THREE kids from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan are racking up a karate medal after another with promising performances in various local and national competitions.
Steven Jhudiel Morales, 12, and sister Solara Uriel, 8, and Zemira Zaigen Gawad Daz, also 8, have been making the International Shotokan Karate Federation-Philippine Shotokan Karate Federation-San Jose Del Monte Bulacan (ISKF-PSKI SJDM Bulacan) club proud.
“They really want to follow the footsteps of our Sensei, Adora Aquino, a former national team member,” said Mary Anne Guillermo, a Karate Pilipinas licensed coach.
Steven Jhudiel Morales, 12, emerged as Karate Pilipinas champion in kata and kumite during the federation’s recent national championships at the Mall of Asia Arena.
He also dominated the kumite and kata divisions of the Olongapo Karatedo Championships last June and the Third ABR Cup Karate Championships Intermediate Kata where he won the 12-13 and 14-15 gold medals.
Solara won the kata girls’ gold medal and claimed silvers in team kata and kumite and bronze in team kumite in the ABR Cup.
Daz, on the other hand, clinched silver in the kata 6-7-years old division in the Olongapo Invitational and a team and individual kata and individual kumite silver medals in the ABR Cup.
“These kids will grow with a lot of potentials to become the next Junna Tsukii and possibly become world champions someday,” Guillermo said. “At a young age, they really show great improvement. With proper trainings and mindset, their dream to become national team members and bring pride to our country will be realized.”
The club’s other members—Nicel Ezra Villegas, 13, and Julia Claret Bintulan, 14—also clinched medals at the Batang Pinoy Nationals in 2018 and 2019.
San Jose del Monte Mayor Arthur Robes, Dr. Dennis Booth and Luis Gutierrez are supporting the club’s campaign.
Guillermo praised Aquino, ISKF Chairman Bong Mojica and PSKI Head Shihan Rommel Raymundo for also supporting the young athletes.
Aquino clinched a kumite bronze medal in the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and was a double gold medalist at the 2019 World Police and Fire Games in Chengdu, China.