BANFF – Two local martial artists “belong in the ring” after holding their own at an international tournament in Japan.
Blocking punches and kicks and returning fire, Daymon Miller and Francois Pace of Banff Kyokushin Karate (BKK) competed at the 12th World Open Kyokushin Karate Championship (IKO) on Nov. 22 in Tokyo, Japan, in the 35+ men’s 80+ kilograms divisions.
Both Banff members – also referred to as Team 40+ — were defeated in the first round of the single elimination bracket to Japanese fighters who won their divisions, but the local martial artists walked away unscathed and motivated for more.
“I was smashing some inside leg kicks, that was pretty good,” Pace said. “It’s something I’ve been working on … All the training really paid off.”
Pace was nervous, but comfortable stepping onto the mat in the 10,000+ seat Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, and following his bout received encouraging words from the black belt he had just faced.
“In English, he said, ‘See you again soon,’ ” Pace said with a laugh. “It was motivation to go back and I can say now I represented Canada even though it’s amateur.”
The IKO tournament, held once every four years, is fought under the Kyokushinkaikan style, which places emphasis on realistic movement and fighting. Each fight is 90 seconds and if there isn’t a knockout or unanimous decision, a 90-second extension round is given to competitors.
Pace was eliminated after 90 seconds in his match, but Miller’s bout needed an extra 90 seconds to determine a winner.
"The ultimate goal in martial arts is to test oneself and so for me ... it was also a test to see if I can compete at the level anymore at my age," said Miller, the head instructor at BKK. “You don’t have very long to figure out your opponent, or to shake off ring rust, and I figured out very quickly I belonged here.
“In the second round, he came at me stronger and landed an uppercut that winded me at the beginning of the round ... I noticed I was a little less aggressive as the match progressed. When the decision came and he won it wasn’t a surprise.”
After the fight, Miller went over and gave a big high-five to his opponent.
“We were smiling, we’re some old guys still fighting and still having fun and that was a big motivator for me,” Miller said.
The Land of the Rising Sun is one the world's premier fight cultures and the international tournament in Tokyo had over 1,000 competitors of all ages competing over three days.
“It was a really cool international tournament,” Pace said. “One of the things I did notice was you start seeing Team Russia, Team Bulgaria, Team Japan and they’re all in their track suits and it was pretty cool that way.”
This Saturday (Dec. 7), BKK hosts its karate championships at Banff Elementary School. Doors open at 8 a.m. and it’s $5 per person or $10 per family.
For more, visit banffkyokushin.com.
