James de los Santos is not resting on his laurels as far as his e-kata career is concerned.
And he has set a lofty goal for the rest of the year: To surpass the 34 gold medals he won last year.
With less than four months into the year, De los Santos has already 16 titles under his belt for 2021, counting his 50th gold via the recent Katana Intercontinental League #3.
“I always remind myself to never be complacent. I know my competitors are also training hard to earn the No. 1 spot,” De los Santos said. “That’s what keeps me moving to train harder as well in order to keep my spot.”De los Santos has held the world No. 1 ranking in senior male e-kata since last October. He has so far amassed 24,485 points, almost double the output of second-running Matias Moreno-Domont (12,915).
Incidentally for his 50th mint, De los Santos edged Domont in the finals.
“The main reason I continue to compete is due to the fact that I really love my sport, and enjoy it a lot,” De los Santos told the Inquirer.
He was cut from the national team due to dispute with karate do officials late 2019. Karate Pilipinas has been silent over his achievements in the online competitions.
“It’s what keeps me busy and productive. You can never let go of the sport you love; there will always be a place for it in your heart,” he added.