Ja martial arts teams celebrate best-ever medal haul

Jamaica combined martial arts and Ningen Karate ace black belts (back row, from left) Olympian Kenneth Edwards and Scott Wright, show off the next generation of Ningen warriors (from left) Liam Harrison, Atario Brown, and Dirk Harrison.

Jamaica combined martial arts and Ningen star Scott Wright has a fist ful of gold won at the US Open in Orlando.

Rising Sun's (from left) Daijon Budhai, Samir Doshi and Alessandro Doshi pose with a beaming Heather Campbell.

Jamaica's team to the US Open in Orlando, Florida, Taekwondo's fighters bagged 114 medals, led by 12 gold from Jamaica Taekwondo's fighters.

AINSLEY WALTERS, STAR Writer

JAMAICA's martial artists are still celebrating their best-ever medal haul at the International Sports Karate Association's United States Open, held last weekend at the Coronado Resort, Disney, Orlando, Florida.

Fighters ranging from Olympian Kenneth Edwards to tots in full protective gear brought home 114 medals, 23 more than last year.

The record haul included 37 gold, eclipsing last year's 30, completing their tally with 33 silver and 44 bronze from the world's biggest martial arts open tournament.

Jamaica Taekwondo Association bagged 12 gold, one more than the predominantly kids team of Rising Sun Karate as the nation faced the world's best in sparring, weapons and forms in Orlando.

Ningen Karate had 10 gold, inclusive of four won by black belt Jamaica combined martial arts team members Edwards, double gold medallist Scott Wright, and Allando Ebanks.

Jamaica used the tournament as a show of force ahead of the August 26-30 International Taekwondo Federation World Cup on home soil in Montego Bay.

Ningen (36)

Gold (10) - Kenneth Edwards, adult black belt 180-190lb, continuous sparring; Scott Wright, adult black belt 170-179lb, continuous sparring and points sparring; Allando Ebanks, adult black belt 150-159, clash sparring; Kasey Jureidini, 14-15 junior black belt, continuous fighting and traditional forms; Itrina Markland, 9-10 beginner-intermediate, points sparring; Dirk Harrison, 8-9 intermediate, traditional forms; Liam Harrison, five-year-old beginner, traditional forms and points sparring.

Silver (10) - Allando Ebanks, adult black belt 150-159, points sparring and traditional forms; Kasey Jureidini, 14-15 junior black belt, traditional forms; Dirk Harrison, 8-9 intermediate, creative weapons; Atario Brown, 8-9 creative weapons and traditional forms; Liam Harrison, five-year-old beginner, traditional weapons; Jordon Scott, five-year-old beginner, traditional weapons and creative forms; Jeyna Allison, five-year-old beginner, traditional forms.

Bronze (16) - Scott Wright, adult black belt 170-179lb, clash sparring; Allando Ebanks, adult black belt 150-159, continuous sparring; Javion Davis, 10-11 junior black belt, continuous sparring; Christopher Boothe, 10-year-old beginner-intermediate, traditional forms, points sparring and traditional weapons; Atario Brown, 8-9 advance, traditional weapons, continuous sparring, clash sparring and points sparring; Dirk Harrison, 8-9 intermediate, traditional weapons; Trevonique Nelson, six-year-old beginner, points sparring; Liam Harrison, five-year-old beginner, continuous sparring; Jordon Scott, five-year-old beginner, continuous sparring; Jeyna Allison, five-year-old beginner, continuous sparring and points sparring.

Jamaica Taekwondo Association (27)

Gold (12) - Ackeem Lawrence (UWI), adult black belt, 149 and under, continuous sparring; Demar King, adult black belt 190+, clash sparring; Richard Stone (UWI), adult red belt, continuous sparring; Akeel Andrews (Wolmer's), 18-29 advanced-intermediate, clash sparring; Kemoi Bryan (Wolmer's), 18-29 beginner-intermediate, clash sparring; Akino Lindsay, 18-29 red belt, clash sparring 170lb+; Subrina Richards (Merl Grove) 16-17 black belt, continuous sparring and clash sparring; Christopher Campbell (Calabar), 16-17, red belt, clash sparring; Tye McKay (Calabar), 14-15 blue belt, clash sparring; Romario Henry (KC) 12-13 yellow belt, continuous sparring; ; Jaeland Hamm, 12-13 beginner-intermediate, clash sparring.

