New Orleans always puts a smile on my face. Just the name of the place can change your attitude. I could tell you about all the wonderful places to go, stuff to see, food to eat, Casinos to play and beautiful people to meet, but I don’t want to make you feel like I’m exaggerating or making up all this stuff about the Big Easy so go see the movie. I do know every time I go it’s not boring. If you’ve never been to New Orleans your missing out on that part of your life that tells you, get up, experience life and have some fun. Any one weekend there’s dozens of conventions in town with people from all over America. Also people come from other countries to experience New Orleans and lets no forget Mardi Gras, the largest party in the world.
Ronald George, an NBL world champion and supporter of sport karate produced this NBL, LKL and SKIL regional tournament. March 4th and 5th were both beautiful day’s with temperatures in the mid seventies. The tournament was held at the University of New Orleans Human Performance Center. Many of the NBL Bayou Conference and LKL organization supporters were on hand to help officiate with the event. Louisiana sport karate people always show up to support each other. That’s why many of there national events are so large. I also enjoy going to Louisiana because there tournaments are officiated by fair and concerned black belts. Also I just love Louisiana sport karate people.
Friday night had many old and some new competitors showing up to capture a first place seed in the NBL Bayou Conference. Battling it out in the junior black belt weapons, contemporary forms and continuous sparring divisions were no less than fourteen reigning world champions. Most of the divisions had everyone stopping to watch the show. These kids pulled out the stops and need congratulations. I want to thank Chris Gallio, Lionel Ellison, Joseph Pruiett, Shawn Prommar, Brittan Kabela, Ryan George, Chad Cannon, Sage Northcutt, Colby Northcutt, Eric Cantu, Allan Bedruz, Jared Bernal, Clarissa Villanueva, Marco Villanueva, Jacob Holguin and a big list of other kids that elevated the level of competition.
In the Friday night adult weapons, contemporary forms, continuous sparring, self defense and breaking David Johnson, Johnnie Murphy, Steve Manuel, Armando Parra, Roshawn Pope, Angelica Langley, John Dengel, Dawn Kabela and a great newcomer to the contemporary divisions Jason Hutchens as well as top Louisiana champions were at their best to round out a great night.
Saturday’s competition consisted of traditional forms, underbelt and some black belt contemporary forms, point sparring and team sparring. With many of the same champions from the night before winning those divisions. Derrick Cox, Jason Horne, Joshua Quayhagen, Jacobie Gilder, Derrick Wilson, Johnnie Holbrook, Susan Langley and Burk Von all stood out with exceptional performances as they fought their way through the crowed to win in adult black belt point sparring.
Regina Thompson was her usual unstoppable self in the women’s point sparring and went on to win the women’s sparring grand championship. Derrick Cox fought it out with the other champions to win the men’s point sparring grand championship. Derrick is one of the best black belt point fighters in sport Karate today. My good friend Burke Von was the senior men’s point sparring grand champion.
The Junior contemporary forms grand’s were no less than spectacular. As in Friday night they were going all out and the judges had a tough job. I had them all even, I’m not kidding. I was glad someone else was judging. When the smoke cleared Clarissa Villanueva was the junior contemporary forms grand champion. Allan Bedruz won the Junior traditional forms grand with David Johnson winning the adult contemporary forms grand. In the adult black belt traditional forms grand’s David Johnson and Johnnie Murphy tied, ran again, tied again then David won the point off by the judges.
