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Dennis Guo brings home karate gold
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Posted on May 11 2023
From left, sensei Danny Banez, first place Dennis Guo, and first place Jerry Diaz pose for a photo on their return from the World Karate Organization Shinkyokushinkai Full Contact Karate Championship 2023 at the Ilearn Academy Gymnasium in Guam held last April 29. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Nine-year-old Saipan Community School student Dennis Guo brought home the gold in his division in the World Karate Organization Shinkyokushinkai Full Contact Karate Championship 2023 at the Ilearn Academy Gymnasium in Guam last April 29.
In the 9-and-under boys division, blue belt Guo defeated orange belt Jaiden Perez of WKO Guam.
With multiple body attacks, high kicks, and quick straight punches, Guo racked up the most points on his aggressive attacks and the flags were raised in his favor for the win.
Guo has been under the tutelage of black belt sensei Danny Banez of the Kyokushinkai Karate Watanabe Dojo for about six months now and his 10-year-old brother, Daniel Guo, also competed in the tourney.
The fourth grader said that during the competition, he was scared, but he pushed through and came out on top. “I did not know if I would win or not, I just knew that I could do well in the competition.”
His mother, Jin Hua Wu, who was in Guam to watch the competition, said that she was worried about her son’s safety as they were not allowed to wear body padding and armor during the competition, but her worry went away when her son said that he can do it.
When he finished his competition, she said that she was so happy and relieved that he was unharmed and that he ended up winning first place.
She said that it didn’t matter if he won or not—all that mattered was that he tried his best.
Dennis thanked his sensei and his sparring partner and coach Peter Chang for helping him prepare for the competition. His mother thanked coach Eric Atalig and Jerry Diaz and his family.
For Banez, he said “Thank you very much for all the support for the CNMI Martial Arts Academy of Self Defense and Saipan Karate Team. Thanks to Marianas Security, Star Marianas air, M&C construction, MJD Corporation, Sodelour Construction, Ahbhu Auto Care, Philippine Eagle Guam Saipan District, and Racquel Huit Floyd.”
Banez also gave special thanks to Eric Atalig, Peter Chang, and Shawn Montoya for being the sparring partners of Daniel and Dennis Guo.
