August
2005 - Kiai! It’s time to time to put on your gi (uniform) and
get ready for the power, agility, and control that is Karate. The first
annual Central New England Karate Championships hit the TEAMWorks Sports
Center in Northborough on Sunday, August 21, starting at 8:30 a.m.The event is sponsored by Shihan (a title reserved for someone who has achieved a fifth degree black belt and is considered a master teacher) Alan D’Allessandro of Worcester’s own New England Karate Academy. Shihan D’Allessandro has studied for almost twenty-five years with some of Kenpo karate’s most illustrious figures and brings a wealth of knowledge to his dojo (school).
The tournament promises to be a showcase of martial arts from the world over, with over three hundred martial artists of all belt ranks and ages, ranging from the “Five and under” group to those “Forty and over,” signed up to participate. In addition to every possible age category, spectators will be able to view competition in forms ( kata), sparring/point fighting ( kumite), and self defense skills. The form division promises to be a real treat, as it is divided into both “traditional” forms and “open” forms. Open forms are based on more traditional movements (like those featured in the “Karate Kid” movies) but then added to them are modern flips, dips, and general gymnastics. These are the moves that always get a “ Cool!” from the audience . The theme of “giving everyone a chance” runs through the tournament, with an emphasis on showcasing D’Allessandro’s self-defense concepts. So while he acknowledges that his students may be “not as prominent” with respect to forms, he’s confident that they will hold their own in the self-defense divisions.
Shihan D’Allessandro strongly believes in the idea of an “open tournament,” one with no restrictions as to the types of martial arts allowed. He even requires that before being awarded black belt ranking his students compete in an open tournament in order to experience the diversity of martial styles they may encounter in the real world. He teaches a variety of forms, too, even those like Shaolin kungfu and Shotokan karate that are now considered old-school. He also believes in the value of martial arts for children, noting that at any one time 80% of students are children, and emphasizes the importance of sending the proper message to both these younger students and their parents.
Yes, there’s the anticipation of potentially winning in one’s category, but participants also derive a more substantial benefit from preparing for the competition. Says 11-year-old Michael Donegan, who has been studying karate for about 3 years and who will be competing in both forms and sparring, “{It’s} the discipline… and how I find the way to find inner strength.”
Rest assured, this event is not a live version of Bloodsport. Tremendous care will be taken to ensure the safety of every participant, including appropriate protective gear and a restriction in the point fighting competitions to light contact (point fighting is not a full-contact sport). Officials are sanctioned by the KRANE (Karate Referees Association of New England), which Shihan D’Allessandro describes as “one of the better organizations of sport karate,” and a licensed EMT will be on hand to ensure that medical attention can be delivered in a timely fashion. D’Allessandro emphasizes frequently that “I don’t provoke fights. I encourage you not to fight. I truly believe in walking away.”
Best of all, the public is invited and admission is only $10 for the whole day’s activities. If you already have an appreciation of the martial arts, you won’t want to miss the competition. And if you are unfamiliar with karate and the other forms of this sport/art form, this is the perfect opportunity to begin learning about it live and up-close.