By Raiderdrive-Bayareasportsdrive: By Paul Turse
3-11-04

It might be a humorous cliché to say that one takes karate just for kicks; however, in many instances, the emotional satisfaction that comes from developing one's character through the martial arts is what brings satisfaction to the practitioner, and not always the physical action.  Karate is an art form, especially kata, those prearranged virtuoso forms, in which the practitioners’ graceful flowing motions resemble dance, or ballet, more than they imitate fighting.  Kata becomes an art form because it is divorced from the practical application of fighting and because the practitioner is judged on the form, and not by scoring points or knocking an opponent out, as in full contact competition.

Martial artists painstakingly practice to polish the formal aspects of each movement in an effort to attain perfection, not just in terms of karate but also in terms of the self.  As each movement is polished, the martial artists are perfecting themselves.

Cheerleading is one activity that shares an artistic basis with karate.  It is this basis that intrigued Tiffany DeVito, a second-year Raiderette and a blue belt in kenpo karate.  "Kata is very important to me because it gives me a lot of self-confidence.  It helps me focus...it's kinda like my meditation.  I focus on my life when I'm doing it.  It helps me think clearly.  I mean karate, in general.  When I practice it, I feel so much better.  It helps me with my dance ability, strength, and everything I do in Raiderettes," she explained.

Certainly, through kenpo training, balance, coordination, focus, and confidence are developed—attributes needed to attain success, not just in karate but also in many other endeavors, even cheerleading.

In order to deliver full power in striking and kicking, the karate practitioner delivers a yell (kiai) and expels energy from the diaphragm.  The kiai helps to focus energy toward a target and aids in alleviating pain.  In cheering, not only does the kiai help Tiffany to project her voice during cheering but also helps to overcome pain.  "If I get hurt kicking too high, I still have a good kiai, and it helps me out," she noted.

There are some aspects of cheering that Tiffany has allowed to carry over into her karate, like manipulating pom-poms.  "I really learned with the staff; it's kind of hard to compare the staff with pom-poms," she said, laughing.

However, pom-poms are not as light as they look; thus, her work with the poms has helped her hand motions, as she explained:  "I think in strengthening of my arms, yes.  Those pom-poms aren't very light; there's a lot of pom in there."

Tiffany has certainly become strong enough to attain the rank of blue belt, and she is working toward earning the coveted black belt in her art.

As strong and as disciplined as this martial artist might be, she still has one weakness.  "The only real big weakness I have is food cravings,” Tiffany admitted.  Although she is relatively strict about her diet, she does indulge occasionally.  "If I splurge one day, I'll be good for a week."  But sometimes, she might go a bit overboard for two or three days.  "And I don't get a free day for a longtime," she said with a laugh.  (She has a delightful laugh that makes you want to laugh along with her.)

 What treats cause her discipline to break down?  "Tapioca pudding and chocolate chip ice cream—the two deadliest sins," she declared.

In the May edition of the Bay Area Sports Drive, a tongue-in-cheek mock draft noted the following “weakness” about Tiffany:  “Might get confused during a cheer and start dancing and kicking to “Kung Fu Fighting.” 

Tiffany laughingly admitted that there might be some truth to that:  "You know what?  Yeah, my kicks sometimes look like that.  You can tell sometimes I would like to do a hip kick or a fan kick when we're dancing.  The fan kicks, I'm real good at."

Although Tiffany was never a cheerleader in secondary school, she started dancing at age two, performing tap and ballet at annual recitals and local festivals in the San Jose, CA, area.

When Tiffany is not performing, one of the things she likes to do to relax is see movies.  Her favorite genre is horror films, and she sees as many as she can.  "Like, you name it, I've probably seen it," she noted

Although horror films may not frighten her, tryouts for the Raiderettes are still a little scary for Tiffany.  When she auditioned this year, even though she was a veteran, she still felt the tryouts were intimidating.  "You're never at ease,” she explained.  “You're always nervous.  Every one deserves to make it.  Every one that tried out, and that's what scares me because everybody looked wonderful.  All the girls are beautiful." 

