Local karate students are Twin State champs

NEWPORT — At the recent Annual IPPONE/Twin State Martial Arts Association Awards Banquet in Boxborough, Mass., four individuals from Rising Sun Martial Arts in Newport were recognized for their achievements in tournament competition over the 2017 season.

Calla Baker, George Dube and Amelia Gallup were all recognized as Twin State Champions for New Hampshire and Vermont.

While Gallup had competed on the Twin State Martial Arts Association tournament circuit in the past, this was the first year that Dube and Baker participated.

The circuit consisted of six competitions across New Hampshire and Vermont over the course of the year. Martial artists from around New England came together to compete in three events: Kata (empty-hand forms), Kobudo (weapons forms) and Kumite (sparring). Points were awarded for each category, based on placement within one’s division.

Holding the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt, Sensei Amelia Gallup has been a Twin State Champion before. In 2014, she was a Division Champion for Women’s Black Belt Forms. On Saturday, she was recognized as a Double Crown Champion in both empty-hand and weapons forms for the Adult Female Black Belt division.

To what does Gallup attribute her success? “I don’t attribute my success to anything in particular, because I feel there is still work to be done and improvements to be made. To call myself a success would imply that I had achieved and now I’m done. I’d like to continue achieving. I feel that success in tournament is not receiving first place, but earning the respect of the judges and fellow competitors through having a positive and respectful attitude regardless of the outcome.”

In her first time on the Twin State circuit, Calla Baker – who holds the rank of 2nd Degree Junior Black Belt and the title of Shidoin (apprentice instructor) – was also recognized as a Double Crown Champion, making her mark in empty-hand forms and sparring.

While registered in the 11-and-12-year-old age bracket, on a few occasions Baker was called upon to fight against opponents as old as 16. When asked how it felt to be a Twin State Champion, Baker responded, “It’s really cool! We practiced a lot for these tournaments and being able to be a champion feels great, knowing that our work paid off!”

Also a 2nd Degree Junior Black Belt and Shidoin, George Dube was recognized as a Triple Crown Champion, winning the 13-and-14-Year-Old Male Black Belt Division in empty-hand forms, weapons forms, and sparring. This was Dube’s first time on the Twin State Circuit; he is Rising Sun Martial Arts’ first Triple Crown Champion.

“I got into karate because, as a kid in fourth or fifth grade, I was picked on and I didn’t know how to handle it,” said Dube. “So I did karate and it made me more confident in everything; school and other sports.” How does he feel about being a champion?

“There is no other feeling like being a state champion. I didn’t do it for the title; it’s just a great experience and I wanted to meet people who do karate. I’ve met a lot of amazing people through the circuit.”

Instructor to these three Twin State Champions, Kyoshi Brent Baker took Third Place for the IPPONE circuit’s Senior Men’s Black Belt Forms Division for 2017.

“It amazes me,” said Baker, “that three of my students signed up to do this circuit, and all three became Twin State champions. They really worked hard for this. As an instructor, I am very proud of my students; but this just put me over the moon.”

In addition, dojomate Evan Miller (a Third Degree Junior Black Belt and assistant instructor) participated in some of the Twin State tournaments, capturing a tournament grand championship for Junior Black Belt forms at the Summer Open, hosted by NIMMA in August.

Some advice for karate students who are thinking about tournament competition? Gallup advises, “Don’t become discouraged if, at your first tournament, you don’t walk in the ring and win. Discipline is extremely important. Divisions are won outside the ring in the months and weeks leading up to the tournament.” “Put in the work,” says Dube. “If you want to succeed, you’ve got to put in the work. You get what you give. Train hard.”