Three members of the Cayman Islands national karate team will put their skills to the test at the two Commonwealth karate competitions in Birmingham, England, this month.
Representing Cayman will be Zuzana Leitmannova, Sarah Hydes and Nick Young, along with coach Patrick Brendel. Andrew Howarth, who is also on the team, was forced to withdraw due to passport issues.
“Our team has been preparing for a while – over the last three years,” Shihan (master) Greg Reid, founder of the Cayman Associated School of Karate-do, told the Compass. “This is the first time that we [are] taking a group. We have taken individuals here and there, but now we are in a better position because we have a national training programme.”
In addition to years of training in the martial arts, the Cayman team recently received in-person lessons from Olympic karate bronze medallist Ariel Torres, in preparation for the Commonwealth events.
Reid said the knowledge shared by Torres will pay dividends. “That was a real bonus for them,” he said of the team.
When asked if he believed the Cayman athletes could make the podium at either competition, Reid said, “We feel very positive that we can get on the medal stage, but we also understand [it will be] an uphill battle.
“I tell my athletes: We need to pretend that we have the gold [medal] already and they are coming to try and take it from us.”
Even if his athletes were unsuccessful in bringing home silverware, “losing is a part of winning”, he said.
Hydes told the Compass this will be her first international competition, despite training for more than 10 years.
“For me, this is the first of many steps to grow karate in Cayman,” she said.
Hydes, 29, who is a first-degree black belt, said while she will put her best foot forward during the championships, she also understands it’s an opportunity to make her islands known throughout the world of karate.
“I wanted to compete, to push myself, but more importantly, to put Cayman on the map and build karate within the Cayman Islands and, even more importantly, inspire future generations,” she said.
About 1,500 athletes will be competing between the two championships. Hydes said she will not underestimate her opposition, but she believes in her ability to become the first Caymanian Commonwealth karate champion.
“I think it’s about giving your best no matter what you’re up against,” she said. “You just never know what could happen. It could be your good day and it could be someone else’s bad day.”
The 10th Commonwealth Karate Championships will take place on 7-8 Sept., followed by the 10th Commonwealth Club Championships on 9-11 Sept., at the University of Birmingham Sports and Fitness Centre.
The team leaves for Birmingham on Saturday, 3 Sept.
Related Videos
