CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville native Kira Jones competed for the third time in the World Kickboxing and Karate Union (WKU) World Championships which were held in Bregenz, Austria, October 15-21.
Jones, a freshman at Rossview High School, won three gold medals in Traditional Kata, Hard Style Karate and Traditional Weapons, a silver medal in Creative Weapons and finished the competition with two bronze medals in both Karate Kumite and Point Fighting divisions.
“In tournaments like that, there are multiple divisions,” Jones said. “In both weapons and Kata, there were about 14 and 17 in each division. In point sparring and in Kumite, we had nine and nine.
“My favorite one to compete in is Traditional Kata because the charm of it,” Jones said. “It’s Japanese only and there isn’t much modification to it. It’s basically what you learn in the dojo. I think I’ve had so much success in it because it really appeals to me.”
Jones trains in several disciplines at Harris Holt Martial Arts Academy and Bowen Combative Arts in Clarksville.
“They’re both very family friendly places,” Jones said. “I do help teach there and it’s really fun.”
Jones began her martial arts journey at the age of eight after a film inspired her to pursue karate.
“The main reason I started is because I really liked Kung Fu Panda,” Jones said laughingly. “I begged by parents after the movie came out to let me join. They did and I ended up flourishing in it.”
Jones currently touts a black belt in Shotokan, a brown belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu, an orange belt in Judo, a yellow belt in Aikido and is now practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Despite being an intense competitor during competitions and while training, Jones is just like any other teenager her age.
“Most people that I compete with usually say that I’m fierce and kind of scary on the mat,” Jones said. “When I walk off, I’m really funny and kind of weird. I do like to draw in my spare time and listen to music. Karate is kind of my main thing and I practice like six days a week.”
When Jones began pursuing martial arts, she never imagined that it would take her all of the places that it has.
“When I started out I kind of thought that I just wanted to chop and punch things,” Jones said. “My parents didn’t think I would make it this far either. After a few tournaments when I actually started to win, that’s when we were like, ‘okay let’s expand on this.”
Jones plans to take a break from the grind of competing until 2020 to focus on her academics.
“Really just to get through school,” Jones said of her plans for the rest of the year. “Get good grades while finishing out my freshman year.”
The 15-year-old’s accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the help and training from her Senseis, Team USA coaches, teachers and extended Dojo family who helped make the trip possible.