Flaco Guapo Media
Story/ photos by permission from Conexión San Ángelo
SAN ANGELO – Even though Martial Arts Grandmaster, Walter Bryant, has been coordinating the Karate Institute Championships for eight consecutive years, which is a huge undertaking for anyone, he admits to still getting nervous because in his words, his tournament is the only game in town. Bryant has served as the event producer for the previous seven KI Championships.
“Everybody is looking at us because San Angelo is the only place we schedule tournaments and I’m the only one who does it.” Bryant’s goal is to bring all types of martial arts to San Angelo to put the city on the map as a serious contender for this type of sport.
Bryant mentioned that the eighth, annual KIC was an open tournament, meaning there were all styles of karate: tai kwan do, kung fu, judo, self-defense, etc.
Scorekeepers from left-to-right: Isabella Vancil, Chloe Smith and Madisyn Duerksen from Lake View High School.
Conexión asked Bryant what he enjoyed the most about the KIC.
“The highlight of the tournament for me personally is the fighting part”. “Because it gives the competitors an opportunity to show off their skills as they have been training throughout the year.”
These three little martial arts karate students represented the Ranger Academy of Martial Arts.
Saturday, October 6, the 8th annual, KIC tournament which was held at the Lincoln Middle Girls’ Gym, 255 Lake View Heroes, had approximately 100 participants. That numerical achievement alone should seriously be considered in putting San Angelo on the map. And the fact that support from the local community, (plus nearby neighbors: Abilene, Midland-Odessa) and across the state--Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, showed up to see beginners, middle and advanced students of their respective styles of martial arts, made it a successful venture.
Among the martial arts students, was 15-year-old Trinity Vasquez, who joined Instructor/ owner Don Chandler’s Ranger Academy of Martial Arts classes five years ago. Vasquez stated that Chandler’s style of Japanese “dojo” (which means ‘place of the way’) martial arts is self-defense oriented. “Trinity’s skills have improved dramatically to where he has gained self-confidence. But he still wants to continue to learn and build on his martial arts experience.
