This years Texas Amateur Organization of Karate finals was held at the Austin Convention Center. Through the years the attendance of this legendary event has grown. It has also seen some of the nobility of sport karate competing. Among the list of great past champions who were at the tournaments were Skipper Mullens, Chuck Norris, Allen Steen, Linda Denly, Demetrious Havanous and an endless list of some of the most famous competitors from the past and present centuries.
The Texas AOK State championships has grown so big that many of the past venues were no longer big enough to handle the crowed. This 2009 state championships were held December 11th and 12th at the Austin Convention Center in downtown Austin Texas. The Austin Convention Center is an enormous place with multi level halls each capable of landing a 747 with room to spare. The Austin Convention was only a few blocks south to 6th street also known as the party street of Austin with Friday and Saturday night clubbing and fun year round.
This was a two day event with the Friday night consisting mainly of black belt forms, weapons, black belt specialty, under black belt specialty, Under black belt weapons, team forms and self defense divisions. The balance of the divisions were ran Saturday. Consisting mainly of all under black belt forms and sparring. The black belt point sparring was ran last with the best in Texas vying for a chance at being in the night time finals.
At the end of the day many new state champions were celebrating their hard earned victories at the TGI Fridays in the Town Lake Radisson Hotel, also the tournaments official caravansary. Black belts were preparing to meet for the Finals to be held later that night. The Texas AOK Promoters and staff ran an efficient and timely event during the previous two days and were making final preparations for a prestigious event termination.
The night time finals started with a few special awards given to top officials and congratulations for the hard work of the event staff. Then the amazing Sifu Moses Williams of Austin Texas dazzled the audience with a great self defense routine for his win in adult black belt self defense. Next up was a point sparring match between Martha Garcia and Cassie Carrasco. Both are Great fighters and former state champions. Martha Garcia won the women’s feather weight State Championship after a close and tactical match with Cassie Carrasco.
Ashley Wood was up next showcasing her skills with a victory over Hope Style in the women’s Light weight point sparring final. Then in another close contest Sharika Brown defeated Terese Pandolph for the executive women’s point sparring title. Then a couple of demos by the 11 and under specialty division champions where Samantha Gutierez was awesome in her open kata.
Next up more awards for top referees. Daryl Stewart, Bob Beasley, Alex Wick, Deloy Nelson, Mike Hamilton, Joe McSpadden, Mike Hamilton, Courtney Allen, Windy Ross, Larry Lockhart, James Ross, Abel Villareal Charles Shedd and several others that I did not get the names for who received plaques for there service. Many of these people are former world and state champions. They provided the best judging possible.
Men’s light weight point sparring followed the referee awards. Camelio Reyes fought it out with Peter Chartooni with Camelio coming out on top for the win. Black belt middle weight men point sparring pitted Jacob Lockhart against Noah Jones. This was a great fight that had the crowed up and shouting. A great and fast contest that ended with Noah nudging out Jacob for his state championship. Then came the heavy weights with Charlie Davidson blasting his way through Angel Moteo in a contest that went back and forth with Charlie Davidson making an all out effort for his victory.
Then the black belt forms champions from the previous night were up. Erick Cantu of Houston Texas and winner of no less than four divisions demonstrated his patented high flying open kata. Up next was William Sheldon from Dallas Texas and winner of two executive forms divisions ran an awesome Basi Dai Kata demonstration. Martha Garcia was up again showcasing an impressive women’s state championship kata.
Continuing with the night time finals the rookie of the year was awarded. Shrika Brown won the in the east, Kerri Spam took home the north region award and Ashley Wood won the central region Rookie of the year. Instructor of the year was given to Barry Benton in the east region, Bob Beasley north and Mike Polomo was the central region instructor of the year.
Last up and one of the final contests of the night time finals was senior point sparring. Anthony Allen overcame Manuel Serrano for the senior black belt light weight men’s point sparring state championship.
The big guys were D.E Chambers verses Daniel Perez. Sensei Chambers was able to overcome Master Perez with a series of well planned attacks that included side snap kicks. Daniel countered with a barrage of precision blitzes but it was to be D.E Chambers on top when time ran out for the senior black belt men’s point sparring state championship. Then Joe Gillum was able to out gun Mike Hill to win the men’s black belt senior executive 45 years old plus point sparring division.
Rounding out the whole event was the Golden Greek awards. This is kind of like the Texas version of a super hall of fame award for that year. The winners were given the special plaques with Demetrious Havanous or (the Golden Greek) award established after his death to honor his accomplishments in Texas Sport Karate. This award is won by the persons who go to the most events and win the most points for the top competitor in that division for that year.
Ashley Wood won the adult female category and Samantha Guitierez took home the junior female award with Sharika Brown winning the senior women Greek award. Brian O’Grady was the junior male Greek winner. Courtney Allen won the adult male award with Anthoney Allen winning the men’s executive Golden Greek championship. This concluded the formal part of the 2009 Texas AOK State Championships. Thanks should be given to the tireless efforts of Nelda Edwards and the rest of the wonderful staff and promoters of the Texas AOK.
