Trinidad, Land of the Hummingbird, Hosts Karate World Championships

Just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela lies the multicultural islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Known as a cultural melting pot, it came as no surprise that Trinidad recently hosted a major karate tournament with guests from 25 countries. With 15 years in the martial arts myself, I was surprised to learn there was such a large tournament in the Caribbean.

The tournament was hosted by Purple Dragon Karate, headquartered in Trinidad's capital of Port of Spain. Purple Dragon has 45 schools and lays claim to 15,000 students in the Caribbean, USA, Canada, Europe and Australia. The Hyatt Regency Trinidad, at which the karate tournament was held, reportedly sold out its 428 rooms for all three days of the tournament.

Forty Years of Martial Arts in Trinidad

Trinidad is not just about festivals, deep sea fishing, and first-class scuba diving. Apparently Trinidad raises hard-core martial artists, too. Over 400 participants participated in the Purple Dragon World Championship karate tournament in Trinidad.

The World Championships drew competitors from countries that included the U.S.A., Canada, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Tortola, Japan, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Nepal and Venezuela. Over $160,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to participants. The tournament is an annual event held in the summer.

Tournament Held at Trinidad's Hyatt Regency

Purple Dragon Karate had to find a place to house and hold such a large tournament, so they chose the Hyatt Regency in the Port of Spain, Trinidad. The Port of Spain is the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago's capital and a busy cosmopolitan city with plenty of shopping, nightlife, museums, theatre, and restaurants.

The Hyatt Regency Trinidad sits on a beautiful beach and was no doubt the perfect place for karate competitors to clear their minds and prepare for the tournament. Three restaurants in the Hyatt kept the competitors fueled and operating at max capacity for the three days, while after hard-won fights, the competitors could have their muscle aches and pains massaged away at the spa.

Trinidad, Land of the Hummingbird

Did you know that Trinidad used to be part of the South American mainland? It did, and since the "breakup" of island and mainland, Trinidad has developed a unique ecology including wetlands, mountains, rain forests, and miles of beaches.

With an economy based on oil and gas, Trinidad is one of the Caribbean's richest islands, something that is reflected in Port of Spain. As English is the primary language in Trinidad, traveling there is not fraught with communication problems. French and Spanish are also spoken on Trinidad.

As the birthplace of the steelpan, Trinidad has a definite Caribbean flavor. Carnival in the month of February is a time for music and celebration. Besides attending festivals, some of the things to do in Trinidad include relaxing on gorgeous beaches, snorkeling, taking a catamaran ride, going nature trekking, exploring waterfalls, and visiting the mud volcanoes of Trinidad.

So whether you're a karate champion, eco-tourist, or you just simply enjoy relaxing in the tropical sun, Trinidad is worth looking into as your next vacation destination.