Our Senior Instructor, Richard Kageyama, who is also the Chief Instructor for the Monterey Park Karate Club, went to Minneapolis with several Monterey Park Karate Club students to participate in the 36th National Traditional Karate Championship held October 12, 1997. Kageyama Sensei placed 4th in individual Kata! He is a fine example for the rest of us to train hard and always reach for new goals. Three of Kageyama Sensei's students placed 2nd in Men's Synchronized Team Kata! This was their first National event and they did extremely well -- missing first by only ".01"!!! They are qualified to now compete in the Pan-American Games to be held in Bogata, Columbia later this year. Our congratulations to Mr. Soung Som, Mr. Andy Chang, Mr. Ryan Kageyama, and Richard Kageyama Sensei. Mr. George Lawless from the Marina Karate Club also made the long trek to Minneapolis to participate and judge!

36th National Traditional Karate Championship Results
October 12, 1997 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sanctioned by the American Amateur Karate Federation
Hosted by the University of Minnesota Shotokan Karate Club
Sponsored by the Midwest Karate Association

    Women's Individual Kata:
  1. Laura Ocampo - Minnesota (Unsu) North Central Region
  2. Anita Bendickson - Minnesota (Chinte) North Central Region
  3. Rachel Lavin - Illinois (Sochin) Great Lakes Region
    Men's Individual Kata:
  1. Michael Fusaro - Minnesota (Unsu) North Central Region
  2. Joel Ertl - Minnesota (Sochin) North Central Region
  3. Ron Vance - California (   ) Western Region
    Women's Synchronized Team Kata & Bunkai:
  1. Anita Bendickson, Laura Ocampo and Amy Sperling - Minnesota (Bassai-sho) North Central Region
  2. Susan Tong, Elizabeth Webb and Julie Dunn - Texas (Jutte) South Western Region
    Men's Synchronized Team Kata & Bunkai:
  1. Miguel Ocampo, John Rosenau, Dave Gimberline - Minnesota (Meikyo) North Central Region
  2. Soung Som, Andy Chang, and Ryan Kageyama - California (Kanku-sho) Western Region
    Mixed Enbu (Choreographed Man/Woman team):
  1. Cobble and Michaelidoes - Georgia - South Atlantic Region
  2. Tong and Andy Webb - Texas - South Western Region
    Enbu (Choreographed Man/Man team):
  1. Joel Ertl and Michael Fusaro - Minnesota - North Central Region
  2. Diego Cutrera and Pat Richoux - Texas - South Western Region
    Women's Fuku-go (alternating Kitei compulsory kata & kumite elimination:
  1. Virginia Ross - Oregon - North Western Region
  2. Tati Eugenio - California - Western Region
  3. Elizabeth Webb - Texas - South Western Region
    Men's Fuku-go (alternating Kitei compulsory kata & kumite elimination:
  1. Ron Vance - California - Western Region
  2. Joel Ertl - Minnesota - North Central Region
  3. John Rosenau - Minnesota - North Central Region
    Women's Individual Kumite:
  1. Cobble - Georgia - South Atlantic Region
  2. Laura Ocampo - Minnesota - North Central Region
  3. Susan Dunn - Texas - South Western Region Region
    Men's Individual Kumite:
  1. Ron Vance - California - Western Region
  2. Pat Richoux - Texas - South Western Region
  3. Miguel Ocampo - Minnesota - North Central Region
    Men's Team Kumite:
  1. Michael Fusaro, Miguel Ocampo and Bruce Harding - Minnesota - North Central Region
  2. Andy Webb, Pat Richoux and Diego Cutrera - Texas - South Western Region
  3. Ron Stein, Stephen Shew and Mihai Apan - Illinois - Great Lakes Region
Congratulations to all of the Competitors and Tournament Staff!
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