21st annual karate tourney a big hit

By Bill Graves
    June 16 proved to be a sunny day with moderate temperatures, perfect to keep the stand full of spectators and the floor crowded with martial arts competitors comfortable throughout the day’s events.
    Practitioners of various styles of karate came from as far away as Massachusetts, from Canada, Central and southern Maine, and of course from eight area Graves’ Institute of Self Defense dojos. Kids as young as four years old and adults old enough to collect social security registered to fight, throw, kick and punch their way to one of more than 200 trophies up for grabs.
COMPETES — Teanne Ewings competes in the tournament.
    Eight rings, each with its complement of five black belts, one chief referee and four corner judges, started the event filled with youngsters. Point sparring groups appointed by age, weight, gender and colored belt level to assure fairness lined the edges of each ring. Single elimination bouts of three scored points or a two-minute time limit narrowed the group by half each round until only the mornings three best fighters stood to accept trophies and applause.
    As rings with large groups continued to fight, other rings were filled in with martial artists performing form katas and weapons katas to keep all rings filled and spectators busily observing one location after another. About noon sets of padded mats were moved into the four center rings as they were prepared for the ju-jitsu events.
    Ju-Jitsu competition consists of a pair of partners each performing three throws as well as  lead in strikes, kicks and set up moves in an attack and defend scenario. Scored by five judges on a one to ten basis with tenth of a point increments, with the high and low scored dropped, the three best totals win awards. These realistic routine encompass very difficult acrobatic and aerial techniques.
SPARS — Jenna Rand, right, fights an opponent at the summer kickoff tourney.
    The black belt Ju-Jitsu was particularly challenging and exciting this year as two teams were tied for first place after all nine pairs finished their routines. Even after adding in the deleted low scores, the high scores and then both high and lows together there was still a dead even tie, so each throwing pair performed their routine again. Sensei Jay Peavey of Mars Hill and Sensei John Sanders of Presque Isle ended up winning the huge grand championship trophies by over a full point after the repeat performance.
    Black belt men and women’s  grand championship point sparring followed the throwing events. Winning the men’s 17-to 35- age division was Sensei Mike Giles of Bangor. The Senior men’s fighting grand (35-45 years of age) went to Sensei Malcolm Grant of Perth-Andover, and the 45 years and over Executive division men’s winner was Sensei Paul Healey of Bangor.  Sensei Meaghan Young of Bucksport won the open women’s fighting grand and the top senior women’s fighter was Sensei Tracy Body of Belfast.
WIN — Sensei Jay Peavey, right, of Mars Hill and Sensei John Sanders of Presque Isle won the grand champion ju-jitsu trophy.
    Underbelt sparring matches and power impactor finals finished out the day’s events with the competition winding down by three  o’clock.  Sensei Tom Anderson of Massachusetts and Sensei Jennifer Pictou of Bangor won their respective black belt first place awards for Power Impactor.
    Graves’  Institute of Self Defense  offers classes weekly in eight regional communities and all are open to men, women, and children five years of age and up, for further information call Grand Master Bill Graves at 764-1497.
Contributed photograph
TROPHY WINNERS — Students from the Island Falls Branch of Graves Institute of Self Defense recently competed at the spring Maine Ketsugo and Karate Association Tournament held in Bucksport. Trophy winners are, from left, front, Silvia Hartt, third place fighting and first in throwing; Kaden McNally, first in fighting; Kyle McNally, first in throwing; Sadie Hartt, second place fighting; and Charlotte Hartt, first place fighting; back, Sensei Buzzy Qualey; Andy Hartt, assistant instructor, second place in fighting; Salvador Cloukey, second and third place fighting in separate divisions; and Branch Instructor Sensei Walter Garnett, promoted to seventh degree Black Belt.