Yates karate team strong in Florida

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FORT LAUDERDALE — Sixteen team members from the Doug Yates National Competition Karate Team (Team Yates), of Xenia, competed July 16-19, at The 2015 USANKF National Karate Championship and US Team Trials.

The USA National Karate Federation (USANKF) is the national governing body for the sport of Karate per The United States Olympic Committee.

Throughout the year, athletes from all across the United States competed in their respective state championship to qualify for the National Championship. Athletes competed in the following events: Kata (a routine consisting of Strikes, Blocks and Kicks much like a gymnastic routine), Weapon Kata (The same as kata except they athlete uses a karate weapon) and then Kumite (Fighting).

The National Championship follows the Olympic Development program for sport karate by offering divisions based on skill level, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Elite. The Elite Divisions are the U.S. Team Trial Events, Athletes winning Gold earn their spot on Team USA.

Team Yates had one athlete in the Elite Class — Nicole Fisher, 18, from Beavercreek.

“Our team of dedicated coaches took the athletes through Cardio Drills, Strength and Flexibility, Fighting drills and focused on Kata and Weapon Kata. I am so proud of how the team committed to the training and made the necessary sacrifice to be the best they could possibly be for the national championship loaded with the desire to become a national champion” head coach Doug Yates said. “To be the best, you need to do more than the rest. … If it’s worth having, its worth working for.”

Team Yates fielded athletes ranging in age from 6 to 18.

The highlight of the weekend for Team Yates was Fisher competing in the team trials and trying to retain her spot on Team USA. She won her division last year at the 2014 Nationals and U.S. Team Trials in Reno, Nev. and traveled with Team USA to Lima, Peru for the 2014 Pan American Federation Karate Championship.

In what was deemed by Team USA head coach Tokey Hill as one of the most impressive fights of the night, Fisher showed maturity as a fighter and found her way to the top winning the gold medal and retaining her spot on Team USA.

Fisher now prepares for the 2015 Pan American Karate Federation Championship Aug. 22-30, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. When she returns, she will prepare for The World Karate Federation Jr. World Championship, Nov. 12-15 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

You can find these young athletes doing what they do best at The Doug Yates Karate National Training Center in Xenia training and preparing for their next challenge! The team won 29 medals in Florida — nine gold, eight silver and 11 bronze.

RESULTS: Nicole Fisher, GOLD U.S. Junior team trials, Kumite, BRONZE U.S. adult team trials, Kumite; Arison Boswell, BRONZE Short Weapon, BRONZE Long Weapon; Mason Bolton, Fifth place, semifinals; Mason Adkins, SILVER in Long Weapon, BRONZE in Short Weapon; Hannah Pagett, GOLD in Long Weapon, SILVER in Short Weapon; Leah Pagett, GOLD in Short Weapon, BRONZE in Long Weapon; Spencer Wilson, BRONZE in Short Weapon; Kayla King, BRONZE in Long Weapon; Aiden Grooms, GOLD Short Weapon; Daniel Phillips, GOLD Long Weapon, SILVER Kata, SILVER Kumite; Kaelen Thomas, GOLD Long Weapon, GOLD Kata, BRONZE Kumite; Daniel Miller, GOLD, Long Weapon, GOLD Kumite, SILVER Kata; Aaron Morris, SILVER Long Weapon, BRONZE Kata, BRONZE Kumite; Connor Miller, SILVER Short Weapon, BRONZE Kumite; A.J. Anderson, SILVER Short Weapon; Ethan Cvitkovich, Fifth place, semifinals.

The Doug Yates Karate team won 28 medals at a recent national and U.S. Team trials tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. First Row, Seated Left to Right: Spencer Wilson, Leah Pagett, A.J. Anderson, Ethan Cvitkovich, Mason Bolton, Arison Boswell, Connor Miller. Second Row: Aiden Grooms, Hannah Pagett, Daniel Phillips, Aaron Morris, Kayla King, Kaelen Thomas, Mason Adkins. Back Row: Coach Tony Fisher, coach Tim Wilson, head coach Doug Yates, Nicole Fisher, coach Bill Claypool, Daniel Miller. Not Pictured: Coach D.J. Yates and coach Kris Cooper.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/08/web1_2015-Nationals-Team-Photo1.jpgThe Doug Yates Karate team won 28 medals at a recent national and U.S. Team trials tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. First Row, Seated Left to Right: Spencer Wilson, Leah Pagett, A.J. Anderson, Ethan Cvitkovich, Mason Bolton, Arison Boswell, Connor Miller. Second Row: Aiden Grooms, Hannah Pagett, Daniel Phillips, Aaron Morris, Kayla King, Kaelen Thomas, Mason Adkins. Back Row: Coach Tony Fisher, coach Tim Wilson, head coach Doug Yates, Nicole Fisher, coach Bill Claypool, Daniel Miller. Not Pictured: Coach D.J. Yates and coach Kris Cooper.

Article provided by Doug Yates Karate.

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