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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) – The movement restrictions brought on by the pandemic became a blessing in disguise for Filipino karateka James Delos Santos.
The 30-year-old karateka has collected 15 gold medals since virtual karate tournaments began in March, on his way to becoming the world’s No. 1 in the men’s virtual kata rankings.
Delos Santos won his two golds for the last time on Monday, when he headlined the 1st Euro Grand Prix E-Tournament and the E-Karate Games.
“I would say that I am still waiting for the points to be added so that I can be officially called number one, but the points have not yet been added, so I am waiting for that moment,” Delos Santos said.
The Filipino karateka shared with CNN Philippines the idea of joining e-karate tournaments started when his friend from the American karate team asked him to try participating in those competitions.
“A teammate sent me an invitation to the international tournament in Palestine, which was my first virtual tournament and my first gold medal. So after it happened, that made me more curious if there were more virtual tournaments out there. “Delos said. Santos said.
Delos Santos added that e-karate competitions also become a way for him to deal with his doubts and frustrations caused by the recent struggles in his academic life as an advertising specialist at De La Salle University and the pandemic.
“When all the blocking happened, I really focused on training just to stay healthy and fit, but then you know that as time went by, I got frustrated, I asked myself, I would have doubts about what other reasons I have to continue training “, He said.
Delos Santos credited his Japanese coach Masa Saito for his accomplishments in the virtual karate tournaments that he joined.
“He realized that my performance has been improving in each tournament in which I have been competing because I believe that tournaments are also a piece to become an elite athlete in addition to training,” shared the karateka.
Delos Santos admitted that he misses physical karate competition as he loves the feeling of competing in front of lots of people and entertaining the crowd. But with the pandemic far from over, he enjoys every opportunity afforded him while competing in the comfort of his home.
“I said to myself, go out there and enjoy the moment and give everything you have because you have trained hard for those moments,” he said.
Delos Santos will shoot for his 16th gold against a South African karateka on Thursday.
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