Silver (7) - Arthur Barrows, adult black belt, 30 and over, continuous sparring; Ackeem Lawrence (UWI), adult black belt, 149 and under, clash sparring; Demar King, adult black belt 170-179lb, clash sparring; Paz Rodriques (KC), 16-17 red belt continuous sparring and clash sparring; Joshane Thompson, 16-17, clash sparring; Richard Stone, 18-29 red belt, clash sparring 170lb-179.

Bronze (8) - Demar King, adult black belt 170-179lb, continuous sparring; ; Christopher Campbell (Calabar), 16-17, red belt continuous sparring; Tahj Hewitt (JC) 16-17 blue belt, continuous sparring and clash sparring; Nikolai Pink, 16-17 blue belt, clash sparring; Ty McKay, 14-15 blue belt, points sparring; Romario Henry (KC) 12-13 yellow belt, clash sparring; Jaeland Hamm, 12-13 beginner-intermediate, continuous sparring.

Rising Sun Karate (32)

Gold (11) - Sharissa Sterling, 8-9 advance, clash sparring; Abigail Williams, seven, traditional forms and points sparring; Daijon Budhai, 6-7 beginner, creative weapons, traditional forms; Lee-Michael Henry, five and under beginners, traditional weapons, creative weapon, creative form; points sparring, clash sparring and traditional forms.

Silver (7) - Jaiden Weir-Jackson, 9-10 advance, traditional forms and points sparring; Russell English, 8-9 green belt intermediate, traditional forms; Abigail Williams, seven, creative form; Daijon Budhai, 6-7 traditional weapons; Lee-Michael Henry, five and under beginner-intermediate, continuous sparring; Khain Henry, five and under beginner, continuous sparring.

Bronze (14) - (Heather Campbell, adult black belt 40-49, traditional weapons and traditional forms; Marissa Jones, adult black belt, 129 and under, continuous sparring and clash sparring; Jaiden Weir-Jackson, 9-10 advance, continuous sparring; Sharissa Sterling, 8-9 advance, points sparring; Allesandro Doshi, 8 advance, points sparring and clash sparring; Russell English, 8-9 green belt intermediate, continuous sparring and clash sparring; Abigail Williams, intermediate seven, traditional form; Daijon Budhai, 6-7 beginner, continuous sparring; Zaria Sterling, five and under blue belt, creative form and clash sparring; Samir Doshi, six to seven, traditional weapons.

First Jamaica Zendo (16)

Gold (3) - Beaverbrook Wiggan, seven advance, clash sparring, points sparring and traditional forms.

Silver(7) - Lincoln Wiggan, 10-11 black belt, clash sparring; Leopold Wiggan 9-10 black belt, clash sparring; Rasheed James, 8-9 advance, continuous sparring, clash sparring, traditional forms; Nicolas Campbell, 8-9 intermediate, continuous sparring; Beaverbrook Wiggan, seven advance, continuous sparring.

Bronze (6) - Lincoln Wiggan, 10-11 black belt, points sparring and traditional forms; Leopold Wiggan 9-10 black belt, traditional forms; Tyrell Lindsay, 6-7 intermediate, traditional forms and points sparring; Nicolas Campbell, 8-9 intermediate, clash sparring.

Sidekicks Taekwondo (2)

Gold (1) - Philip McDowell, adult black belt 180-189, clash sparring;

Silver (1) - Phillip McDowell, adult black belt 180-190lb, continuous sparring.

Future Leaders (1)

Silver (1) - Sheckema Cunningham, adult black belt, continuous sparring.