2008 Shito-Kai Team Members
Midwestern Region

Midwest region coaches Jeff Bedard and Nich Reeder have assembled very competitive teams for the 2008 season.

At their last outing in Chicago at ISKC's "Chicago Classic"
hosted at Harper College - their two clubs posted a 48 athletes roster (35 from Belleville/ 13 from Columbia, Illinois) and brought home 74 awards - including 21 division winners,16 silver ,17 bronze and 22 fourth.

"We lost a lot of gold to our own team-mates", said Reeder in a lighter moment after the tournament.

"Each season we're doing a better job of organizing our practices to meet the demands of the tournament schedule", said Bedard.
"And, we're not afraid to ask for help to improve our game."

Indeed this season the team will spend almost 2 weeks polishing their skills with PKF Chairman Javier Mantilla.

"Mantilla provides the athletes with immediate feedback and gives them a great training session.  But, more important is the exchange of information that takes place with the coaching staff.  It is the coaches who must implement new skills into their daily practice sessions. Otherwise it's a waste of everybody's time",  said Bedard.

Rising Stars
Seventeen year-old Jonathan McDaniel (middle, standing) placed 3rd at the "Chicago Classic" in the adult/advanced division.

Judges for the division included WKF referee Cyrus Madani, PKF Referee Cathy Bailey, and USA-NKF National Referees Charles Jarnagin, and Doug Dennis. McDaniel lost his semi-final round to an athlete from the Madani/Mantilla Denver, Colorado Team.

"We loved his presentation", said Bailey.  "He needs more work to win over the international judges - but, he's on his way."

McDaniel is seemingly breaking new ground for the Mid-West group which historically places well in kumite divisions but has admittedly placed less importance on kata over the years. Something that will likely have to change if they are to gain respect from senior technical members of the National Federation who place a lot of importance on the activity as a demonstration of coach's mastery in the system.

"It's not like we're incompetent", said Bedard. "We just like to fight!"

"He (McDaniel) actually admitted to training with Bedard and Reeder!", said PKF Referee Cathy Bailey as a jest after the division. "We didn't know those two trained any kata players - let alone good ones."

Bailey seemed unaware that Shito-Kai advanced juniors are quietly placing higher (and winning) in her alma-mater ISKC (Shotokan) events.  Those juniors include Jake Simpher, Randy James, and Turner Clark, Thoren Bedard, Sarazjoni Hunter, Elyse-Maria Bedard, and Emma Garner to name just a few.

"I have to give some credit to Coach Sally David", said Bedard. 
(David is a 6-time USA-NKF Sr. Women's champion in kata and kumite. She retired after competing at the WSKF World Championships-Tokyo in 2006 at the age of 48.)
"Man, that woman's always chewing my ear over bad kata, I'm sure she took a few bites out of McDaniels' too."

"Actually, David is one or our players' favorite coaches because she's really specific when she coaches", said Reeder. "She's improved the performance and division placement of many of our kata players."

"Did Jeff (Bedard) really say that?" said David.

Sara McEneny (21) and Jenna Murphy (18) have returned to the women's advanced divisions after a couple of season's off while getting their college careers in order.  Both are former domestic and international champions with the USA-NKF, USA-KF, and WSKF.  McEneny is a Shito-kai Jr. Pan-American Champion, and Murphy missed a bronze medal by one match at the 2006 WSKF World Championships in Tokyo.  The two began the 2008 season at the US Open in Las Vegas, Nevada in April.

"We've got some ring-rust", said McEneny.

Even so, the two lost in very close matches to international level players after three seasons off.  Murphy even made the highlight reel (#4) on the USA-NKF website.  Both are tough, competent competitors with years of experience to draw from.

In Chicago, McEneny placed first in the 17-22 year old women's advanced kumite division. 
Murphy placed second in the women's advanced kata, and 3rd in the 17-22 advanced kumite division.

The season's still young.  The Illinois State Championship is May 18th.  We'll be back in Chicago for another round with DiPasquale and the regional clubs. 

But, for now - the season is on track.
Thanks for reading.. we'll see you on the mat.