Wasilla's karate kid

Since the age of 12 the universe of Joz Sims has centered around the world of martial arts.

The Burchell High School student has not only competed within the sport, but has been considered a man in the activity since he was 15.

After excelling in martial arts early, Sims began to compete against foes in the men's division, with many of his opponents nearly twice his age.

"The men's division is the best," Sims said. "That is where the competition is. It is faster, the hits are harder, they hurt more, its a blast."

Late last year Sims won the men's division in kumite, Japanese for fighting, at the 24th annual Alaska Karate Championships at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The gold prize was just another to add to a bedroom full of karate trophies, but the award was one of the most satisfying victories in Sims' karate career.

"This competition was not only a physical victory, this was the first competition I used all of my experience and past techniques to beat them, so it was more of a game," Sims said. "Like my instructor said, it is 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental."

Sims' instructor, Mike Dablemont of Valley Martial Arts, had to give Sims special permission to compete in the men's class.

Sims also took home the first-place prize in his own class, the brown belt division in the 16 and 17-year-old age group.

Sims won classes despite suffering a major injury just months before the tournament.

In February of 2003 while wrestling around the living room with his father, practicing some of the martial arts moves he had learned, Sims broke his back. Doctors diagnosed the injury as a broken transverse process in the lower back, which is defined as the fracture of one of two processes that extend from each vertebra and provide the point of articulation for the ribs.

"He knew that I had'm," Sims said jokingly. "My dad suplexed me."

The accident put a halt in Sims' training. He took it easy for a few months, giving time for recovery before he continued his karate routine.

Six months later he was able to fight again.

Sims currently has a five-year run as champion of his division in both the state karate championships and the Northern Kabota Cup Championships, a martial arts event held annually in Fairbanks.

He has also fought and had success on the national level. Last year Sims competed in the Junior Olympics in Honolulu and earned a bronze medal. That achievement earned him a spot in the 2006 World Olympics.

Sims also qualified for the Olympics by earning a bronze medal in the Pan American Games. He became the first Alaskan to medal in the sport in the international competition.

Sims' highest honor is a gold medal in a Junior Olympic competition in Orlando, Fla.

Sims has been invited to the USA Karate Championships this month in Las Vegas, but will most likely not attend.

Though he may miss that competition, Sims said that he fully intends to compete in the sport as long as he possibly can.