Teens preparing to join karate team in Slovenia

By Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
   HILLSBOROUGH — ”Wax on, wax off” wasn’t included in the karate training for teenagers Danielle Deretchin’s, 16, Tina Forsythe’s, 17, Chris Deretchin’s, 18, Eva Lewandowski’s, 18, and Jack Molesko’s, 19, but their hard work and dedication landed the five Hillsborough residents spots at the 2008 World Karate Confederation Junior World Championships.
   The students will compete at the 2008 World Karate Confederation Junior World Championships in Novo Meso, Slovenia Oct. 24-26.
   ”You train for a lot of years, and to be invited to go to something like this is just amazing,” Danielle, who began training seven years ago, said. “There’s a little bit of nervousness. It’s not my first international tournament, but it’s my first international tournament that’s held internationally.”
   The students train at the Japanese Karate Center, located in the Hillsborough Pool, Racquet, and Fitness Club on Amwell Road, which is operated by Sensei Frank Bouchonville.
   The students participated in state, regional, and national karate competitions to qualify for the United States team, with the top students in each competition advancing to the next competition. Since Karate is not an Olympic sport, Mr. Bouchonville said the event is the equivalent for the students. “Being the World Championships, it’s the highest level of competition,” Mr. Bouchonville said.
   In addition to practicing every night and upping the intensity of the sessions, the students needed to raise $3,900 each to go to Slovenia. While local contributions raised approximately $1,500, which was divided evenly among the students, Mr. Bouchonville said the students’ parents provided the remaining money.
   ”Frequently, for events, athletes get sponsors that pay for most of the trip,” Mr. Bouchonville said. “It can be difficult for junior teams because they are just starting out.”
   Both a physical sport and mental test, Karate helps students focus on tasks, while initiating a more active lifestyle, Mr. Bouchonville said. Despite his students’ success at competitions, Mr. Bouchonville teaches the form and mentality rather than simply concentrating on competitive achievements.
   Though the students travel and train as a team, each event is an individual competition, with the students participating in two types of competitions — a Kumite, or sparring competition pitting the competitors against each other, and a Kata competition, which has each individual performing a series of blocks, kicks, punches and other movements in a specific rhythm. The Kumite competitions are divided in to several different events, each with its own scoring method. Despite being a martial art, Mr. Bouchonville stressed that Karate is not a full-contact sport, and athletes are penalized if they do hit their opponent.
   ”It’s not like boxing, where you’re trying to punch out your opponent,” Mr. Bouchonville said. “It’s more like fencing, where you’re supposed to win a match (via strategy and executing moves).”
   ”Anyone can go out and throw a punch and take out their opponent,” he added. “It (karate) takes a high level of technique.”