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Monica Bodden Reporting
The students are all preparing for the big competition tomorrow when they'll face off with the Mexican Taekwondo team.

Shihan Kelly - Grandmaster, House of Shotokan Karate
"Tomorrow competition is going to be an exciting one. It's going to be hosted at the Belize Elementary School. We have two events actually. The first is an open competition where you have competitors from Belize, North, South, East and West that will be competing in this event. Children from 3 years old all the way up to adults will be competing in the open competition. Again that starts at 10 am and in the evening is when our Belize Elite team will battle against the Mexico Taekwondo team. That is going to commence about 5-6 pm in the afternoon."

This is the first time that the Mexican Taekwondo team is competing in Belize.

Shihan Kelly - Grandmaster, House of Shotokan Karate
"The competitors who have been training on the team - they will actually be fighting against the Mexico Taekwondo team which is our first time historically here within the country of Belize so we are excited about the Mexican team that is coming over."

Master Kelly told us about preparations for tomorrow's event.

Shihan Kelly - Grandmaster, House of Shotokan Karate
"They are very talented, they are looking to come to Belize to take the championship as any other country would but I believe training with the students and the team members here - that's not going to happen, we are going to put a stop to that."

Monica Bodden
"Tell me, what have training been like over the past weeks getting ready for this competition."

Shihan Kelly - Grandmaster, House of Shotokan Karate
"Well as you can see the students have been doing a lot of cardio work. I am very sure that a lot of people on the streets have seen us and the team members running all over the city and doing a lot of sweating under the sun and under the rain and everything so they have been doing a lot of work and they have been doing a lot of fighting here in the gym. They have been doing again a lot of cardio work in preparation for this grand event."

For 6 year old Ethan - it is not his first time competing in competitions such as tomorrow's and says he is focussed on winning a gold medal.

Monica Bodden
"Tell me how long have you been preparing for this competition tomorrow?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"About a long time, a really long time. I have been trying to win first place like from last year."

Monica Bodden
"What did you won last year?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"3rd place and 2nd place."

Monica Bodden
"So now tomorrow you are aiming for first right?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"Yes I am aiming for first."

Monica Bodden
"Now tell me what kind of workout did you do out here this evening?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"I've been doing kata and fighting because those are the two that I will do. Both"

Monica Bodden
"So you are preparing yourself for tomorrow."

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"Yes I am preparing, I am getting ready."

Monica Bodden
"Is it a lot of work?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"Yeah a really lot."

Monica Bodden
"But you enjoy it right?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"Yeah I enjoy it."

Monica Bodden
"What are you going to do when you go home?"

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"I think I am going to practice my kata, get a good night sleep, practice some more of my moves and then get a good night sleep."

Monica Bodden
"And then come out here to win."

Ethan Hunt - Karate Student
"Yes come out here to win."

Master Kelly encourages everyone to come out to the Elementary Auditorium tomorrow to support martial arts.

Shihan Kelly - Grandmaster, House of Shotokan Karate
"For those who are interested in coming to this event, we would really love your support. Support Martial Art as a whole, the admission for the day event is $10 and can be purchase at the door. The night event is $10. To get close to the action where the sweat and the pounding will be going on - that one runs for $20 a little closer in for the ringside seat and again all of that can be purchase at the door or at our karate studio here on Princess Margaret Drive."

A competition featuring karate students from all over the country will precede the main event.