Karate Development Arts & Sports
PNP Invitationals at Crame PDF Print E-mail
Written by Juby Ruiz   
Apr 20, 2008
Four years ago - I was amazed to find out that my instructors in Karate Development Arts and Sports (KDA) are not just people who have fought for themselves, but were also people who fought for the nation. I was invited by Sensei Cherli Tugday to watch a tournament at Crame. Some of the KDA members who participated that time were Sensei Peter Cardona, Sensei Gretchen Malalad and Sensei Cherli Tugday from the Air Force, and Sensei Walter Gozum and Sensei Reiner De Leon from the Navy, all of them were members of the Philippine Karate Team.

After four years, Friday (February 22, 2008) – a hectic day for me at Law School but that was not a hindrance for me to see another Karate Tournament at Crame. This time, it was a tournament invitational by the Philippine National Police (PNP). This was my second time to see the tournament. 5N2 Reiner De Leon of Philippine Navy, who is an athlete and KDA instructor, participated in the Kata (Forms) event. He won a Silver medal for his Gojushiho sho Kata against Philippine Army and PNP. He also participated in Kumite (Sparring), in -70 Kg weight division. He even jested that he put lots of cell phones in his kimono just to reach that weight division. He won a Bronze medal after being defeated by Philippine Air Force who landed Silver and Mr. Junel Perania of PNP for the Gold.

Of course, I was there for support. The good thing about KDA is that people in the organization know the importance of giving morale and boost to their family. A2C Peter Cardona of the Air Force was there as coach for his team, while Ret. AW2C Cherli Tugday of the Air Force and Alma Cabasal, both Philippine Karate Team members and KDA Black Belters, also went there to cheer not just for Sensei Reiner, but to show the presence of KDA in that tournament.