She has done the unthinkable, to beat the empress Shimizu, two-time World champion, unbeaten since her debut in... 2011 ! Hong Kong's Mo Sheung Grace Lau even beat her twice, in Salzburg in 2017 and in Dubai last February. Both can meet at the 15th Asian Championships in Aman (July 13rd-15th). Let’s discover the new heroine of Kata who made the impossible again possible. Part 1.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Pictures: K-Photos
The news had the effect of a bomb. On October 7th, 2017, in Salzburg, Kata's Empress Kiyou Shimizu of Japan did not win her 12th consecutive victory. The four-time World champion (Junior, U21 and 2 times in Senior), undefeated since her debut, lost to Mo Sheung Grace Lau 5-0 !
Four months later, another thunderclap occurred ! Bis repetita for the Hong Kong’s champion in Dubai ! She inflicts her second loss to Kiyou Shimizu. Grace Lau definitely opened the door to hope and gave some to all Kata women in the world (1).
At 26 years old (she was born on October 19th, 1991), the 2015 Asian championships runner-up has never been stronger than this season. In Karate 1, she has just completed 5 podiums in a row (1st in Salzburg and Rabat, 2nd in Dubai, 3rd in Paris and Rotterdam), and now has 13 podium finishes, including 3 victories (with Cobourg in 2015).
Student in computer programming, she came to Karate to do as her older brother. Mo Sheung Grace Lau is now in the Kata World Top 5. What if she makes the pass of three in Aman (Jordan) at the 15th Asian Championships (July 13rd-15th)? For now, let’s discover this nice young woman.
If I say Bruce Lee, what comes to your mind ?
He’s an outstanding martial artist and professional actor, he’s the icon of Hong Kong and I’m very proud of him.
If I say Tokyo 2020…
Tokyo 2020 is my biggest target. It’s very close and I’m ready for it.
And if I say Kiyou Shimizu…
A young and talented athlete from Japan. Our first meet was in the 2011 World Cadet & Junior championships in Malaysia, but we know each other since 2012 and the World university Karate do championships.
How do you explain your wins over her in Salzburg and Dubai ?
That’s amazing and unforgettable moments. I was so glad that I can be the first one who beat her in international competitions, and I believe that this result has not only motivated me, but all the competitors in the world.
“I WAS SO GLAD THAT I CAN BE THE FIRST ONE WHO BEAT HER”
Which one is the most beautiful ?
It must be the semi-final in Salzburg (on October 2017), because that’s my first victory over Kiyou Shimizu, as well as for the score (5-0). And I then beat 3 athletes from Japan in a row.
On what aspects can you make once more the difference against Shimizu ?
I improved a lot my explosive power. I have applied it in my Kata and it looks better.
Beating twice Kiyou Shimizu has changed something in your mind ?
Yes, if you want to be the best, you really have to beat the best. No matter how’s the result, just do your best. The result will come when you have a good performance.
In 2018, you won 4 medals in 4 Premier League. Do you train differently ?
The competition schedule is very tight now, so that I don’t have much time to work on my basic technique. Fortunately, I still have opportunities to go to Japan and practice with Rika Usami after the competition season.
Do you consider the coming Asian championships as a step or as a main goal ?
My main goal of this year are the Asian Games (August 25th-27th in Jakarta, Indonesia) and the World championships (November 6th-11th in Madrid, Spain). The Asian Games is the main reason why I become a professional Karate athlete. Of course, I want to take the medal, but this competition is mainly for preparing the Asian Games.
(1) Shimizu lost again in Istanbul last June against Italy’s Bottaro in the final.
To be followed…
