Event & Article Information
This story was written by and is the intellectual property of Johnnie Murphy reported on his TSKN Website.
This year’s November 21st, 2021, TKO/TNT State championships was at the Very prestigious Hilton Americas Downtown Houston. It is one of the most elegant and classiest hotels to have an event. In fact, the ping pong world championships and a couple of other events were held there the same weekend at this Icon landmark of downtown Houston. Located across from the George R Brown Convention center and adjacent to some of the best restaurants in town made this place rock.
The founder of the TKO/TNT Wayne Nguyen, out did himself this year with one of the biggest 2-day turnouts for the TKO/TNT yet. The two-day event filled then massive 2nd floor grand ball room of the Hilton Americas Downtown both days. It included Karate and all other Martial arts practitioners, open hand kata, self-defense, team forms musical forms, weapons forms, grapplers/Jui-Jitsu, kick boxers, continuous sparring, breaking and stick fighting practitioners from around the State of Texas.
The first day’s competition was followed up by an impressive Saturday nighttime final. This finale was attended by Tony Kattengell head of the League World Championships who filmed and streamed the whole event. This event was also a qualifier for The League world championships. The Texas TKO/TNT is the refuge and current home for many of the old NBL’s and current NASKA world champions as well as top competitors from Texas so you can imagine the level of competition and skill in many of the black belt and under black belt divisions.
The nighttime finals were attended by a host of people from all over Texas, Louisiana and several other surrounding states. The whole event got off with the breaking finals and a display of high-level bone crushing mayhem. Team fire and Ice filled the stage with their well-rehearsed choreographed musical routine. The TKO founder, Wayne Nguyen also performed a comical routine called “Boot in The Head”
Next up was Junior black belt creative Weapons and forms. Heated competition jumped out for wake-up call on the audience as top junior champions battled for the right to be the grand champion. Cane Talbert, Jonathon Landon, Ashley Lopez, Colton Sims, Dante Rodlueuez, Demi Rodlueuez and Phillip Brume were pushing the envelope to get noticed by the judges. When the smoke cleared it would be Phillip Brume who took home a monster grand champion ring.
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Then just as my rush from the junior contemporary division dissipated … Alex Mathias, the current god of adult contemporary weapons and NASKA’s Team Paul Mitchel’s poster boy, jumped up on the stage along with a troop of powerful players in the Adult Contemporary weapons and forms grands. They were there to chew gum and kick butt… and they were fresh out of gum so, things got horizontal and intense quick. Chelsea Lopez, Tracy Armstead and Jenny Pless were all in the zone with some of the best stuff I’ve seen anywhere. In the end Chelsea Lopez took home the adult contemporary grand championship.
Next up, an entire orchestra of well-versed and sharp junior traditional kata and weapons competitors who performed like a Swiss Watch as they defined precision with a new accent on power and timing. This was better than any of the world championships I’ve seen in 20 years. Khristina Lin, Cheeks Alejandro, Aden Lopez, Demi Rodlueuez, Christina Spongie, Miguel and Analise Bolen were defining what precision stands for. I’m sure judging this talented entourage of champions was not easy but in the final decision it would be Cheeks Alejandro who was the judge’s choice for a winner.
Adult Traditional forms and weapons was a showdown between Robert Wilcox, Michael Brume, Tracy Armstead, Brinda Gutierez and Christine Defranchesco. This was another division where precision and power played a pinnacle role in the judge’s choice as they sided with Michael Brume and his powerful sword routine for their choice. Kudos to the other amazing competitors for an all-out effort and an awesome display of martial arts.
Junior Girls team fighting was a battle between Team Gypsy and Team Bushido with Team Gypsy pulling ahead for a 29 to 18 win over Team Bushido. Boys team sparring was Team Alchemy against Team All Out. Team Alchemy pulled out a narrow victory in an intense competition that had both sides crashing around the stage and into each other. Team Alchemy is El Paso’s finest sport karate group and an old NBL championship Sport karate team organization that has existed for over 20 years.
Senior men’s sparring grand champion was the amazing Willie Hicks. Adult Women’s sparing grand champion was a battle between Team Mongooses Kimberly Morales and Team Gypsy’s Allisa Gillian with Kimberly Morales and her amazing super kicking skill taking home the state Championship and the money.
The Finale for the evening was the best men’s fighters in Texas and possibly in the USA.
First up was NBL multiple world champion Charley Davidson against the amazing super Paul Mitchel Champion Alex Mathias. This was a truly classic clash of styles and skill with a fight that went back and forth but, in the end, Charley Davidson pulled ahead and went on to the 2nd round.
The second fight for the Men’s Sparring grand championship was a matched set of skills and two of the best fighters in Texas. Tyce Talbert was on his game has been the top fighter in his division all year. Charley Davidson had his hands full in a legendary match of power against ring savvy. Charlie has lightning-fast blitzes while Tyce is a more technical player. Charley found himself in a matched against a highly nimble player and both had a fight on their hands. The competition went back and forth with very little scoring and the match stayed even forever then in a sudden burst of energy and as time ran out and with a final clash, Tyce pulled ahead by 1 point to take home the money and the Grand championship Ring.
The 2nd day was another well attended competition that filled the massive, 2nd floor ball room with the best Grapplers, kick boxers, Continuous sparring, Stick fighters and residual divisions not finalized on Saturday or Saturday night. All in all, this competition was as a memorable weekend that will remain in my memory for many years. This was a well-attended and well-ran State championship that was worth the time and expense to attend and compete at. I would have to say it was the best Texas sport karate competition of 2021.
