LOCAL COMPETITOR AWARDED HIGHEST SCORES AT INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
July 16, 2014
Retired, he works at the Super Cool Bike Shop in Gainesville, he’s a substitute teacher at Chiefland High School, and a Master Naturalist Instructor. He also runs True Path, his authentic Okinawan karate school. And when that’s not enough, John Lohde travels to enter the U.S. Open International World Martial Arts Championships in Orlando.
Lohde, owner/instructor of True Path Karate Rendokan, in Chiefland, was confident his 40 years of training wouldn’t hurt his chances during his division’s competition. One of the directors of the competition, who had seen Lohde’s previous performances at other competitions, sought him out to greet him and wish him well in the competition. Some of his students and their parents were seated ringside to cheer him on. The stage was set and the time had come to show what the oldest competitor of the tournament could do.
The highest scores given for the day! He received 9.9 from each of the three judges as well as compliments for his superb kata. For now, the five-foot tall trophy sits in the window of Lohde’s Chiefland dojo until he brings home the next one.
For information on his Back to School Special, sign up for three months and get a free karate uniform, call (352) 221-0048.
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