Fort Worth Texas was a thriving metropolis before Dallas existed as we know it. This was a city whose economy centered around the cattle industry. Cowboys and cattle drives gave Fort Worth its signature ambiance. These days high tech centers and urban industries resonate around its past as a center of the old west. The martial arts has been thriving in Fort Worth for at least half a century now with top competition by the Texas AOK and TKO martial arts organizations.
Dewey Sutton produced this 10th DFW Karate Championships. Support from the Texas AOK and TKO producers made this October 10th 2009 tournament a massive event. Over four hundred competitors crowded into the Will Rogers Memorial Center, Amon Carter JR Exhibit Hall. The Fort Worth Gun Show was in the adjacent Exhibit hall and the combination of the two events made for and exciting atmosphere at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
Forms and specialty divisions ran first providing amazing displays of talent and gymnastic prowess. In the black belt categories both the adults and junior divisions had top champions vying for the first place awards. Courtney Allen won over Cody Stephens and Larry Fields in the adult black belt self defense. Matthew Tyler won the black belt 18 – 34 musical specialty.
William Sheldon won the adult black belt 35 plus executive weapons, 35 plus executive specialty, 45 plus senior executive forms and adult black belt 18 plus traditional forms making him the unofficial forms grand champion by winning four divisions. Justin Jordan of Bushi Ban Karate was first in 18 plus black belt weapons.
Black Belt adult forms champions included Amber Seeling – 18 plus women’s kata, Amy Seeling – executive women’s 32 plus, Matthew Tyler – 18 plus men, Anthony Allen – executive men 35 plus, Al Tadeo – adult soft style, Amy Seeling – women’s traditional kata and UFAF champion Carol Parenti was the women’s 45 plus kata champion. There were a number of other notable champions competing making all these wins very prestigious.
Junior specialty forms divisions accented the event with large divisions. High flying junior weapons and forms competitors were vying for the top spot in there divisions. Samantha Guitierrez was the 11 and under musical and weapons specialty champion. The amazing Jose Palacious ended up with a big win in the 12 -17 years old junior specialty divisions.
Junior forms divisions included the best AOK champions in the State of Texas. Sammy Mullins won the 10 – 11 boys champion and Samantha Guitierrez was the girls 10 – 11 girls black belt division. Other junior black belt champions included Brandon Campbell boys 12 – 13, Natalle Ng girls 12 -13, John Paul Lara boys 14 – 15, Alexandria Gutierrez girls 14 – 15, and Jersan Kannady rounded up the juniors with his win in the boys 16 – 17 years old division.
In adult black belt sparring category a group of the finest fighters in the state assembled for a shot at first places at the DFW Championships. Texas AOK sparring is unparallel in the quality of its competitors skill. People are always surprised at the exciting matches and unexpected results at most of these tournaments. Dallas seems to draw the widest variety of past and present champions. This is mainly due to the large number of martial artist in the DFW area. Several national martial arts organizations have major competitions in the area.
Adult black belt sparring winners in the women’s divisions included Amber Seeling – women’s 18 plus feather weight, Ashley Wood – women’s 18 plus light weight, Sharika Brown – women’s executive, Regina Elkins – women’s 45 plus. The men’s champions were Matthew Tyler – men’s light weight, Jason Milano – men’s middle weight.
Junior black belt point sparring champions were Samantha Gutierrez – 10 to 11 girls, Tabitha Wilson – 12 to 13 girls, Alexandria Gutierrez – 14 to 17 girls. Boys champions were Ronnie Zapata – 8 to 9 boys, Bryan Velasquez – 10 to 11 boys, Blake Nelson – 12 to 13 boys, Brian O’Grady 14 to 15 boys and rounding out boys black belt champions were Jersan Kannady who won the boys 16 to 17 years old division.
In the fiercest competition at the event Charlie Davidson and Angel Montiel finalized an awesome men’s heavy weight division in a great point fight. Other adult black belt sparring champions were Anthony Allen – men’s executive light weight, DE Chambers – men’s executive heavy weight and Mike Hill pulled out a tough victory in the men’s 45 plus sparring division. Many under black sparring competitions accented the event and highlighted up and coming black belt talent.
The whole event finalized on time and left everyone in attendance with a memorable day of martial arts. Well run rings with highly skilled judges added to the efficiency and fairness of the event. I would recommend this tournament due to the good judging and well coordinated officiating. Congratulations to Dewey Sutton and the whole TKO and AOK group for making this a first class event.
