Karate team off to Japan for Int’l Championship

The CNMI’s karate team made up of Danny Banez, Spencer Floyd, and Jerry Diaz, who are coached by Eric Atalig, is set to compete for the first time internationally in the Karate Dream Festival 2024 International Championship which will be held from July 20 to 21 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Banez is competing in the senior black belt division, while Floyd and Diaz are taking on the senior rookie division in the tournament that draws many martial artists from all over the world.

For Banez, Floyd, and Diaz of the CNMI Martial Arts Academy of Self-Defense-Kyokushinkai Karate Watanabe Dojo, this is their first time competing internationally. As the CNMI is now recognized as the 106th country of the World Karate Organization, they are now able to compete anywhere around the world.

This was made possible because the CNMI is now a chapter of Shinkyokushinkai Guam Dojo under Chris Biolchino.

Banez, the sensei or teacher of the dojo, said that he is ready to fight and is excited to compete. “I’m proud to compete and this is my first time to compete for the island in another country,” he said. He then asks for people’s prayers and encourages the youth to hopefully compete for the islands internationally.

For Atalig, he said he is “excited and looking forward to this historical moment when sensei Danny Banez is finally able to bring CNMI participants for the first time in the World Karate Organization (WKO) Tournament.”

“Proud to see that sensei Danny Banes is finally fulfilling his dream to participate after 32 years of commitment to bringing martial arts to the CNMI since 1992. We are really happy and rooting for him,” said Atalig.

Diaz, who bagged gold in last year’s WKO Shinkyokushinkai Full Contact Karate Championship, said he is honored to represent the CNMI. “Grateful for the support of my family who will travel with me and humbled for all the sponsors [who] shared their trust and confidence to represent the CNMI,” he said. “This is CNMI’s first time to send a representative to compete internationally. I hope this will be a stepping stone for future youth and adult karate athletes and practitioners to compete at [an] international level.”

Floyd, who won gold in the senior men’s division of last April’s WKP Shinkyokushinkai Championship in Guam, shared that he is ready to represent. He said he is staying loose and confident and has put in the work and is now ready to take on international competition.