The venue for the European Festival of Martial Arts (EFMA) was the New York Hotel at Disneyland Paris; very exclusive surroundings. The Martial Arts represented at the festival were Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Freestyle. Melissa arrived for registration at 08:30 to find that she was the first competitor to arrive. We met up with Joe Anderson, Toyakwai Karate Association Head Coach and organiser of the EFMA Karate competition, who stated that there were competitors from France, England, Ireland, Germany, Russia and the Ukraine taking part in the Karate competition. Registration completed Melissa changed into her Gi trousers and started to warm-up. Being the only competitor at the time she had the choice of 6 mats!
The mats were organised 2 each for the separate Martial Arts disciplines. The Karate and Tae Kwon Do competitions started at 10:00 with the Kata categories up first for the Karate competitors. There were a large number of competitors so to ensure efficient timings all Kata competitors were called at once to a single mat and the categories followed one after the other without a break. This was efficient time wise but it did introduce some confusion as to which category the current competitor came from. Melissa was eventually called to perform her Kata. She elected to do Kanku-Sho which she has had some success with in recent competitions. To make things more difficult in an already noisy environment, just as Melissa walked onto the mat the freestylers started with their individual routines to music. To say that the volume was loud would be an understatement. However, Melissa was not phased by this and gave a spirited performance earning, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 from the judges. There was some strong competition from the Russian and Ukrainian competitors but Melissa’s score of 21.9 was good enough to take gold, Silver and Bronze going to Russia and the Ukraine respectively. The Medals for all the Junior categories were awarded together once the last event had taken place.
Melissa’s Kumite event started mid afternoon and again had a number of international competitors. The field was not too large and a lucky bye into the quarter finals and Melissa was up for her first fight against a girl from Russia or the Ukraine; difficult to tell. A straight forward fight with Melissa winning 8-0 with time on the clock. The semi finals was against a girl from England that Melissa had fought before at the Seni08. Melissa took an early lead which the girl though she could make up by faining injury and crying. A dubious tactic which the judges were having none of. After a warning Melissa’s opponent decided that the way to win was to attack hard with little control or technique. Undaunted by this Melissa took some knocks, defended well and went back on the attack dishing out the blows just as hard as she was receiving and winning a further 2 points. The score now 5-0. After another bout of crying and another warning costing her a point Melissa attacked and scored again. The score now 7-0. Melissa’s opponent scored a consolation point before a Sanbon kick from Melissa finished the fight with 7 seconds left on the clock. 10-1. The final loomed, it was not going to be easy as her opponent was an English girl she had fought a number of times before but never beaten. The fights have always been close with 1 or two points separating the two but never in Melissa’s favour, maybe this time! Unfortunately it was not to be. Melissa was somewhat over eager on the attack which played into her opponents strength which is a lightning fast Gyak. Twice Melissa attacked, the result the same each time a point to her opponent. 2-0 down in the first 15 seconds. Melissa was more cautious now and moved about waiting for the right moment. She attacked a number of times again to no avail. Melissa though a number of the techniques should have scored but the judges did not agree. An element of frustration set in and further undisciplined attacks resulting in the loss of a further two points the score now 4-0 to Melissa’s opponent. This is how it would remain until the end of the fight so a Silver for Melissa. All in all a good day, European Festival of Martial Arts Kata champion and Silver in the Kumite. Not bad for a days work; now to finish the day off the Disney parks beckoned.
Meopham Martial Arts Academy 