Negros Wado-ryu, 1-3-1 in reg’l karate tilt

August 28, 2022

Negros Wado-ryu Karate Team – Handumanan medalists of the 3rd Region 6 Karate Championships on May 1, 2022 at Robinson’s Place Iloilo (from left): Randy Hernandez (bronze – kata), Hazyl Mae Villa (silver – kata & kumite), Rexie S. Diocares Sensei, Ruth Hechanova (gold – kata), and Atasha Hernandez (silver – Kata).* **(RSD photo)**

The Negros Wado-ryu Karate Team-Handumanan under Rexie S. Diocares Sensei, 2nd Dan (national)/6th Dan (regional), won a 1 gold-3 silver-1 bronze medal haul during the 3rd Region 6 Karate Championship last May 1, 2022 at the Robinson’s Place, Mabini St., Iloilo City.

Bringing home the medals were Ruth Hechanova (gold – 16-17 years old intermediate kata), Hezyl Mae Villa (silver – 14-15 years old advance kata and 14-15 years old kumite), Atasha Hernandez (silver – 12-13 years old newbie kata), and Randy Hernandez (bronze – intermediate kata).

Diocares Sensei founded the Red Bulls Karatedo Club (RBKC) to propagate Shotokan Karate in the 1980’s at his residence in Honey Bee, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City. The club later relocated to Brgy. Handumanan in 1983 by which time he met Dr. Alejandro Enrico G. Vasquez Kaicho (Chief Instructor) and went on to affiliate with his Filipinas Wado Ryu Karatedo Renmei to propagate the “Harmony (Peace) Flow” system of Karate founded by Hironori Ōtsuka Sensei (1892-1982). The Dagupan-based FWRKR is a branch of the International Federations of Wado Ryu Karate-do Organizations and is an active member of the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation.* (James U. Sy, Jr.)