 Of course, her first time on the field as a Raiderette was also a nerve-racking experience.  "Oh, it was so overwhelming.  You didn't know whether to cry or to run away.  You kept so many emotions running through your body, it's so overwhelming.  But then, you kinda just put it aside and say, ‘I have this job; it's a job I have to do.’  And you know, if I don't do it, then someone else will take my spot," she explained.

Despite the competition, Tiffany appreciates the camaraderie that trying out for and making the Raiderette squad produces.  Tiffany described the experience:  "The girls.  I love the girls so much.  You kinda just instantly click with all of them because they all relate with you and you relate with them.  On another level—on a friend level—there's so many different girls on the squad [around 48] that you can relate with half of them, if not more.”

Although cheering can be an anxiety producing activity, Tiffany is more at ease on the field than in the arena, she noted:  "To tell you the truth, I'm more nervous competing in a tournament than I am cheering in front of thousands and thousands of people.  I still get those butterflies in my stomach when I'm cheering, but when I know I'm going to be fighting somebody, or competing for a title, that's just so nerve-racking for me.  I don't know why.  Oh, once I'm into it, I am there.”  Thus, Tiffany is able to take that nervousness and channel it into a positive energy force, and to be able to compete with confidence and strength.

Physical ability and self-assurance are prerequisites for girls today in order to compete in the world today.  More than likely, it might have been for these reasons that Tiffany's dad started her in karate at an early age.  Tiffany, however, has a humorous spin on this theory.  "My dad wanted a little boy, and he didn't get his little boy, and so, four years later....” She laughed and explained jokingly that since her dad had started her brother when he was four that it was time for her to begin training.

Has karate had an impact on her being a cheerleader?  "Oh, definitely,” she responded.  “I don't know if I'd be here or not [Raiderettes].  But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here without my karate because, I mean, my strength—it helps physically, my body, everything."

You can be sure that Tiffany's dad is quite happy that he had a little girl—

and now, a big Raiderette.  And, of course, the fans are delighted, too, and are thankful that dad introduced his daughter to karate, an art that has enhanced her cheering.

Aside from the confidence and discipline that karate has given her, Tiffany believes that the strongest attribute of her personality is her smile.  "I can never wipe a smile off my face.  Never, never!  It's always there.”  Indeed, her smile, along with her jovial demeanor, makes you want to smile, too.  Tiffany has been studying nursing at Modesto Junior College.  Having her as your nurse one day will surely bring a smile to your face.

Perhaps the desire that makes Tiffany wish to be a nurse is the reason that she finds satisfaction doing charity work.  The one charity that she finds especially moving is the Midway Shelter in Oakland, CA, a retreat for battered women and children.  In order to help Midway, Tiffany went to various hotels and solicited donations of shampoo, soap, and sundry toiletry items to be distributed to the residents of the shelter.

How does she feel about getting donations for groups like this?  "Oh, it's the best.  Just at that point seeing everybody and knowing what I was there for really, really, really helped.  And that's something that karate can't give me....  It can't give me that feeling.  It's more of a test.  Cheering and doing charitable events is something that really touches your heart.  I mean karate does, too, but not in the same way."

In karate, she might try to "reach out and touch" someone physically.  But in cheering, she can reach out and touch someone emotionally.  Some individuals in the public eye don't think they have a responsibility to be a role model, but not Tiffany, who explained the obligation that Raiderettes have:  "I know it's a responsibility we have...we have a lot of responsibility, we have an image we have to uphold.  You know, we're not the dumb cheerleader that a lot of people think we are.  We are very classy, and it's our duty to be role models to little girls and women and everybody."

Tiffany understands that too many young people try to get their kicks in negative ways.  "Yeah, that's why it's our responsibility to make sure that we're setting a good example for little girls and everybody,” she declared with conviction.  

Thus, the most satisfying moment for this Raiderette comes not when she breaks boards or fan kicks an opponent, but when she makes an impact on

young people.  For Tiffany, that moment of contact is the real kick.