MERCEDES — Gabriel Rhodes, 6, is coming off consecutive top performances in area karate tournaments held last year through out the Valley.
He will represent Saldana’s Kajukenbo Karate school next Saturday in Weslaco at the first karate tournament of the year that will draw karate students from as far as Laredo and Brownsville.
We sat down with the Gabriel, a Mercedes resident, for a Q&A to talk to him about his karate training, the upcoming tournament and his future.
VMS: Why did you start learning karate?
Gabriel: I started learning karate because it looks really fun and my uncle put me in karate when I was 4 years old.
VMS: What do you like most about karate?
Gabriel: What I like most about karate is when we spar and do the duck walk to get stronger.
VMS: Where do you go to karate school, and what do you like about it?
Gabriel: I go to the school in Mercedes called GL Texas Kajukenbo the Black Belt School. I like that my great uncle is a teacher and I like all the friends in my class.
VMS: What is your biggest challenge as a karate student?
Gabriel: The biggest challenge I have in a karate class is learning all the Kata steps without forgetting them for the tournament.
VMS: What is it like competing in karate tournaments?
Gabriel: It makes me excited knowing that I’m going to fight in a tournament in front of all my family and so many people.
VMS: You won big trophies. What’s it like fighting in the ring?
Gabriel: Yes, I won first place before and it’s really fun when I’m fighting in the ring, especially when I do a good job.
VMS: Do you plan to earn your black belt?
Gabriel: Yes, I’m going to get my black belt, but I don’t know when. After white is yellow and then I go to other belts and then I’ll be black belt.
VMS: What are you practicing in karate this week?
Gabriel: I’m practicing my Kata, my Pinion One form, sparring, my kicks, my punches, my roundhouse kicks, my snap kicks, my sidekicks, my reverse kick; that is when you kick to the back.
VMS: What kind of job do you want to have when you grow up; will karate help you in your job?
Gabriel: I want to be a police officer so I can help protect people and I think karate will help me when I’m a police officer.
VMS: Who is you favorite superhero, and are they a good fighter or know karate?
Gabriel: Hulk Smash. Yes, of course he’s a good fighter. He’s a big green guy.
