Eight Navasota kids, 1st grade to high school, returned from the Texas Karate Organization State Championships last month, and Instructor Master Ben Mendez, says two brothers brought home State Championships; Darrel Stratton, Jr. brought home two gold medals and a bronze, and his older brother, Frederick, brought home a gold, a silver and a bronze in his division.
A young 8th Grader named Chris Price brought home three silver medals from his events. Second-Degree Black Belt Raven Dickerson brought home two bronze medals in her division, even with a 101 degree temperature. First-grader Isabella Price brought home two bronze medals in her division. Despite having a broken hand going into the event, Abagail Mahen still brought home a bronze medal. Mendez’ daughter, Grace, brought home a bronze medal from her first finals in her sparring competition, and Lillian Mahen brought home two finalists medals.
And even with 17 new Black Belts during his eight-year stint in Navasota and another dozen or so expected next year, Mendez tells Navasota News there’s still room for more, adding that every child in Navasota, or anywhere else in the Brazos Valley, could benefit from this program.
In addition to his junior high kids, Mendez also offers private group and individual lessons. For details, he says leave a message for him at 409-682-6039, because he’s probably out giving a lesson somewhere.