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Local youth 3rd in AAU national karate event —————————————————— By Spc. STEVE AREL Inside the turret sports editor ———————————————————- Trent Emory never expected to be one of the nation’s best in karate. He was overwhelmed at simp1y qualifying the July 3-5 Amateur Athletic Union championships in Cincinnati. That’s not to Emory was going to let his appearance in the event be satisfaction enough. He still wanted to win. And although he wound up third in kata and fourth in the weapons category, the 9-year-o1d Fort Know International Karate Federation student wasn't disappointed with his effort. ‘Tm satisfied with this," Emory’ said. "Going up for the first time, I was just glad to be there. It was hard (Your success) depends on how hard you practice. It takes a lot of dedication and discipline." Emory advanced to the national event with wins in each division at the March state meet in Erlangder, Ky and the May regional in Wilmington, Ohio. John Harris, Emory’s instructor, was impressed with. the blue belt’s performance as well, "He had real good competition," said Harris, an 18-year karate veteran who is a second- degree black belt. The people who came in first and second deserved it". The competition didn’t consist of any fighting Instead, participants were scored by a five- member panel of karate experts on basic movements and technique. Contestants were then ranked according to the average of each contestant’s scores. Harris couldn’t recall Emory’s scores, but said the competition wasn’t too close. "To score points, you have to concentrate and focus on the moves that you do," said Emory, who competed in a field of 34 participants. "Weapons are very difficult because they’re something extra you have to have besides your hands," Harris said. "It’s tough for (young kids) just to pick up the kata." Emory, who has been participating in karate for 11 months, competed on the beginner level. But next year he’ll be placed into the intermediate division, which is for those who have more than a year’s experience but less than three. Harris said that Emory has taken to the sport rather quickly. Much of his success stems from the 15 hours a week that he practices. "He’s picked it up quite well, and maybe it’s because he has a lot of dedication. He puts more into the sport than others," Harris said. "He wants to take more classes and do it right. A lot of kids at his age get discouraged because they want to excel and do good. When it doesn’t happen like they think it should, they start wanting to leave." While martial arts movie stars such as Jean-Claude Van Dammn and Stephen Segal serve as inspirations, they weren’t the driving force that sparked Emory’s interest in karate. "I got into it to keep busy," he said. "You see all of these people on TV doing flying kicks. But when you get to karate class, a lot of people get disappointed because they find out it’s not like that. I wasn’t pointed because I was realy’ into that." Emory said that he plans to continue in the sport, and is expected be tested for his purple belt July 18. He h already started training next year’s state AAU meet which will be held in March. A site hasn’t yet been determined. |
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