By: Wendy DiazSource: The Muslim Link
Aqabah Karate went to combat full force on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at Essex Community College in Essex, Maryland. The battlefield was set and the soldiers were readied, but there were no weapons involved; just fierce competition at the 28th annual Battle of Baltimore Martial Arts World Championships.
Last year only one competitor held the standard for Team Aqabah, but this time 14 students competed in the massive open tournament which hosts 232 Karate divisions along with 50 Kung Fu and Grappling divisions. Over 1000 people crammed the athletic center, including spectators, judges, and participants. Although the Aqabah Karate warriors were heavily outnumbered, they pulled through and managed to bring home a total of 9 trophies.
The majority of the Aqabah competitors were under 13 years old, yet their thirst for victory was unrivaled. As they sat waiting for their individual competitions to begin, their eyes were attentive, their minds focused, and their bodies tense. When asked how he felt about competing for the first time in the 8-9 years beginner’s forms division, Rafi Sagoro, 8, simply said, “Very excited!” His father, Bayu Sagoro, admitted his son had worked hard in order to prepare for the tournament. Sagoro said, “He did this all by himself. He practiced every day.”
Another Aqabah student who was making his competition debut was Arif Kabir, and although he took 3rd place in both Karate forms and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he expressed that the experience he gained was most valuable. He said, “It really helped me to reassess myself and understand what needs work and refinement.”
Aqabah parents cheered as they watched their children showcase their skills. Moira McGuire, whose children, Zakariya and Ayisha Korme, captured trophies in forms and sparring, brought her whole family to support the Aqabah Karate students. She said,
“We want them to have the opportunity to compete and learn how to be good winners and also how to be good losers.” The Guadalupe family, parents of instructor Hernan Guadalupe, who also competed and won 2nd place in Kung Fu forms and 3rd in Karate forms, came all the way from New Jersey, just to cheer on their son and his students.
“We always support him in everything he does,” said Hernan’s father, Walter.
Both instructors, Muhib Rahman and Hernan were present to coach and encourage the students and their efforts did not go unnoticed. Although the arena was congested with mobs at each post, Arif Kabir recalls seeing Instructor Muhib rushing through crowds to aid whichever competitor from Aqabah had reached their turn. He said, “SubhanAllah, it really made me reflect on how much care the instructors must have for us, that instead of having us run to their commands for once, they were rushing to cheer and motivate us.”
Once the battle was over, the warriors packed their gear and their trophies, their indomitable spirit apparent on their joyous faces, and out of the sports arena they walked triumphantly into the radiant sunlit afternoon.
