2006 Pacific Jewel Nationals

The Pacific Northwest hides some of the most beautiful topography in America. Ringed by volcano’s, its beauty lends grace to the lush green environment. Longtime destination for the outdoors enthusiasts, it’s highly rated for everything from river surfing to mountain climbing. Its one of the most desired places to live in the country and top of the list on great vacation spots. Portland is a great city surrounded by nature at its best.

This May 5th and 6th 2006 tournament was NBL and SKIL national rated. Noah and Deanna Bertsch have for the last eight years produced this first class martial arts event. The Pacific Jewel tournament was held at the Red Lion Hotel located on the next to the Colombia River. Centrally located this venue allowed easy access to all Portland and afforded close proximity to the Portland airport.

The Friday 5PM start did not stop many of the best competitors in the world from attending. This event started on time and was officiated by some of the northwest regions best Judges. The Pacific Jewels tournament has always managed to bring out famous champions and competitors from across the country. People who attend these events live a lifestyle of extreme competition. Many people make large tournaments part of there life and it gives them the needed rush of adrenalin to keep coming back year after year.

Some of the Friday night highlights included open and traditional weapons and forms. Jerico Catura ended up with multiple wins in open and musical weapons. Large junior weapons and forms divisions ran efficiently and concluded on time due to the many rings running at once and being officiated by experienced judges. Continuous sparring ran simultaneously with other divisions and presented no problem finalizing and allowing for the progress of all other divisions to complete on time. One of the highlights of the night was team sparring. More adult teams showed than I have seen at any event in some time and ended up being the last division of the nights proceedings with Team DDX and Team GQ Sport going the Saturday night finals.

Saturday morning was attended by hundreds of black belts anxious to get their hands on the championship positions and a chance at money and fame. As could be expected many red eyes and yawning faces could be seen attempting to awake and prepare for competition. Throughout the day thousands of people came and went producing an atmosphere of excitement. Large crowds clustered around the rings and shouted for their champions. By the end of the day the place looked like a tornado had blown in with cups and debris from thousands scattered about.

The day finalized with black belt point sparring. A chance for money and grand championships lay in the balance for all who could come out on top. In the end the final adult black belt men point sparring champions who made it through the crowed were Sean Arceo, Jason Holmes, Wade Taylor and Brandon Bertsch. All fought their way through large divisions and then other champion finalist for their trip to the nighttime showdown. The women’s finalist were Jessica Covarrubias and Tamika Simmons.

After everybody settled down, ate and got cleaned up we headed to the nighttime finals. A relaxed atmosphere filled the ball room at the red lion hotel as people poured in to see their champions compete for the ultimate prizes of the tournament. Noah and Deanna Bertsch stood out as the host of this formal ending to a major event. Cameras flashed as the readily assembled troop of champions put on a display of world class dynamics gliding across the stage in a in a graceful ballet of movement and gymnastic prowess.

First was junior hard musical forms. Sage Northcutt of Texas, Andrew Kowalewski from Idaho, Chris Martin up from New Mexico and Michelle Sims out of Utah all went head to head in a all out attempt to capture the grand championship. Chris Martin pulled ahead with a score of 29.96 to win the division. Next up ruler of adult contemporary forms in the WEST-PAC Jerico Catura of San Jose California took top spot over Melissa Sioson and Roark Hodson.

A series of junior continuous sparring divisions proceeded the contemporary forms competition. Brady Childes beat Robert Betten in super fly weight. Josue Guerrero took out Jeramy Butler in the junior light weight division. In the light middle weight division, Tyri Ferguson lost to Joshua Romero 44 to 49 in a close and hard fight. Middle weights Michael Holstien battled it out with Michael Hassey with Holstien coming in only two points ahead of Hassey in a close fight.

The next junior continuous fight was all out war as Matthew Okada of California and Patrick Robertson from Chilliwack Canada went at it on and off the stage. As the fight progressed it was clear the Matthew Okada was to be the winner with a final score of 67 to 63 in an exciting junior super heavy weight Continuous sparring match. The last continuous fight of the finals was the female feather weight division. Colby Northcutt out of Texas and Madison Santos from Florida put on an amazing display of control and skill in a refreshing change from the previous boys super heavy weight division brawl.

