Larry the Letter Carrier jumped into Cozumel, Mexico the other day and I began telling him about the karate I know, and he was like, whoa mate – put it in a letter so I can share with my online friends.
Hello! My name is Mateo Coati, and I am from Cozumel, Mexico and I know karate!
Some say I have a snout like a pig, but my nose is not that big! I have nonretractable claws in my bear-like paws. Don’t laugh at me when I stand bipedally! I am just standing tall, that is all. My tail helps me balance and that comes in handy when sensei gives me a challenge.
Sensei teaches me Karate! My moves are dulce! I have quick kicks. And my blocks rock. But I would rather have lunch than practice my punch!
Why would a coati do karate? To protect the Mayan Ruins and the Coral Reefs from humans and thieves. We want to save the day and keep the ruins and reefs safe in every way. Most people visit and leave things as they find it. Some like to take home an artifact, that is when we swing into action and make them put it back. You can’t ruin the Mayan Ruins!
Practicing karate makes me happy. I hope one day to be a ninja – the ultimate defender. I am a master of disguise! In a blink of an eye say bye-bye coati and hello monkey! Look quick, I will be gone soon and then you will see a raccoon! Nose to the ground, you will see anteaters all around! I jump up in the tree and now you see me, Mateo Coati!
Coatis are pretty good climbers and believe it or not we even eat spiders! Most would say yikes! But spiders are what we like! I also like to swim, I get to the sea and dive right in. It is smarter to protect the Coral Reef while in the water but doing karate is much harder! With each kick and block I splish and splash. I swim around collecting trash. Keeping the Coral Reef clean is important to me.
This coati does karate and wants to be the best he can be. From kihon to kumite, I will practice getting it right. Kachi – victory and a ninja one day I will be!
Remember, writing is right on! So, write a comment below.
Your friend,
Mateo Coati
Do you remember? What helps Mateo Coati balance? Why does Mateo do karate? What does Mateo hope to be one day?
Additional tidbits – Bipedally means to stand or walk on two feet – like people. Some animals are occasionally bipedal, such as bears, kangaroos and of course coatis! Dulce is Spanish and means sweet. The Mayan Ruins in Cozumel are over 2000 years old. The Coral Reef in Cozumel is the second largest reef system in the world. It is over 700 miles long and contains over 26 species of coral and over 500 different fish. Coatis are related to the raccoon family, but they are sometimes mistaken for a monkey and even a anteater! In karate, kihon is the name of basic moves (kicking, blocking, punching), Kumite is the 4th phase of karate and at this stage you learn controlled movements for sparring. Kachi is Japanese for victory.
Challenge: Look at the picture of the monkey, raccoon, anteater, and coati. How are they similar? How are they different?
I like the story. The descriptions of Mateo Coati and the region of that part of the world was entertaining and educational.