The more than 1,500 kilometers that separate Belém (Pará) from Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) were no obstacle for the family of karateka Péricles Souza Sobrinho, 18 years old. The second-year nutrition student at Unama brought the home crowd to his debut at the Brazilian University Games (Jubs) and it worked. Péricles started the competition by winning silver in the individual kata and will compete for another medal in kumite in the under-67 kilo category. “Of course, first place is what we always want, but I’m very happy with the result. I admit that I did my best, in the final it was a very good medal match”, he declared.
Present in the crowd, the athlete’s mother, Renata Siqueira Mendes, was one of the biggest supporters at the beginning. Péricles confesses that when he started, at age 7, he didn’t like it so much, but his mother forced him to go: “I didn’t like it until I did my first competition, and I lost my first competition. I said: I want to win! And I’m still competing today.”
In Renata’s opinion, it was worth insisting on the sport: “He was always a very energetic boy. Karate was a way to work on his concentration. And it worked, because, in addition to concentration, came the issue of discipline and organization, which is very important for his growth.”
After winning the medal, now all the attention of the athlete and his family is focused on the kumite competition up to 67 kilos, next Thursday (16). While kata is the display of karate moves against imaginary opponents, in kumite two karatekas face each other. According to Péricles, the two disputes are completely different: “Whether you like it or not, the kata is an imaginary fight, it all depends on you, not that kumite doesn’t, but in kumite you can sometimes win due to an opponent’s mistake, whoever is faster, the judge normally decides”.
Regardless of winning a second medal, the experience was already very positive for Péricles. So much so that he plans to participate in other editions of Jubs. “I’m really enjoying it, everything is very organized, people are very receptive, everyone is very happy, the structure is without comments, world class, I’m very satisfied,” he said.
“I intend to pursue a career in competing, because nowadays that’s what I love to do. So every year I intend to come to Jubs until I graduate”, plans Péricles. And the fans at home continue to support him.
