Each Saturday, the Belize Elite Karate Team runs two miles and more in the blazing sun, march to the command of their Karate Master, and members shout out the command, “Winners never quit; quitters never win!” The team’s training encompasses an array of kicks from the art of Taekwando, punching techniques from Shotokan Karate, and military drills from the U.S. Military to foster teamwork. The team undergoes all this and much more, as they prepare to battle international teams.
The first of such battles took place in Detroit, Michigan, at the Detroit National Karate Championship on October 16 in Taylor, Michigan. The hard and demanding training paid off for the team, as they wiped out the Black Belt division by winning 3 First Place and 2 Second Place trophies in the Black Belt division. Tania “Thunder” Kelly, two-time International Karate Champion, battled it out in the Women Black Belt division with the Karate “Bo” staff weapon and won First Place. Ray “El Fierro” Kelly, 10-time International and Taekwando Champion, won First Place in the Karate Master Division; Carmelita Kuylen won first place in the Women Black Belt Open-Hand division; and Jeshaun Frazier won 5th Place in the Children’s Beginner division.
The Elite Team members were recognized for their spirit and domination of the competition in this grandiose event, which drew about 850 competitors from California, Ohio, Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Canada. The Belize Elite Karate Team continues to train at the House of Shotokan Karate Academy (across from Nazarene High School on Princess Margaret Drive), in preparation for an upcoming Taekwando competition in Mexico, and will return to the U.S. in December to dominate and win another Karate championship.