The Karate Girl from Somers After the TournamEnt
Grandmaster Hanshi Jim Smith with Sierra Deodhari
We left New York on Saturday morning to join Team America, that was already in San Juan PR since February 24th. We stayed at he Caribe Hilton and competed on Febrauary 28th,2016. There were approximately 800 contestants from Jamaica, PR, Vietnam, Haiti, St. Thomas, St. Martin, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, Thailand, Mexico and other countries.
Sierra and Hanshi Jim Smith represented Team USA. There were a total of 66 contestants in Sierra' s division. Sierra first event was weapons and she used a Bo ( wooden staff). Her division was Advance Brown Belt 10 years old. She took the first place and won the gold for Team America.
Sierra second competition was the traditional kata and again she won the first place in her division in the under 10 years old advance brown belt.
Sierra also sparred and lost the final match but took the silver medal. At the end of the tournament Sierra competed in the Grand Chamionship featuring 13 Gold Medal Winners ( to compete in this event you must win 2 first places for the day's event). Sierra, who is only 7 years old lost to an 18 years old Black Belt from PR. In this leg of the competition Sierra was the youngest competitor. However it was great learning experience for her.
After the tournament Sierra was invited to compete in Vietnam and Argentina. Sierra attends Jim Smith Karate at Mahopac NY since she was 3 years old. Grandmaster Hanshi Jim Smith also competed in the tournament and won 2 gold medals.
