Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 7, 1990 TAG: 9007070135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Dozens more of the 14-year-old karate champion's trophies are taller than his 5-foot frame.
Valera is the top-ranked karate competitor in the nation in the 12-14 age group. In his third year of tournament competition, he has won more than 300 trophies, medals and plaques.
Valera will be featured today in the Virginia CorEast State Games karate competition at William Fleming High School.
Based on his credentials - he is top-rated in all three disciplines: kata, kumati and weapons - Valera seems like a sure winner in the Games. But he said there's a good possibility he won't win a medal.
Valera's fighting technique is called American Freestyle. It features the power moves of traditional Japanese karate, but also incorporates the flare and showmanship of Korean taekwondo.
Under the rules of the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA), which is receptive to all styles of karate, Valera's form has taken him to the top.
The State Games, however, will be judged under the rules of the United States Karate Federation, which adheres to the more rigid guidelines of traditional karate.
That has Valera concerned.
"My style is more dynamic than traditional karate," he said. "It has all the power moves of traditional karate, but it's not their style. Some judges only like a particular style."
It is in the kata and weapons competition that Valera could be most affected. As in a gymnastics routine, the scoring is purely subjective.
"[The judges] have got to have their minds open [to other styles]," said Valera, who will be a freshman at Lord Botetourt High School in the fall. "All I can do is go out, be comfortable with my routine and do my best. But this is another challenge. I want to experiment. I want to see how I would be judged under a traditional system."
He said the kumati competition, which is fighting with an opponent, isn't as much of a concern.
"Fighting just comes natural," he said.
Valera first became interested in karate while watching the kung fu movies that still dot the television airways. But it was in 1984, when as an 8-year-old he saw the movie "Karate Kid," that his interest was piqued.
"I felt that was what I wanted to try," Valera said, "but I thought you had to go to Japan to study [the martial arts]."
Fortunately, he only had to go about 15 minutes south on U.S. Route 220 to the American Freestyle Karate School in Salem.
After a few months of training, Valera entered the YMCA Quest for Champions tournament in Lynchburg. He won the kata competition for orange belts. By the time he was 12, Valera had his black belt - emblematic of the highest level of skill - and was competing in NASKA national tournaments.
Valera was named the competitor of the year and rookie of the year for his age group by NASKA.
His string of success continued last year as he rose in the national rankings. Not only was Valera dominating his division, he began winning junior grand champion titles, defeating the winners of all the other age groups in kata and weapons.
In all six tournaments he has entered this year, Valera has been the grand champion in kata and weapons.
"It's just been a lot of hard work and dedication," he said. "At first, I thought it was going to be all fun, but it started getting very serious."
For the Valeras, Jon's karate has become a family endeavor.
His father Joe, who "had back-yard karate instructions but no formal training," while growing up in the Philippines, spars with his son and travels with him to every tournament.
Jon's mother, Rosalina, acts as videographer, assistant coach and mentor. She said her most important role is moderator, when father and son begin to argue over training techniques.
"It's a total family affair," she said. "We all have some kind of input. We all watch him compete, and we all get nervous."
The Valeras travel to 13 national NASKA tournaments each year, from Boston to Florida to California.
"It costs us quite a bit, but it's all worth it as long as he's having fun," said Joe Valera. "We're having fun, too."
by CNB