The karateka poses with her trophies. - Contributed
EVER THOUGHT of turning to karate for exercise and stress relief?
Although Tracey-Ann Whilby never had these things in mind when she started the martial arts programme last year, she has secured these benefits and much more. With six months of training, Tracey-Ann Whilby has acquired seven trophies and one medal from international karate tournaments across the island.
The friends of the 24-year-old mother of two who only tips the scale at 130 pounds, are incredulous at her achievements. No one could ever have imagined that she had the passion and drive to do well at such 'physical' stuff.
Tracey-Ann, who is a cook at Sandals Dunns River in Ocho Rios, said that she started 'kicking' around with her son, three-year-old Sekani who was a karate student before she was. She did this she said, because the little boy was simply delighted whenever his mother did the moves with him.
Her boyfriend, Winston Douglas, too, has a first degree black belt in the martial discipline and would always ask her to get into training. She resisted for years until her son started asking her to show him moves that she did not know.
"It all started one day when my three-year-old son came home and ask me to demonstrate a punch and some kicks, I really could not assist him. I saw the big disappointment on his face," Tracey-Ann explained in a recent interview. She said and signed up the following morning to start lessons with Sensei Vern Williams in Runaway Bay, St. Ann.
Things began clicking. "I was able to punch and kick with my son which makes him (her son) happy. More importantly, it serves as a great stress reliever for me and helps me to stay more focussed," she admitted proudly.
Everyone was surprised when the 5ft 3 inch newbie entered her first tournament three weeks after she started classes and won two-second place trophies.
But, Tracey-Ann knew the reason why she had succeeded. "I live by the three D's - disciple, dedication and determination. As a result, I was able to excel much faster than the rest of the class. I sleep and eat kata to prepare myself."
Another surprise for all was Tracey-Ann's second tournament at the Half Moon Hotel when she fought two higher belts and was awarded 2nd and 3rd place trophies.
Tracey-Ann was determined to get a 1st place trophy in her next tournament; she worked assiduously towards it. She shun brightly at her third tournament held in Kingston where she was awarded two first place trophies and a medal.
She credits her success to her black belt beau. "He is a tower of strength to me and has taught me how to believe in myself. Initially, he encouraged me to do classes but I was not interested. However, now that I am involved in the sport he is a happy man."
She stared at her trophies as she sat beside them on the lawn and reminisced, "At one stage I was the only female white belt in my class, but surprisingly I was never intimidated. I was always shy and scared of too many people. I told myself I can and went with a passion to learn and to be the best I can."
She likes the challenge of fighting a higher belt because she learns more and develops her skills much quicker. Some students are afraid of tournaments but the only regret for Tracey-Ann is her late entry to the sport. "I feel like a wild cat in my ghee, but in my normal clothes it is the same old me," she said admitting her obsession for the sport.
She intends to continue working towards achieving her black belt in the coming year. Her role model is the current Grand Champion, Deborah Chin.
The greatest thing about karate is to know the weakness of the body - no matter how big and strong the individual looks, there is always a special spot to touch to get that person down. "I would advise every female to do it. There has never been the need for me to use my skills out of the class but should the time arise I will be prepared' she said.
Karate should only be used if you have to and if you are in great danger. One should never use ones training to intimidate others - the school is against it and you will be disciplined by the Sensei.
Tracey-Ann has been employed to Sandals Dunn's River for the past seven years and has won the Most Environmentally Aware Award, Best Smile Award and Unsung Heroes Award. She sees herself owning/operating a restaurant or a karate school in the near future.
The resort cook admitted that the sport has helped her in many ways. " I will no longer snap at people, now I smile a lot and there is nothing anyone can say to offend me. I just relax and enjoy my inner peace," she boasts.
Her advice to fellow Jamaicans, "Don't do drugs, education is the key and if there is nothing else to do put your energy in a sport."
