Uechi-ryu Karate Championships: 1999

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Winners of the 1999 Uechi-ryu Championships:

Grand Champion: Gary Khoury (winner in 1998 also)

Black Belt Forms Champion, Men & Women's division: Margaret Chojin

Dan Kumite Champions: Chuck Micciche and Fedele Cacia

Men Black belt, HW Fighting: Gary Khoury
Men Black belt, LW Fighting: Jerry Hendewich
Women Black belt Fighting: Deb LaFranke
Men Brown belt Fighting: Gary Barr
Men Green belt Fighting: Marc Pesant
Women Green/Brown belt Fighting: Ilene Richard

Men/Women Brown belt forms: Yuko Khoury
Men/Women Green belt forms: Marc Pesant
Men/Women White belt forms: Michael Foley

Men/Women under black belt kyu kumite: Wendy Barker/ Carol Smulligan
Boys/Girls under black belt kyu kumite: Ben Keyser/ Elizabeth Herman

Boys 15-17 yrs old, Int/Adv Fighting: Peter Verousek
Girls 15-17 yrs old, Int/Adv Fighting: Sarah Bethoney
Boys 13-14 yrs old, Int/Adv Fighting: Chad Wanderlich
Girls 13-14 yrs old, Int/Adv Fighting: Kristen Cross
Boys 11-12 yrs old, Int/Adv Fighting: Richard Corey
Boys/Girls 7-8 yrs old, Fighting: Thomas Litwinsky
Boys/Girls 6 yrs and under fighting: Jessica Pare

Boys/Girls 8 yrs & under Forms: Jennifer Marshall
Boys/Girls 9 yrs - 10 yrs Forms: Nicole Stefanik
Boys/Girls 11 yrs - 12 yrs Forms: Benjamin Keyser
Boys/Girls 13 yrs - 14 yrs Forms: Wilson Huff
Boys/Girls 15 yrs - 17 yrs Forms: Kimi Kotsugashi

(note: If any names are spelled incorrectly, please notify me. GEM)

Commentary: It took us five years to get it right. But the results were well worth the time, energy and effort. Many thanks to Gary Khoury for standing up and going the distance, demonstrating that leadership and willingness to work can overcome just about any problem. Thanks to Peter MacRae, for standing up and breaking through the political boundaries by entering a large team of Shoheiryu students in the event.

And thanks to all the hard working Uechi-ryu seniors who showed up early and worked late into the afternoon with the many jobs that it takes to organize and run a world class event. Yes. . . this year I can honestly say a "World Class Event!"

The purpose of this tournament is to give our students a safe venue for demonstrating their Uechi skills while testing their fighting spirit under stressful and competitive conditions. This year we brought in a team of professional officials whose job it was, to introduce our fighters to the WKF competition rules, in a fair and impartial manner. They did this with patience and elegance. They went over the rules before each division began competition. They took their time in all divisions under black belt, carefully explaining what constituted a point and what didn't. They encouraged all fighters to pay attention during the early matches so they would be totally familiar with the simple hand signals and commands used in a match.

There were obvious differences in tactics. A fighter could grab, but had to release prior to punching or kicking. There were safety reasons for this rule that evolved over the years. Non-karate moves did not count, even if they happened to effectively land. Techniques thrown without balance and/or a strong stance did not count. In other words, they wanted to see karate demonstrated at a karate tournament! Naturally not all competitors were able to make every tactical change needed to score consistent points. But I was surprised at how fast the majority of fighters adapted to the changes. A couple of nasty incidents occurred where frustration turned into anger, resulting in some one sided full contact blows. Although these fighters were disqualified, it wasn't before the damage was done. . . both to the fighter and to the reputation of our event.

Aside from a couple of isolated injuries, the tournament proceeded smoothly and without incident. A few spectators commented that it was a "full contact" event. It wasn't! Rules were very strict regarding head contact. In the under black belt divisions the body contact was far from full contact. In the black belt divisions the body contact was strong, but again. . . not full contact.

The only area where I feel the rules should be changed is in immediate disqualification for malicious contact. In the WKF rules, they make the assumption that contact is made by accident and because of this, the person hit receives a point instead winning the match. The reasoning behind this is to give an edge to the injured fighter, but not give him/her the match. This gives a ring savvy fighter the opportunity to nail his unsuspecting opponent, then be able to fight a dazed and possibly injured person the rest of the match. Great strategy on the street, but should not be part of our "game"!

On a sour note: I locked my digital camera and keys in the car! So, no pictures of the day competition. However, I was able to take some great shots of the finals. [note: I'll try to post tha names of the winners in all divisions early next week.]

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