Tristan McDannel
Tristan McDannel is an adventurous 9
y.o. that I would like to
nominate for being a Karate Angel.
Tristan has been training in Kempo Karate with DePalma's Team USA for a
year and a half. Last year was his first year of competing and he took
home over 30 tournament trophies and earned Grand Championship at the
State M.A.R.R.S. tournament in Musical and Sparring. HE placed second in
Weapons and Forms. He has also had a great start to 2008, now competing
in the Advance Belt Ranking hasn't slowed him down one bit.
Last month
he placed first in both Musical and Forms with a second in Weapons and
3rd in Sparring at the Valley of the Sun tournament. Then this past
weekend he again placed first in Forms and Weapons, second in Musical
and 3rd in Sparring at the Copper State Classic Tournament. Tristan is
on pace to achieve his black belt by the end of the year. His weapon of
choice is the nunchuk, which he has self-taught most of his skills (With
some help from Mr. M. Watkins, who Tristan credits all of his successes
to), Tristan is also very comfortable with the bo staff, kamas, and
arnys sticks.
Tristan is also on the honor roll for his school, just receiving his
most recent report card for fourth grade that had 4 A's and 1 B. He is also
working gymnastics into his karate and becoming more and more confident
(with the help of his Mom, who is teaching him back flips, back hand
springs, etc.) . When he is not doing Karate, he loves to jump on the
trampoline and swim.
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