The Cayman Islands National Karate-Do Association won one silver and four bronze medals, along with gaining invaluable training experience, at the 2025 Central Caribbean Cup in Panama.
Cayman’s team of eight joined over 300 karate athletes who represented 19 countries at the event, held 27-29 March, from Central America, South America and the Caribbean at the Centro Caribe Sports-supported tournament.
“As a team, Cayman performed very well at this high-level regional tournament, winning more medals than many larger countries who sent far more athletes than we did,” team coach Patrick Brendel told the Compass.
Prior to the tournament, the Cayman squad, including one athlete who was injured but could not compete, participated in the kata and kumite advanced training camp, which was also put on by event organisers.
The camp featured world champions Antonio Díaz of Venezuela and Douglas Brose of Brazil, along with world-class competitor and coach Driss El Mannani of Morocco.
“The training camp was an important developmental opportunity, especially for our younger team members who were representing Cayman for the first time,” Brendel said.
Next on the major competition agenda for the Cayman Islands National Karate-Do Association is the Senior Pan American Karate Federation Championships taking place in Monterrey, Mexico, 22-24 May.
“We hope to send two senior kata athletes, Lucas Jackson and Nick Young, to represent Cayman,” Brendel said.
Cayman’s results from Panama:
Michael Webster Jr., 10-11 Years Male, Bronze Kumite +45kg
Luke Brendel, 12-13 Years Male, Bronze Kumite -40kg
Matthew Power, 14-15 Years Male, Bronze Medal Round Kata
Quinn Muspratt, 14-15 Years Female, Silver Kata, Bronze Kumite -61kg
Victoria Carvalho, 16-17 Years Female, Bronze Kata
Lucas Jackson, 16-17 Years Male, Bronze Medal Round Kata, Bronze Medal Round Kumite
Nick Young, Senior Male, Kata
