Photo: Amphree Swasey (middle)

Students of the House of Shotokan Karate Academy forced their opponents to say “no mas” to end the match in Bacalar.

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Wed. July 5, 2023

Students of the House of Shotokan Karate Academy in Belize City traveled to Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico to participate in the 2023 Bacalar Martial Arts Tournament held on Saturday, July 1, and dominated the competition.

The competition featured martial arts schools from various cities of Mexico – Cancun, Merida, and Chetumal – with Belize being the only foreign group in the Children’s Kickboxing and Children’s Taekwondo tournament.

Amphree Swasey participated in the 7 to 8-year-old Children’s Kickboxing Division and won 1st place in dominating fashion by throwing a wide range of punches and kicks at his opponent. The same goes for Oliwia Ruta who easily dominated her competition in her division – 1st place in the 7 to 8-year-old taekwondo fighting division and 1st place in the Children 7 to 8-year-old Form Division.

Oliwia Ruta was so dominant in her division that she forced her opponent’s coach to yell “no mas” in Spanish, which translates to “no more”.

Also, Nephetia Lopez won the 2nd place medal award in the 6-year-old Children’s Taekwondo Fighting Division.

With the children’s excellent performance, they were recognized by the Suu-Kum Taekwondo Federation de Bacalar, and are now preparing for an international tournament in Tabasco, Mexico, as well as an open karate martial arts championship in the United States.