01/09/2026
JKA SCHOOL OF KARATE SHINES IN DAVAO
JKA-SKC Captures 23 Medals at the 3rd JKA Philippines International Gasshuku and Tournament 2026
August 29–30, 2026 • Davao City, Philippines
6 GOLD • 6 SILVER • 11 BRONZE
23 MEDALS • 16 MEDALISTS • ONE JKA-SKC FAMILY
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES — Discipline, courage and the spirit of traditional Shotokan karate were on full display as the JKA School of Karate (JKA-SKC) delivered an impressive performance at the 3rd JKA Philippines International Gasshuku and Tournament 2026, held at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) Gymnasium in Davao City.
Carrying the colors of JKA-SKC from Cagayan de Oro City, its karatekas stepped onto the tournament floor against fellow competitors with determination and respect, emerging with an outstanding haul of 23 individual medals — 6 gold, 6 silver and 11 bronze — across Kata and Kumite divisions.
Sixteen JKA-SKC athletes reached the podium, marking another important chapter in the school’s continuing journey in traditional Japanese karate.
But behind the numbers lies a story much greater than medals.
It is a story of preparation, perseverance, friendship and a karate family united by the pursuit of excellence.
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🥇 GOLD MEDALISTS
Lexi A. Quirante
🥇 Kata — Girls 16–17
Jace Carbajosa
🥇 Intermediate Kata — Boys 8–9
Kharla Lea Daque
🥇 Intermediate Kata — Female 18+
Zoey B. Origenes
🥇 Intermediate Kata — Girls 12–13
Walter Troy Donasco
🥇 Advanced Kyu Kumite — 18+
Maiko Anya O. Pasa
🥇 Kata — Girls 14–15
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🥈 SILVER MEDALISTS
Juancho Augusto D. Marquiño
🥈 Kata — Boys 14–15
Ace Gregory V. Taleon
🥈 Intermediate Kata — Boys
Andrew James Natividad
🥈 Intermediate Kumite
Vince Chevi Lacar
🥈 Kata — Boys 16–17
Frank Mariano
🥈 Kata — Boys 12–13
Obed Salamanca
🥈 Advanced Kyu Kumite — 14–15
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🥉 BRONZE MEDALISTS
Juancho Augusto D. Marquiño
🥉 Kumite — Boys 14–15
Hannah B. Drubbels
🥉 Kumite — Girls 8–9
Ace Gregory V. Taleon
🥉 Intermediate Kumite — Boys
Kharla Lea Daque
🥉 Intermediate Kumite — Female 18+
Zoey B. Origenes
🥉 Advanced Kyu Kumite — Girls 12–13
Matt Andrei O. Pasa
🥉 Kata — Boys 18+
🥉 Kumite — Boys 18+
Rafael Joaquin S. Ompad
🥉 Intermediate Kata — Boys 14–15
🥉 Intermediate Kumite — Boys 14–15
Zackary Arn
🥉 Advanced Dan Kumite — Boys 10–11
Maiko Anya O. Pasa
🥉 Kumite — Girls 14–15
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BEYOND THE PODIUM
For JKA-SKC, the significance of the Davao tournament extends far beyond the final medal count.
Every medal represents countless hours inside the dojo: repetition after repetition of kihon, kata and kumite; early mornings and late evenings of training; corrections from instructors; encouragement from teammates; moments of frustration; and the discipline to return to training and try again.
Competition reveals only a few minutes of a karateka’s performance.
What the spectators do not see are the months and years that came before it.
The 23-medal achievement therefore belongs not only to those who stood on the podium, but to the entire JKA-SKC community.
It reflects the commitment of the instructors and coaches who patiently prepared the athletes, the parents and families who supported them through every training session and tournament, and the fellow karatekas who challenged one another to improve.
Above all, it represents the courage of every member of the delegation who stepped onto the tournament floor carrying the name of JKA School of Karate.
COURAGE TO COMPETE
A tournament inevitably produces winners and losses, but traditional karate teaches that neither defines the karateka.
To JKA-SKC’s medalists, the school celebrates your achievement and thanks you for bringing honor to the dojo.
To those who competed but did not stand on the podium, the message is equally important:
JKA-SKC is proud of you.
Entering the competition area takes courage. Facing an opponent takes courage. Performing kata before judges takes courage.
Every match fought, every kata performed and every lesson learned becomes part of the lifelong development of a karateka.
Today’s disappointment can become tomorrow’s motivation.
Today’s experience can become tomorrow’s victory.
And sometimes, the most important victory is simply becoming better than the karateka who entered the dojo yesterday.
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FRIENDSHIP THROUGH KARATE
The Davao tournament was also an opportunity for JKA-SKC to strengthen its ties with the wider JKA karate community.
The school extends its sincere appreciation to the organizers, instructors, judges, referees, officials, volunteers, fellow karatekas and families of the 3rd JKA Philippines International Gasshuku and Tournament 2026 for the warm welcome extended to the delegation.
Beyond competition, events such as this remind karatekas that the dojo extends far beyond the walls where they normally train.
Different clubs may compete against one another on the tournament floor, but they remain connected by the same pursuit of discipline, respect, character and excellence through karate.
The friendships formed, lessons learned and experiences shared in Davao will remain long after the medals have been placed on the shelf.
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THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
In traditional Shotokan karate, victory is never measured by medals alone.
It is measured by discipline when nobody is watching.
By character in victory and defeat.
By respect for instructors, opponents and fellow karatekas.
By perseverance when training becomes difficult.
And by the determination to keep improving — one technique, one kata, one match and one training session at a time.
For JKA School of Karate, Davao represents another milestone.
Not a destination.
A beginning.
6 GOLD
6 SILVER
11 BRONZE
23 MEDALS.
16 MEDALISTS.
ONE JKA-SKC FAMILY.
From Cagayan de Oro to Davao, JKA-SKC carries forward the lessons learned, friendships made and confidence gained from this international gathering.
There will be more training.
More challenges.
More tournaments.
And greater goals ahead.
But whatever the next challenge may bring, the philosophy remains the same:
Train with discipline.
Compete with courage.
Win with humility.
Lose with dignity.
Never stop improving.
Congratulations to the athletes, instructors, coaches, parents and families of the JKA School of Karate.
The medals tell part of the story.
The karatekas they are becoming tell the rest.
STRONGER. MORE UNITED. ALWAYS STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE.
OSS! 🥋🇯🇵🏆
08/08/2026