Among the diverse talents at MHS are senior Faith Frost and sophomore Frances Pope who both excel in the Japanese art of self-defense, karate. 
    Frost and Pope attended a recent competition in New Orleans Saturday, Sept. 1.  Competitors are divided according to gender, age and rank.
    Frost became interested in karate at the age of nine. In the eight years she’s been in karate she has earned a second degree black belt. Faith, her mother and her little brother all participate in karate.  She practices basic, weapons and competition training three times a week.
    Frost’s hard work has paid off with a bronze award at nationals and forty-two other medals.  In addition to besting a male competitor, Frost has also triumphed over a 30 year old.  There are four competitions in a year, and from the last two she brought home the gold and silver medals.  
    At the New Orleans competition she brought home the gold and at the Montevallo Tournament she received the silver.  Frost’s favorite part of competition is kata, when you are judged on your routine.  She also teaches karate to children ages four to seven.
    “I like doing karate, because it teaches you how to defend yourself, and you make a lot of friends,” Frost said.
    Pope became interested in karate at the young age of five.  In the ten years she’s been in karate she has gained a first degree black belt. Karate is a family activity for the Pope family.  Like Frost, Pope participates in basic, weapons and competition training two or three times a week.
    Pope has earned four trophies and fifty-four medals.  The oldest person she’s ever beaten was 20, and she has also bested a male competitor.
    In the New Orleans competition, she earned a gold medal and two silver medals, and in the Montevallo Tournament she earned a bronze.  Pope’s favorite aspect of competition is sparring, during which opponents attempt to be the first one to get eight points in two minutes.
    “I love karate because I can enjoy it with family and friends and I can spar with other people,” Pope said.