November 5, 2009

RMA KARATE GIRLS COLLECT WORLD MEDALS!

14-year-old black belt Tressa Y and 11-year-old purple belt Samantha M represented Canada at the 2009
WKC world karate championships in Dublin Ireland where they brought home a total of 7 medals.

As part of the 125-member Canadian national team the local martial artists, who train at RMA Karate in Barrie,
gave strong performances resulting in winning major hardware.

The four day competition overseas had the girls working hard and representing team colours with pride  Five-time
national team member and black belt Tressa Y brought home a total of 5 medals for Canada.  Tressa won gold in
the musical extreme open after pushing a fellow Canadian teammate down into silver position.  She also won gold
in traditional hard style kata, silver in traditional weapons, silver in Chinese forms and silver in musical weapons
after pushing an American competitor down into bronze position.

Purple belt Samantha M won two bronze medals for Canada as a first-time national team member. Samantha was
all smiles with her results in the -45kg point sparring and continuous sparring divisions despite suffering a bloody
nose from the Republic Of Ireland competitor.

"They both gave strong performances and did so well", RMA instructor Craig Ridout stated. "Samantha fought so well
and Tressa's continued non-stop work on her forms gave her the edge she needed over the other girls in her divisions."