Thank you Texas Sport Karate and the Texas Amateur Organization of Karate for giving us all a platform to become that which we dream to be. Having lofty goals to strive for elevates us all. Weakness comes from inactivity a quote that we all could learn from. Never quit, never give up, never say I can’t because the phrase I can’t, never did anything for anybody. Unlike other sports we in the martial arts world teach a lifestyle of fitness. A sentence that we all should remember. These Karate tournaments are part of that life style. After almost forty years of competition I can say without a doubt you are what you say you are. If you say you’re a loser, you are, if your say you are a champion, you will become one.
Again we were lucky enough to experience another United States Karate Championship. If you have been in the tournament scene for any length of time you would notice that this tournament has consistently been the biggest and best sport karate tournament in Texas. Forty two years has ranked this event at the top and make this event #1 By TSKN.
We all agree a win in the black belt divisions here requires great skill. Bob and Margaret Beasley are the current caretakers of this prestigious event. Running this tournament is a task requiring much time and effort on the part of the promoters and all the AOK organization. This June 19th USKC was the largest ever with some adult black belt divisions having as many as 22 competitors. Yep NASKA roll over cause this event is currently the most prestigious of them all.
Now, I got there Friday night to find some of the greatest masters of them all testing for rank in what I can only say was a history making event. Even the non testing participants were legendary. The testing board was headed up by Allen Steen, Pat Burleson and a group of the most famous grand masters in the country. Without a doubt the royalty of American karate were present. I was lucky enough to be one of those there to witness this unbelievable group of people showcasing there talent. One day I will be able to say, I lived in there time and knew them.
Linda Denley, Troy Dorsey and Ishmael Robles tested for 8th degree black belt. Any rank above 8th degree is considered Grand Master for those of you who don’t know. The honorable Judge Bob Beasley was awarded the 7th degree black belt. His wife and my good friend Margaret Beasley was awarded the 6th degree black belt and Annie Qualls won the 5th degree black belt. All were required to exhibit superior skill in Kata and fighting. They also were require to have demonstrated countless years service to others and the martial arts. Present were some the greatest fighters in the world. Troy, Ishmael and Linda were unparalleled fighters in there time.
The team fights were conducted during the Friday night proceedings and were to be finalized at the Saturday night finals. Saturdays competition was a massive event. Competitors packed the Mesquite Convention Center in Mesquite Texas. Located in the far outskirts of Dallas. Over twenty rings were operating at the same time. With pre-selected judges for all. Forms and specialty divisions started first. With everybody from the White Ninja to Dann Baker competing. By the way Dann Baker, now over sixty years old, won the adult black belt soft kata division.
Heading up the adult weapons division was David Johnson and his impressive staff routine. Wayne Nguyen and his patented musical nun chuck routine was first in the adult 35 plus specialty division. Courtney Allen had his hands full for his win in the adult black belt self defense. Eric Cantu took to the air to win in adult black belt specialty. Kari Spann defeated Martha Garcia, Amber Seeling and Ashley wood in the adult women’s black belt kata division. The unbelievable Chad Cannon who can do a split kick six feet in the air and pull off Michael Jordan air time on some of his aerials, won the adult men’s kata division.
The adult black belt traditional Kata division had 22 competitors. Do you have any idea how long that took with several ties. And these ties had as many as four competitors in some cases. Well try over an hour for just this division. Unbelievably the two oldest competitors at the tournament ended up tying for first. Dann Baker and William Sheldon went at it for first place, that is after they woke up because it took forever to finally get down to them. The judges decided on William Sheldon as this years champion. William Sheldon continued his victories with a win in the 45 plus black belt kata division.
Wayne Nguyen also continued his domination in the senior division with another win in the adult black belt 35 plus kata division. Kristi Shawkey was victorious in the women’s black belt executive kata division. By the way several other outstanding women’s competitors need mention for there performances, they are Amy Seeling, Sheryl Quick, Stacy Patterson and Karen Schroeder. I see these women everywhere and they are always phenomenal competitors.
Junior competitors Dominated the competition area filling the convention center as hundreds of kids lined up and competed. Over eight hundred competitors attended this years USKC event. Again some of the junior divisions were split due to excessive size and even the regular junior divisions were full to the brim.
Junior Specialty divisions were also big and filled with talented musical weapons and open hand competitors. The 12-17 year old black belt Specialty champion was Ciera Garcia with a narrow victory over David Tate. The 11 and under black belt specialty champion was Sammy Mullens and 2nd was Sebastion Pedroza.
Black belt open hand kata champions were Daniel Frye 6-7 and the 12 -13 kata champion was David Tate. Other junior black belt kata champions were Ronny Zapata 8-9 years old, Sebastian Pedroza 10-11 kata, Brandon Campbel 14-15 boys and Sarah Terrazas narrowly winning over Rommel Paul for the 16-17 years old kata. Some of the Junior black belt sparring champions were Brian Vasquez 10-11 boys, Issac Jones 12-13 years old boys, Danila Polomo, Jasmin Frair, Daphania Diaz and in a battle of the champions Jersan Kannady was defeated by Rommel Paul.
Black belt adult sparring went last. Kari Spann won in the women’s black belt fly weight sparring division. Ashley Wood won the women’s light division and Martha Garcia won the women’s feather weight sparring division. Kristi Shawkely was the women’s executive black belt sparring champion. In the black belt men’s sparring divisions Jason Chartouni was first in the men’s light weight division. Brother Peter Chartouni won the men’s middle weight point sparring and Chad Cannon took out Charlie Davidson for the men’s heavy weight black belt point sparring championship.
The executive champion was David Patterson with Mike hill winning in the men’s senior executive division.
The Saturday night finals started at 7 PM. With many Texas legendary pioneers being recognized for there devotion to Texas Sport Karate. Ismael Robles was the main announcer for the night time finals. The adult kata grand’s were up with Wayne Nguyen, Eric Cantu, Chad Cannon, David Johnson and Keri Spann vying for the cash and the grand champion title. After the smoke cleared Wayne and Chad had tied. A point off by the judges left Wayne Nguyen taking home the money and the title of USKC forms grand champion.
The men’s team fights were up with Team Elite taking on Team Gypsi. In the final fight Chad cannon pulled Team Gypsy ahead for the victory. The women’s teams were next with the women’s Team Be Goods taking on Team Beasley. After a little hair pulling and cat scratching Team Be Goods emerged on top for the victory. Team Timmons beat out Team VAM for the executive men’s team competition. Ashley wood emerged victorious in the women’s point sparring grand over Martha Garcia. Chad Cannon beat out Jason Chartouni for the men’s point sparring grand championship. And last up in the grand’s were senior fighters. Mike Hill beat David Patterson for the senior grand championship.
Phyliss Evetts, Ed Daniel, Joe Alverado, Jack Simpson, Fred Simon and Larry Caster were all inducted into the prestigious USKC Walk Of Fame for there dedication to the martial arts and Texas karate. Last event up was the legends team fight. Team Denley with Linda Denley, Kristi Shawkey and Shannon Craighead taking on Team Beasley with Martha Beasley, Amy Seeling and Jennifer Branch. In the final fight Linda Denley pulled her team ahead for a long awaited victory with a score of 17 to 12. This concluded the 2010 USKC championships night time finals.
