Young Karateka Brings Home Three Trophies 

Nine-year-old karate student from the House of Shotokan Karate Academy Oliwia Ruta achieved three big wins this weekend at a karate competition in the United States. The Belen International Karate Tournament was held in New Mexico on Saturday. In her category, Ruta brought home three trophies in the three different divisions. We had the opportunity to speak with the academy’s Shihan, Raymond Kelly, and Ruta.

 

Raymond Kelly, Shihan, The House of Shotokan

“She has travelled out to Mexico and has placed in karate competition and taekwondo competition; she has placed first place in the majority of her wins in Mexico. And she has travelled as of recently to the United States. And at that competition, she won first place,  dominating all her categories at a nine-year-old level. That was Saturday, this past Saturday, the 19th of October, and the location was in New Mexico. So it was an international karate event that was held in the state of New Mexico in the United States. She came back with three trophy awards. She won one in the KATA division, another in the Fighting division, and another in the weaponry division. There’s a competition that is on taekwondo competition in Chetumal and also a karate competition in Chetumal. So there’s two that’s coming up for the month of November to close the, to close the year out for, for competition for the school.”

 

Oliwia Ruta, Karate Student, The House of Shotokan

“I’m really happy that I successfully got all first place. And I got three first place in KATA, Fighting and Weapon in the intermediate girls division. I didn’t win Grand Champion, but I’m planning to win it on the next tournament. When it actually got hard for me, I didn’t give up. My family cheered me the whole way. So if something is hard for you, you should never give up on your dreams.”