Raquel Collesso (left) and Alrick Wanliss of Taekwondo Academy pose with their medals. - Anthony Minott photos

Alrick Wanliss, a young martial artist from Montego Bay and a long-standing member of the Jamaica Combined Martial Arts team, and Tyrique Tailoy a young fighter from the First Jamaica Zen-Do Kai Kan Karate Organisation were the toast of the 10th annual Zen-Do Kai Kan Martial Arts tournament at the Portmore New Testament Church auditorium last Saturday.

Wanliss took the Lightweight Division as he defeated Dwight Jengelly, of Flaming Fist, in that final, while Kevin Brown, of Rising Sun, placed third.

Wanliss was also the grand champion as he took out Dwayne Noble, the heavyweight champ, in the one-off contest. Noble beat Veraldo Pitter in the heavyweight title sparring, while Zen-Do's Leopold Monteith placed third.

Young black-belt fighter Tyrique Tailoy made his grandfather, Shacho Karl Tai-loy, proud as he made a clean sweep of the youth black belt titles. Tailoy snatched the kata, weapons kumite and sparring to become of the most successful fighter at the tournament.

Leon Beckford of Rising Sun and Ajani Brown of First Jamaica Zen-Do took second and third, respectively, in sparring. Another Zen-Do fighter Roxann Smith performed well, coming from a 10-year absence from the sport. Smith took the adult female black belt kata title, as she got the better of Rae-Ann Robinson, while Robinson turned the tables on Smith to capture the sparring title.

The tournament was open by the Hon Colin Fagan, member of parliament for South East St Catherine and minister of state in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

The tournament was sponsored by MSC McKay Security and Investigation Services Limited.