The Progress
Three Moapa Valley martial arts students from the Under the Mtn. Martial Arts school in Overton, traveled for the Easter Weekend and claimed success at an international karate tournament in northern Utah.
Siblings Joe, 9, and Destiny Arevalo, 11; along with Addy Leming, 13; traveled with their families and their instructor Nick Yamashita, to Farmington, Utah, where the Intermountain Karate Challenge took place on April 2-3.
All three youngsters did well and came away with hardware to prove their success. Joe Arevalo took home two silver necklace champion rings. Destiny Arevalo took home a silver necklace champion ring, and Addy Leming took home a gold necklace champion ring with a “special recognition” medal.
On Friday, Joe Arevalo completed the Breaking event for all ranks and ages 8-9, breaking the “Green” level and “Orange” level boards together to take 2nd place.
Then he went on to Sword Sparring for all ranks ages 8-9, winning both of his first two matches and barely losing the championship match to claim 2nd place.
On Saturday, Addy Leming started with First-Timers Weapons Form ages 12-14 and all ranks. She did a knife form and pulled off a 6th place finish. She received a special recognition medal for being the only white belt and for doing her form so well.
Leming then performed Star Block for Traditional Forms, Novice Level, Ages 12-14, again placing 6th, but receiving high praise from Kenpo Karate legend Jim Dean for being just a starter and doing the form so well against much higher belts.
She finished out the last event of her tournament experience by claiming 1st place in Point Sparring, Novice level, ages 12-14.
Destiny found success on Saturday in Point Sparring for Novice 10-11-year-olds. She claimed victory in her first match, dominating her opponent. Moving onto the semifinals, she again proved to be the victor, advancing to the championship match. She would challenge her opponent in the final match, but she barely lost, placing 2nd.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” stated Yamashita. “I had instructors and judges coming up and complimenting them and me as they were so impressed that these three white belts with less than three months experience did so well!”
The Under the Mtn Martial Arts Diamondback Strikers plan to attend another tournament in May and June and throughout the year. For more information about classes, email Nick Yamashita at underthemtn102@gmail.com or text (702) 286-5469.
