Jamaica's Kenneth Edwards (left) stops Argentina's Denis Turnes with a kick during their World Continental Martial Arts Team-Fighting Championship at the National Indoor Sports Centre last year. - Anthony Minott

EXCITING heavyweight Kenneth Edwards heads the 10-man squad for the Jamaica combined martial arts team's 2011 season, which will run from February to October.

The new season will include international team matches as well as tours on the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) world circuits.

Qualification for the team is calculated based on points earned in performances from the previous season, locally and internationally.

Edwards topped the team with 47 points ahead of Montegonian microweight Alrick Wanliss with 44. Edwards also amassed most points in the Busta League and international competitions, including gold-medal performances in Vietnam and at the World Continental Team Champion-ships held locally at the National Indoor Sports Centre last July.

Wanliss edged Nicholas Dussard for second by a point after a gold-medal performance at the Pan Am championships in Argentina, in addition to winning all his team matches with the Busta squad.

qualified

Scott Wright qualified in fourth with 27 points in his first-ever season with the combined team.

Last season, Wright became the first fighter to make the team without being an invitee after finishing in the top 10 local fighters.

In finishing fourth, Wright put up a strong challenge to Edwards for Busta Fighter of the Year, winning all his domestic tournaments barring the year-end black belt invitational.

Dwayne Vascianne qualified in fifth position with a comfortable 23 points after being an invitee last season, suggesting he's determined to maintain his place in the squad.

Captain Jason McKay and Montego Bay hyperweight Shiah Shukura tied for sixth spot with 16 points apiece.

McKay moved one spot up from the previous year, his best placing in years. Although facing a tough season in which he had deaths in his family, he competed twice last year, winning gold at the US Open and silver at the Pan Am championships.

Shukura maintained his position by taking a bronze at the Pan Am champs. However, his best performance was winning a bronze at the US Open.

Sean Barnes, an invitee last year, qualified next with 14 points in a favourable first season. He won bronze at the White Tiger tournament and the US open, his best performances for the year.

Kevin McDowell was next with 11 points. Apart from beating Edwards at the black belt invitational, McDowell still did not perform to his full potential. He won bronze at the Taekwondo Open and US Open for ninth spot.

Oshane Murray qualified in 10th spot, repeating feat only achieved by Edwards, being the second high school student to qualify for the team, both hailing from Calabar High School.

Murray qualified with eight points, five from winning the black belt invitational middleweight title in which he beat Wright.

This year's invitee is Adrian King from Ningen Karate. King won gold at the Shai Tai international in addition to bronze at the US Open.