NMI's Isaiah Orr earns 1st int'l victory in Karate Dream Fest

Isaiah Orr, the youngest karate athlete on Team NMI at just six years old, earned his first international victory at the Karate Dream Festival, the world's largest full-contact karate championship, held from July 18-19 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

Orr was among seven Team NMI athletes who competed alongside WKO Shinkyokushinkai Guam as a 17-member Team Marianas while representing their respective islands.

Competing in the Beginner Kumite Young Boys & Girls Heavyweight division, Orr won his opening full-contact match with a strong performance to capture his first win. "For a child that young to step onto the floor at Yoyogi National Stadium and compete the way he trains at home—that's the future of our program," said Team Marianas branch chief Chris Biolchino. "Isaiah's first international win is a moment his family, his dojo, and the CNMI can be proud of." 

The combined Marianas delegation also made history by fielding the region's first-ever group kata team at the tournament and earning three individual kata victories.

Joining Orr on Team NMI were Airie De Leon Guerrero, Mileah Dowai, Alex De Leon Guerrero, Spencer Floyd, Eric Atalig, and the oldest member of the group, 70-year-old Danny Banez.

For NMI athlete/coach Eric Atalig, simply making it to Tokyo was a victory after the CNMI spent weeks recovering from two super typhoons. He said, "After two super typhoons passed through the CNMI, we were still in recovery mode before departing for Tokyo. However, our commitment to compete was important as we represented the CNMI alongside Guam as Team Marianas.”

"We showed our true fighting spirit as Shinkyokushin practitioners. Regardless of the hardships and challenges we endured, we continued to move forward,” said Atalig.

Atalig then credited the athletes' parents, the CNMI Shinkyokushin community, Rep. Vincent Aldan, Sen. Celina Roberto, Sen. Jude Hofschneider, and the Saipan Mayor's Office for helping make the team's trip to Tokyo possible. 

The Karate Dream Festival drew a Guinness World Records-certified 4,057 competitors, making it the largest full-contact karate championship ever held.