Rhane Daly Stevens,16 of North Bay competed at the World Karate and Kickboxing Commission (WKC) World Karate Championships Nov 5th - 11th in Orlando, Florida and won two bronze medals.
Stevens fought in the boy's 15-17-year-old category competing in the 60kg weight class winning bronze in the continuous sparring division, and bronze in the point sparring division.
The annual world championship attracts athletes from around the world, including more than 100 Canadian athletes. Each member country holds its own national open tournament and from this, a team is selected to represent that country at the world championships.
This is Daly Stevens' 7th time qualifying for the World Karate Championships, and his second time on the podium having won his round-robin matches to reach the final four in his respective divisions. Rhane was edged out in his continuous sparing semi-final with a split-decision that went to an English fighter and suffered a narrow loss in overtime in the point sparring semi-final to a Puerto Rican.
The continuous-fighting division includes competitors squaring off in full head protection for two-minute continuous rounds, scoring points for successful blows and kickboxing combinations above the waist, strong emphasis is on technique, endurance, and control. Whereas the point-fighting division includes competitors squaring off in full head protection for two-minute rounds, with the athletes being reset to starting position after earning points for well-executed strikes and kicks above the waist. Emphasis is on speed, control, and technique, and fighters must win individual rounds by two points at the end of the 2 minutes, or the match goes into overtime.
Daly Stevens qualified earlier this year at the Ontario provincials in London and again at nationals in Ottawa earning a spot on the Canadian team.
He a Grade 11 student at École Publique Odyssée and earned his first degree black belt (Shodan) in 2013 in Shotokan Karate, and recently was tested and promoted to second degree (Nidan) June of this year. He currently practices karate and martial arts at 3 Fires Martial Arts Academy in North Bay supported by Shihan Darrell Couchie, and Sensei Don Boulay, Rhane also trains at Action's School of Fitness
Daly Stevens was pleased with his results, but having stood on the podium again Rhane is already thinking about next years' competition and hopes to have the opportunity to compete in finals on the world stage.
