Three youngsters from Axsom Martial Arts in Newport News were part of a United States team of 25 that went to Serbia for the International School Sports Federation Gymnasiade Games for athletes age 15 and under.
The April event — think “youth Olympics” — included competitors from 34 countries, was governed by the International Olympic Committee and featured competition in kata (forms), kumite (fighting) and kobudo (weapons).
Shianne Medlin, 12, of Newport News won the gold in long kobudo and a silver in short kobudo, and Christiano Perez, 12, of Newport News took gold in short kobudo and silver in long kobudo. Chris Gordon, 11, of Hampton won a silver medal in kumite.
“The life lessons that they’re learning from karate are going to carry them through the rest of their lives,” said the dojo owner, Sensei John “Moose” Axsom. He said they practice about five or six days per week.
The week before, the three were in Las Vegas at a competition, and they’d barely gotten home before they flew to Serbia. They also have competed in Okinawa, Japan, and Gordon was at a meet in South Africa.
This year’s nationals are in July in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Axsom is one of the national team’s coaches. Medlin and Perez will be part of the AAU national team that will compete in July in Malmo, Sweden.
Hobson pupils excel, too: Two athletes from Brian Hobson Karate Studios in Hampton have earned their chance to represent the United States at the Pan American Championships from May 22-25 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Kyle Cooke, who works at Newport News Shipbuilding, earned a spot on the para-team. Though legally blind, Cooke is a second-degree black belt and a medal hopeful, Hobson said. Cooke started learning martial arts at Virginia Peninsula Community College and has become one of Hobson’s instructors.
Jasmine Elsayyad, a Warwick High student who just turned 18, has been in karate for about two years. Hobson said Elsayyad, an American citizen who was born in Egypt, needs to pass five more tests before her black belt.
“She’s only a green belt, so for her (to qualify for international competition) is usually unheard of,” Hobson said.
GPro Tour back in Hertford: From May 12-17, the 11th-year Albemarle Championship is set for Albemarle Plantation in Hertford, North Carolina.
One of the minor-league GPro circuit’s four majors, it is expected to feature a full field of 120 players, and a handful of alumni have reached the PGA Tour. One of them, Akshay Bhatia, is 26th in the World Golf Ranking.
The tournament benefits lots of charities in northeastern North Carolina. Events are scheduled each morning and afternoon from May 12-14 before the 54-hole tournament runs May 15-17, with the first tee times at 7:30 each morning. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Grant Sellers of McBee, South Carolina, won the $20,000 first prize last season at 15-under-par 201.
What’s coming up
Wednesday: The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s annual softball championship tournament starts at Norfolk State, where the Spartans are seeded second to Howard. The six-team tourney opens at 11 a.m., with NSU’s first game set for 5 p.m. The finals are set for Saturday at noon. … William & Mary hosts George Mason in baseball at Plumeri Park at 6 p.m.
Thursday: Hickory goes to Western Branch for 5:45 p.m. baseball and softball games. The Hawks are ranked 13th in the 757Teamz Top 15 in baseball and first in softball, while the Bruins are second in baseball and 10th in softball.
Friday: W&M opens a key three-game CAA baseball series at 6:15 p.m. against Northeastern, a team managed by former Tides player Mike Glavine, whose brother Tom was a Hall of Fame pitcher.
Saturday: The Children’s Hospital for The King’s Daughters’ 19th annual Run-Walk for the Kids is set for Norfolk’s Waterside District at 8 a.m.
