Association (Bataan).