Ja's karate teams shine at Homestead International

JAMAICA's karate martial artists returned to the island yesterday from Miami, Florida, laden with 54 medals won at the weekend's Homestead International Tournament (HIT), surpassing their tally of 46 trophies from last year.

The 19-member contingent comprised martial artists from Rising Sun Karate, First Jamaica Zendo and Ningen Karate. They won 23 gold, 13 silver and 28 bronze medals covering arts such as sparring, weapons and forms.

Rising Sun Karate returned with 42 medals including 18 gold, followed by First Jamaica Zendo with four. Ningen Karate's sole gold medallist was Dirk Harrison, 11-and-under black belt, creative weapons.

The Jamaicans rounded out their tally with 13 silver and 18 bronze medals.

 

RISING SUN KARATE (18 gold, nine silver and 16 bronze)

 

The leading performers were:

• Alessandro Doshi 11-and-under black belt

Gold (2) ? creative weapons and continuous sparring

Silver (3) ? traditional forms, traditional weapons and points sparring.

• Russell English 10-11 advance boys and girls

Gold (4) ? Traditional weapons, creative weapons, continuous and points sparring.

Silver (1) ? Traditional forms.

• Lee-Michael Henry 7-9 advance boys and girls

Gold (3) ? Traditional forms & weapons, creative forms.

Silver (2) ? Creative forms & points sparring.

Bronze (1) ? Continuous sparring.

• Damani Douglas 7-9 advance boys and girls

Gold (1) ? Continuous sparring

Bronze (2) ? Points and continuous sparring.

• Khain Henry 6-9 beginners boys

Gold (5) ? Traditional forms and weapons, creative forms and weapons.

Bronze (1) Points sparring.

• Marc Graham 9-10 beginners boys

Gold (1) Traditional weapons

Silver (1) Points sparring

Bronze (2) Traditional forms and continuous sparring.

• Kayli Graham 7-8 beginners boys and girls

Gold (1) Traditional weapons.

Silver (1) Points sparring.

Bronze (2) Traditional forms and continuous sparring.

• Rogeeif Bignall 9-10 beginners boys and girls

Bronze (4)

• Mykal Moncrieffe 4-under novice boys and girls

Gold (1) - Continuous sparring.

 

FIRST JAMAICA  ZENDO KAI-KAN (four gold, two silver and 12 bronze)

 

The leading competitor were:

• Natasha Sampson 35-and-over beginners male and female

Gold (3) - Traditional forms, traditional weapons and points sparring.

• Tajae Bredwook 7-9 advance boys and girls

Bronze (3) - Traditional forms, continuous and points sparring.

• Jaden Lindo 5-6 beginners boys & girls

Gold (1).

 

NINGEN MARTIAL ARTS (one gold, two silver and three bronze)

 

The top performer was:

• Dirk Harrison 11-under black belt

Gold (1) - Creative weapons

Silver (1) - Traditional weapons

Bronze (1) - Traditional forms