Kyle Beadouin’s first ever trip south of the border last month produced some unexpected yet most welcome results.
The 15-year-old member of the Rodney Hobson Karate Academy returned home to Kelowna with two medals from the U.S. Open Karate Championships in Las Vegas.
Competing in the 14-15 age division, Beaudoin won the bronze medal in kumite (sparring), then helped his Canadian teammates to a gold medal in the team kata (forms) event.
Sensei Rodney Hobson, the head instructor at RHKA, said to win one—let alone two medals—at one of the world’s most prestigious karate tournaments is a feat that can’t be overstated.
“It’s huge,” Hobson said of Kyle’s double-medal performance. “Just to podium at an event like this is phenomenal. You have multiple world champions competing, so essentially this is as good as it gets. Kyle should be very proud of his accomplishments.”
In the six years since Kyle began training at RHKA, Hobson said the young athlete’s commitment to his craft has been second to none.
“I think what describes him is dedication personified,” Hobson said. “He commits every minute of his day to getting better and training harder. If you tell him something once, he understands it, then takes it to another level. He’s so committed in everything he does, that’s what sets him apart.
“It’s pretty cool to see in a young guy his age.”
Next up for Beaudoin and many of his RHKA teammates is the Karate B.C. provincial championships, May 28 and 29 in Vancouver.
