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By Harley F. Palangchao, Correspondent
BAGUIO CITY: Franklin Kawaen may
have represented the “wrong” country but to people in this
northern hideaway, he will always be one of them—an Igorot who has
brought pride and honor to the Philippines.
Kawaen, a karate instructor based
in Dubai, won the championship in the Kobe Osaka International
Karate World Cup held in Latina, Italy, from June 29 to July 6,
2008. He represented the United Arab Emirates in the competition.
His reportedly perfect and
convincing execution of the Unsu (cloud hands) kata (form) earned
him the victory over a Japanese shitoryu instructor for the title.
Kawaen, a fifth dan blackbelt and
member of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Orient before settling
in Dubai, was a top contender in the kata competition participated
by seasoned karatekas from 24 countries.
A true-blue Igorot from Maligcong
(located in the Mountain Province) and Baguio City, he defeated an
Italian in the semifinal to enter the championship match.
One of his students represented
Iran and won a bronze medal. Kawaen teaches at Al Shabab Club in
Dubai.
News about Kawaen’s triumph
spread quickly not only among his colleagues in the JKA Orient Young
Men Christian Academy in Baguio but also among his former teammates
in the Philippine national karate team.
The victory is seen as a
morale-booster to his fellow karatekas in the Philippines.
Kawaen is described by the
Martial Arts Academy-Dubai website as a famous karate instructor and
competitor.
He also was a champion in the
Third International Open Karate Master Cup held at Al Shabab Club in
Dubai in September 2007. In 2006, he won in the Second International
Open Karate Master Cup held in Etisalat Academy Recreation and
Sports Complex, also in Dubai.
Again, his reportedly great
execution of the Unsu, which he performed when he was promoted to
first-dan blackbelt in Manila several years ago, was his weapon in
winning the championship in Italy.
The execution of the Unsu
requires constant transformations where all parts of the body are
used as weapons, with feints and provocations leading to unique
combination techniques and multidirectional kicks.
Kawaen, 42, is one of the Igorots
bringing pride and honor to the Philippines and, perhaps, the United
Arab Emirates, too.
Seasoned karate kata champion
Julian Chees, who also hails from Maligcong and Baguio City, teaches
karate in Germany.
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