Master of the Sword

Eight-year-old Hanna Visé stepped on to the workout mat last week at the Keichu-Do Cajun Karate School in the Evergreen Center.

She bowed, struck a stance and then removed a hefty-looking sword from its sheath. Then, shouting a series of “Huy!”s, the 59-pounder handled the sword as nimbly as if it was a pointer stick and, with a series of deft moves, showed the form that won her a World Championship for her division of Hidden Sword Kata, part of the Tots Weapons grouping for karate.

The Valley Christian Academy student won her World title at the World United States Karate Alliance World Championships in Dallas earlier this month. Hanna, a brown belt, defeated four others in her age-rank division which includes brown belts and competitors at the beginning levels of black belt.

Hidden Sword Kata “is a series of pre-arranged moves,” Keichu-Do Soche (grand master) Karl Marx said. “You don't (go face-to-face against) an opponent.

“(Hanna) is the first person in Cajun to win a World title.”

After her nifty routine last week, Visé delicately placed the sword back in its sheath.

“Putting that sword back in the sheath can be as tricky as anything else,” Marx said with a wry smile. “That thing can cut your hand if you're not careful.”

Visé qualified for the World Championships by winning the regional tournament and showing well at the state tourney. Her journey toward a World title started two-and-a-half years ago.

At that time, “I first got interested in karate to learn to defend myself,” the youngster said.

Now what she likes best about karate is “everything.”

“She especially likes competing in those tournaments,” said Hanna's mother, Archielyn.

Hanna competes in nine tournaments a year. Next up for her are a tournament in Perris in September and the state championships in Riverside in November.

His daughter “has really picked things up quickly,” Hanna's father René said.

Trevor Maas trains at the Grover Beach Dojo (Dojo is a word for training site). He won a World Championship in Beginning Kata, part of the Tots Weapons grouping for eight and nine-year-olds.

Hanna Visé typically trains at the Keichu-Do Dojo on Tuesdays and at the Grover Beach Dojo on Thursdays.

“I practice every day except Wednesday,” she said, adding that she has had no problem sandwiching workouts around her homework. “Wednesday, I stretch only.”

Travis Christensen has been with the Keichu-Do Dojo for 12 years. He has been Hanna's sensi (instructor) there since January of 2004.

“In my opinion she's an exceptional pupil,” Christensen said.

“Ever since the first couple of lessons she's shown tremendous skill and progress.” Christensen said young Visé is a karate natural.

“She's the best student I've seen in about five years come through that Dojo. I introduced her to the sword about eight or nine months ago, and actually she's the only person I've taught with the sword who's under the age of 18.”

The sensi said, “Lots of times kids at a young age like the sword but go for easier weapons.”

Visé, however, has taken a big liking to the sword.

“What I like best about it is the intensity of the movements,” she said. That intensity showed in her demonstration routine that lasted just short of a minute.

“I started Kata in 1984,” said Marx. “It focuses on both the mind and the body. It teaches timing, focus.

“I think it's especially good for attention-deficit kids because of the focus.”

Christensen said Visé had already learned how to use two weapons - the bow, or staff, and the kama, when she went to the sword.

A kama “is an old Army utensil,” Christensen said. “It's a straight stick, six-to-eight inches, with an ‘L'-shaped blade. It looks like an old farming sickle.

“She competed with the staff for almost a year. She was winning lots of tournaments, but myself and soche decided to teach her the sword.”

Typically, “She picked it up pretty quickly,” said Christensen. “She surprised us by picking it up that quickly.”

August 23, 2006