At the AAU National Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina, 21 students from Chris Welbon Karate School left with 29 medals in hand. Among the gold medalists was Elijah West, who picked up his first gold medal in his first national tournament.
What was this trip like for you?
It was long, but fun.
What was the most fun part about it?
Going to eat at cool places, and eating yummy stuff. My favorite restaurant was the Big Easy. I got some chicken and alligator tail.
Looks like you also had some fun doing karate. What was your gold-medal event?
Kata.
When you were up there, doing your kata in front of all those people, what was it like?
I was pretty nervous, and it was hard.
What helped you get over being nervous and go kick butt?
My coaches. They pushed me hard.
Did you only compete in kata?
I did kumite, but I lost in the first round. It took a while for me to go, so I was cold.
How long have you been doing karate?
Almost two years. I am 8 now.
What made you want to start doing karate?
I had a friend in my class, and he went to this dojo. He quit when he was a regular purple belt — not a solid purple belt, which I am now. I’m a white belt in competitions because I’m a beginner.
He left, but you’re still here. What keeps you doing karate?
All my friends are here.
When you’re not doing karate, what do you do for fun?
I like to play with my brother and sister.
Where do you go to school?
I go to Lincoln Elementary.
What’s your favorite subject?
P.E. My favorite thing to do is sit-ups.
What’s your favorite movie?
“Jurassic World.”
If someone your age is just starting karate for the first time, what advice would you give them?
To be strong, and have a good kiai at the end.
If you had a billion dollars to spend on anything you want, what would it be?
A yo-yo. I would buy one of the hard ones. I have a yo-yo, but I can’t do tricks. I can only bring it up and down. I’m trying to “walk the dog.”
Do you have a favorite athlete?
Jack (Ray). He does karate here. His real name is John, but we call him Jack here.
If you could meet anybody famous, who would it be?
Shaquille O’Neal. First, he was a basketball player, and then he became a cop or something.
What is the one thing you want to get better at between now and your next tournament?
Sparring, all the combinations and jab reverse punches.