Anyone familiar with the book “Outliers: The Story of Success,” written by Malcolm Gladwell, understands the “10,000-hour rule.”
Gladwell explained that the key to world-class expertise in any one skill is to practice correctly for a minimum of 10,000 hours.
Erick Lamelas is a Miami Lakes resident who attended Bob Graham Education Center from kindergarten to eighth grade, has practiced karate for the past 11 years for about 10,000 hours, and his skill is nothing short of world class.
Since the age of 6, Lamelas has trained only in the style of Shito-Ryu, one of the many famous forms of Karate.
He has endured countless hours of training, fought in dozens of competitions, and has defeated dozens of fellow competitors.
Today, at the age of 18, Lamelas has been 10 times National Kumite Karate Champion, has fought as part of team USA’s National Karate Team for five years and recently represented the United States Olympic Karate Team at the 2015 Pan-American Championships in Santa Cruz, Boilivia in August, bringing home the gold for the second time in his young karate career.
Lamelas is currently ranked No. 2 in the world in his age and weight division and is considered one of the top prospects if karate is added to the Olympics in 2020.
Currently, his goal is to bring home the gold from the World Karate Championship, being held this year in Jakarta, Indonesia in November.
“I have dreamed of winning the world championship,” he said. “To bring home that medal and realize my dream has driven me to train and literally fight as hard as I can.”
Lamelas’ skills and talents go way beyond the mats, he also played varsity basketball for the Mater Lakes Academy Bears for his entire four years of high school, juggling both basketball practice and karate training on the same days multiple times a week.
Add to that a district championship in wrestling his senior year, and an award for athlete of the year 2014-2015.
Not to mention he plays the alto saxophone.
“I train everyday, sometimes even twice a day. If I don’t make it to the dojo, I will practice my moves or conditioning, run around the neighborhood, or anything to keep myself in shape for my competitions,” he said.
Training and his will to succeed have made Lamelas an unbelievable athlete and the rewards have been plentiful.
Decorated along the walls of his rooms are dozens of medals, certificates and trophies, awards that have taken him to destinations all over the world including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Spain.
“Going to Jakarta this year would be a dream come true,” he said. “I want to win the gold, not just for my country, but also for my parents, Geanne and Heriberto Lamelas, my sensei Noel Hernandez at Musashi Dojo, and all of the friends and family that have supported me throughout the years. I know my family has sacrificed a lot for me to be where I am, for that I am extremely grateful.”
Unfortunately, being an all-state athlete in karate doesn’t cover expenses for any of the competitions.
Athletes have to over their own expenses, which usually means their parents pay for everything. Athletes are encouraged to raise funds via any means necessary to acquire funding.
Lamelas is currently hoping to acquire sponsorship for the upcoming event. “My parents have always encouraged me to push forward and fight for what I believe in,” he said. “Karate has taught me to be humble, to be disciplined and to be respectful. Karate is my passion. The rush I feel when I’m fighting, the satisfactions of winning something you’ve trained so hard for. I can’t see myself without karate.”
Aside from karate, Lamelas is a student at Florida International University majoring in recreational therapy and plans on becoming a physical therapist.
For more information on Lamelas, follow him on Instagram at ‘Elamelas_45.’