IT's official, they're no longer Busta Fighters but instead 'Manna Fighters'. Jamaica's combined martial arts team will kick off a new season with a new name but with the same determination which has kept them atop the world of team fighting for the last six years.

Previously sponsored by Jamaica Beverages' Busta soft drink brand and fighting as the Busta Fighters, Jamaica's combined martial arts team went unbeaten in 30-odd matches, including being four-time defending International Sports Karate Association champions (ISKA).

The partnership ended recently after Busta was given first option but declined to re-sign the team for a new season.

However, captain Jason McKay said the team's exploits caught the eye of the taekwondo distributor of Mannatech products and a deal was struck.

Mannatech has as one of its ambassadors MVP Track Club's Michael Frater who, along with his teammates, stunned the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 4x100-metre relay team with new Olympic and world records.

McKay pointed out that the rebranding will give the team even more international recognition, now that is aligned to a product which sponsors traditional sports such as track and field.

"It also fits into new guidelines stipulated by ITF and other major martial arts organisations which, starting this year, have to be compliant with World Anti-Doping Agency regulations," he said.

international sponsor

McKay said although he was pleased with having an international sponsor, he was grateful for the sponsorship Busta had given for the last six years.

Busta's marketing manager Stephen Dawkins said the partnership was a great one.

"There's no two ways about it. The years of participation were exceptional and very rewarding for the Busta brand," he said.

"We can't express how much the team has done for the brand. Busta did what it could do, and similarly, they did what they could do for the brand. We came to an agreement and the sponsorship was deferred. It was good and amicable," he assured.

The team's core activities will now be focused on major International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and ISKA events in addition to Olympic qualifying and Pan-Am tournaments.

"This year, a half of the team's budget is to assist Kenneth Edwards and Nicholas Dussard in qualification for the Pan Am Games in October and 2012 Olympics in London," McKay said.

"However, we will be attending all our normal tournaments. What we won't be doing is hosting the Continental World Championship in Jamaica. That's how we can afford to sponsor Dussard and Edwards," he added.

Jamaica recently became a venue for international martial arts, staging the continental world championship last year in addition to getting the nod for the 2014 World Cup, plus other ISKA events.

The ITF World Cup is expected to bring 78 countries and more than 2,000 athletes to Jamaica.