Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9408100028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ninety-three individuals entered 54 divisions of the Martial Arts-Open of the Commonwealth Games. The light-contact competition - which included Kata (forms), Kumite (fighting) and Weapons - was held on the gym's bare floor.
The sources of motivation were as varied as the competitors, but it is the wise person who accepts those sources without quibbling
Roanoke's Carol Ann Lewis, 26, program director at American Freestyle Karate in Salem and co-coordinator of Saturday's event, took up the sport because she enjoyed watching it in the theatre.
``I thought it was great,'' Lewis said. ``Eight years ago, on kind of a whim, I started karate on a trial period. I liked it and stayed with it.''
On Saturday, Lewis, who earned her black belt in December, won a gold in Kata and a bronze in Kumite.
Rex Cauldwell, 47, a brown belt who doubles as a plumber in Floyd County, wanted a hobby that would help him stay in shape.
``When you get middle-aged, you need an outlet,'' Cauldwell said. ``I get tired of saying to people, `Hi, how are you? How's your plumbing?'
``Also, when you get middle-aged, you find you need exercise. Karate's provided both of those things for me.''
Cauldwell won two gold medals Saturday in the Executive (over-35) class. He also has competed in St.Petersburg, Russia, winning his division against international competition two years ago.
Zuni's Dyan Wood, 30, competed at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and has won eight golds in previous Commonwealth Games competition. Wood, who has not competed seriously in two years, settled for three silvers Saturday.
Wood was the victim of a mugging as a teen-ager. She began martial arts study because she was determined not to let it happen again.
``I took a self-defense class,`` said Wood, who is one of eight finalists for the Commonwealth Games' athlete of the year. ``My teacher also had a karate class, so I decided to take that, too.''
Wood qualified for the Olympic team after placing second at the nationals, which were held in Hampton in 1992.
Wood said she placed sixth in Kumite (heavyweight division) in Barcelona.
golds).
Other multiple-medal winners Saturday included Wytheville's Jeff Bourne (three golds), Hampton's Jeff Bateman (two golds) and Roanoke's Mike St. Clair (two golds).
by CNB