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Sensei
Patrick
English of Finglas and Dmitri Ivanov of Killester travelled
together with their coach, Sensi Shane Lalor and a group of
supporters to Antwerp for the Belgian Open also known as the
Diamond Challenge on the weekend of the 27th March 2004. Also
travelling in an official capacity was Sensei Ken Fitzpatrick who
was chosen as a referee for the day.
Dmitri is originally from Russia but has been training in
Killester dojo since 2003. Sensei Patrick was fighting in the
Superheavyweight class. Normally there are only 3 weight
categories - below 70 Kilos is Lightweight, 70 -80 kilos is
middleweight and over 80 kilos is Heavyweight. However certain
countries also have a Superheavyweight section which is over 90
kilos and Belgium is one of those countries.
The action started at about 11.00 and Dmitri was our first
fighter up. I cannot remeber who he fought in the first round but
he won by decision after four minutes. In the next round he faced
a very experienced competitor - Rene Stigter of Holland. Dmitri
never really got going in this fight which I believe he could have
won. After four minutes Rene Stitger was delcared the winner by
decision.
Due to the large number of competitors and the fact that there
were only two mat areas the superheavyweights did not fight
until the late afternoon. Sensei Patrick fought against an unknown
Belgian fighter and won by decision after four minutes. In the
semi-finals he then faced Anthony Klein of Shinkyokushin Holland.
After four minutes the decision went to the Dutch fighter. The
fighting continued on into the night withe the winners of the
four mens categories fighting off for a Diamond worth 5000.00
Euro. The two womens category winners also fought off for a
Diamond.
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