The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

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  • Christian Buffaloe, winner of the youth division of the "2012 Kyokushin Karate U.S. Weight Category Tournament" in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 22 receives his Championship trophy and the "Fighting Spirit" award from I.K.O. Kyokushinkaikan Tournament Official, Shihan Katsuhito Gorai of Tokyo, Japan. Photo/Submitted

    Christain Buffaloe.jpg
February 9, 2012

Local youth wins 2012 United States Kyokushin Karate Championship

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER

TARBORO — Christian Buffaloe, 12 year old son/student of Nash County Kyokushin Karate instructor Kenny Buffaloe, recently won the youth division of the Japan sponsored "2012 Kyokushin Karate U.S. Weight Category Tournament" in Los Angeles, California on January 22nd. This annual tournament is one of the largest and most prestigious Kyokushin Karate full  contact competitions outside of Japan.  Over 150 fighters came from around the World, including Japan, Russia, Poland,  Romania, South Africa, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Canada.  Christian Buffaloe was the only American youth competitor and by winning 1st place in the youth division, he again becomes a top contender in the upcoming World Youth Kyokushin Championships in 2013.

At the recent "Kyokushin Karate U.S. Weight Category Tournament" in Los Angeles, Christian Buffaloe fought and defeated several tough Canadian & Japanese competitors making it to the final match against a strong European youth champion from Bulgaria who was both taller and heavier than he was. This youth championship match was the highlight of the entire tournament, that went into two overtime rounds. In Kyokushin youth matches, only one overtime round is ever allowed. This was the first youth match in history to go into two overtimes before a decision was finally reached. After 6 minutes of full contact, knockdown fighting, Christian won a close decision over his very tough and strong opponent. His victory led to the highest honor in a Kyokushin tournament, the  "Fighting Spirit" award, a very special honor in Kyokushin Karate tournaments that only adult competitors receive. The tournament officials decided that Christian deserved this honor based on the strong spirit shown in his championship match in this year's youth tournament. In 2011, Christian became the first youth competitor to ever receive this distinguished honor in 2011, and he received it again this year for an unprecedented second time.

FUJI-TV, Japan's number #1 cable TV network, interviewed Christian Buffaloe after the tournament and filmed highlights of several of his matches to be shown on national television in Japan in early March. There was also a professional video production company from Japan filming the entire event to be released later this year on DVD, first in Japan and then internationally.

Christian Buffaloe trained very hard under his Father/Instructor Kenny Buffaloe for this world level event. After losing a close second round match in the "2011 World Kyokushin Youth Championships" in Tokyo last November, Christian again becomes a top contender for the world youth title in 2013. Christian appreciates all the support and encouragement he has received and promises to do his best in representing the USA and North Carolina in the future. Kenny Buffaloe and Christian were featured on WRAL TV 5 about the tournament in Los Angeles and an upcoming documentary film project about their lives being produced by an independent movie company.  

Kenny and Christian Buffaloe will appear in this year's "International Festival of Cultures" at Nash Community College on Saturday, February 25th at 2:00PM. They will do several Kyokushin Karate and Okinawan Weapons demonstrations. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information on Kyokushin Karate and area training classes, please email: kyokarateka@aol.com or call: (252) 589-4281.

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