January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Kickboxers bring home two golds
The pair who have been in solid training since their exhibition bout at the Police Boxing Night last October took second and fourth place respectively in the Category B, San Shou tournament at the Arnold Classic in Ohio.
Despite their intense preparations for the full contact event - among the toughest and most direct tests of martial arts skill - Wilkinson admits they were surprised at the level of the competition.
He said it wasn’t until he watched one of the early bouts and witnessed a spectacular knockout that the seriousness of the event started to sink in.
But he said he was pleased with the way he and Bean handled themselves against more experienced opposition.
“I was extremely happy with the way we performed. The competition was greater than I had expected in category B and some of the guys we were fighting had a lot of experience.
“My plan at the moment is to stick in this category until the end of the year. If we can get three more tournaments at this level we can hopefully move up to the semi-professional category A level to try and qualify for the Olympics.”
Wilkinson, who made it to the final, before being beaten against a competitor who he admits had the edge on him, said the Category A fighters were on a different level.
“Those guys were animals. Their takedowns are a lot more damaging and their boxing skills are superior. They were extremely confident in their own ability.”
He said he felt that kind of confidence and willingness to take risks would come with experience.
Bean and Wilkinson still believe they can lead a team of Bermudian athletes to the Olympics, but they know that tougher challenges are coming.
“We are going to intensify our training regime by focusing on a few sport specific techniques that we feel will take us to the next level,” said Bean, who was forced to pull out of his semi-final match-up after suffering an injury.
Both men have been buoyed by their experience on the international circuit and are looking at expanding the sport in Bermuda.
The next step is the Olympic recruitment training course on April 16 at the Police Boxing Gym.
Fitness trainer Gary Wilkinson, Garon's dad, and strength trainer Devrae Noel-Simons have helped put together an intensive programme for those interested in being a part of the team.
Wilkinson said potential competitors would be put through their paces in a series of trials testing fitness, strength, boxing and martial arts techniques.
“It is a race against the clock for the China Olympics so we are looking at people with at least some martial arts experience.
“After the recruitment day we will be selecting a team to go with us to future competitions.”
Also on board for the recruitment day and at the classic in Ohio were coach Sensei Oscar Lightbourne and Damion Wilson.
Wilkinson and Bean also competed in more traditional Chinese Forms competition on the second day of the classic, where they took home a bag full of medals.
Bean executed a superb form in the Wing Chun division and secured a gold medal before Wilkinson took to the floor.
Wilkinson took bronze medals in the open hand, short weapon and long weapon divisions as well as a tie for gold in the open weapons.
Both fighters said they were pleased with the medals haul but their focus was on the San Shou and developing their abilities in that discipline in preparation for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.[[In-content Ad]]
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