Men’s team sparring pitted Team DDX against Team GQ Sport. Troy Whaley, Ryan Gonzalez and Tim Gustavson of DDX managed to hold it together in a contest that represented a clash of styles. Team GQ Sport’s Sean Arceo, Christopher Dasalla and Joshua May were on their best as they pulled up a close score with new and innovative techniques that was entertaining to watch, but it was to be the foot work and experience of Team DDX that won the night.

A couple of junior boys point sparring matches were up and the schedule of events. Frankie Fernandez of South Carolina and Texas fighter Andre Parrot competed for the boys 12 – 13 years old division. Frankie Fernandez pulled ahead early and Andre could not catch up as Frankie won with a score of 7 to 2. Next up was California verses Nevada as Justin Seneris CA took on Jake Lysgard NV. Jake was to prove himself up for the task and won the boys 16 to 17 years old point sparring division. Troy Whaley and Tim Gustavson both from team DDX competed for the senior men’s point sparring grand championship. Tim Gustavson ended up first in an amazingly fast paced fight.

Jaime Nakamura of Oxnard California ran a totally new and creative sword form that was perfect in content and execution. Mia Caldwell and Thomas Fedorchik both from Texas, unable to overcome Jaime’s performance were defeated in the junior choreographed weapons division. In a repeat appearance on stage, Jerico Catura won his second grand of the night as he overcame Roark Hodson of Utah and Melissa Terpstra from Sidney Australia to win adult contemporary weapons.

In the junior Japanese forms grand’s, Michelle Sims, Colby Northcutt and Mikel Marcelino competed for the championship. It was to be a tie as Michelle Sims ran Rohi against Colby Northcutt’s Gogushiho. In a final point off Colby took home the Japanese forms grand championship.

In a truly international division, the adult traditional forms grand pitted contestants from Canada, Australia and United States. In a close contest Kenny Lim’s 29.97 Nudged out the tied scores of Brandon Bertsch and Jerico Catura who both had 29.96 Dallas Lawrence and Melissa Terpstra both tied with scores of 29.92. Tyler Weaver from Colorado, Jordan Simon of California and Jake Lysgaard from Nevada competed for the junior Korean forms grand. All ran Gaybek and it must have been a tough call for the judges. With all contestants running the same form it was difficult to determine who to choose because they all were great. It was to be Tyler Weaver of California that the judges chose for the junior Korean forms grand championship.

The men’s point sparring grand championships was a contest between the last four champion fighters from earlier in the day. In the first fight Sean Arceo was pared against Jason Holmes, both from California, Both moving and utilizing similar skills. Jason Holmes ran fast blitzes against Sean Arceo’s tightly controlled counter fighting tactics. Neither fighter could get the edge on the other until finally after a tie breaking point, Sean Arceo nudged out Jason Holmes with a score of 3 to 2.

Next the heavy and super heavy weight semi finalist fought. Wade Taylor and Big Brandon Bertsch went at it. The stage definitely shook under the stress exerted by these two big fighters. Both fighters moved with power and seemed to have the speed of much lighter men. Having seen these guys fight before, I would say this had to be some of their best ever competition skills. When time ran down Wade was ahead 5 to 2.

After a short episode of tossing out toys and other various items to the crowd by the promoters, the women’s point sparring grand championship took place. Tomika Simmons from Las Vegas took on Jessica Covarrubias of California. Then the last fight of the tournament was up. Wade Taylor from California took on Sean Arceo also of California. This was a classic David verses Goliath match as the larger Wade Taylor was pitted against the much smaller and lighter Sean Arceo. But as we all know size isn’t everything as Sean used some of the same tactics in his fight with Jason Holmes against Wade Taylor. As the fight progressed Wade pressed his height advantage against Sean. Sean utilized his unique counter fighting skills to overcome his larger opponents advantage. Sean move around and under Wade eliminating Wade’s advantages. After an impressive show by both fighters Sean Arceo was to take home the prize money and the 2006 Pacific Jewel men’s sparring grand championship.