Life is full of surprises. Texas City has had its share of them. One day in 1947 by fateful chance the devil came to town and visited upon the people there a disaster of unimaginable proportions. A ship anchored at the Texas City port was caring a cargo of nitrate fertilizer. Early in the day it exploded. The blast was said to be equivalent to the atomic bomb that took out Nagasaka Japan two years earlier. Over six hundred people lost their lives, thousands were injured and half the city was destroyed. But remember this is Texas and the city with its name shook off this disaster and rebuilt their fair city. Today it remains a powerhouse of technology and engineering with one of the best petrochemical industries on the Gulf coast.
Texas City is also a sport karate centers of south Texas. Every year several open and traditional tournaments are held there. Many of these events are held at The College of the Mainland’s domed sports center. I have been attending tournaments there for at least fourteen years and have participated in some prestigious events at that location. My competitions there have yielded me several broken ribs, torn muscles and bruises all over. So I know this place well. It has made great martial artist simply through trial by combat. Some of the best Texas champions have cut their teeth at this place.
This years Battle of Texas was one of the best yet. Jessie and Cindy Benavidez was the host for this March 4th event. Cindy has fought and competed in the Texas AOK for over twenty years and her father, Jessie has produced top competitors for just as long. In attendance and officiating were powerhouse champions from the past. Darrell Stewart, Bob Beasley, Dave Mason, James Stevens, Mike Hill, Mike Tucker, Wayne Nguyen, Danny and David Bergerand, David Johnson, and Linda Denly were some of the dignitaries helping make this tournament run efficiently. Al Garza, former Texas Challenge promoter, ran this event with the efficiency of a well oiled machine. Some of his highly skilled students competed and elevated the level of competition.
There were over four hundred competitors and the whole gym was crowded. Many of the black belt forms and sparring divisions had more competitors than I have seen in many years at this event. Black belt forms had ten competitors. Andrew Carrasco last years Golden Greek adult male black belt winner took first place black belt forms and specialty. David Johnson was unstoppable in weapons, taking out everyone in a large division that included top competitors from the AOK. Courtney Allen was first in self defense. The Legendary Wayne Nguyen was the champion in thirty five plus forms while Johnnie Murphy won the forty five plus forms division. Cassie Hendon looked tight as she ran a powerful open form to win women’s forms. Margaret Beasley won executive women’s forms with Terese Pandolph winning two firsts in both women’s specialty and weapons. Cassie Hendon won the women’s forms grand championship and David Johnson took home the Men’s forms grand championship.
Junior black belt forms divisions were packed as many of the gulf coast best champions were present and gunning for their first place samurai sword sets. Black belt junior champions included NBL World Champion Jacob Holiguin. Jacob topped the 10 to 11 year old forms, 13 and under specialty and junior black belt weapons division. NBL World Champion Allen Bedruz won boys black belt 14 to 15 forms and the boys forms grand championship. Angela Cantu showed with an awesome Kenpo form and blew away all her competitors to win in girls 14 to 15 forms and she also won junior girls forms grand championship.
One of Al Garza’s amazing students Steven Smith won 16 to 17 forms and 14 to 17 black belt weapons with a dynamic precision nun chuck form. Other Junior black belt champions were Evelyn Mattes 10 to 11 year old forms, Brian O’grady 12 to 13 boys forms, Tyler Tuck 12 to 13 girls forms, Kyle Mclean 17 and under specialty.
Black belt junior sparring was up after the forms divisions concluded. Leading off was a tough boys 16 to 17 sparring division were Lostin Smith fought his way through a large division. Loston is one of those guys you should keep your eyes on. His explosive offensive is unmatched in his division and I’ve seen him show real heart coming from behind on several occasions to win with style. Usually he just destroys his competition but with top champions like the Varges brothers and Charlie Davidson in attendance his job was not easy and this made for some of the best matches in the tournament.
Charlie Davidson’s little brother James Davidson was another fighter who has great skill as he also fought his way through another large division to land on top after a nail biter against Garrett Lee. Garrett was ahead and in top form. James launched himself at the smaller Garret with Garrett utilizing great counter fighting and blitzes against James but as time ran out James was the champion by one point. Other junior black belt sparring matches were just as exciting and electrified the atmosphere of the tournament waking up everyone making them stand and shout for their favorite fighter.
Black belt adult sparring was larger than ever with some of the biggest divisions in the men’s executive category. Anthony Allen fought it out with other competitors from around Texas to pull up first in the large 35 plus light weight division. D.E. Chambers won in the executive heavyweight group and Barry Benton was first in the men’s 45 plus sparring category. The men’s light weight champion was Jamal Hassan who virtually destroyed his competition.
Jacobie Gilder ruled in the men’s middle weight sparring division taking on everyone and putting on an impressive show. Other Black belt champions were Antonio Anderson men’s adult heavy weight, Cassey Hendon women’s adult fly weight, Margaret Beasley women’s executive and Stephanie Nolte Barkdull women’s light weight. Margaret Beasley fought it out with Cassey Hendon and won the women’s sparring grand championship.
Men’s sparring grand championship ended up being a contest between Little Jamal Hassan and the much larger heavier Antonio Anderson and Jacobie Gilder. First up Antonio against Jamal. Jamal had speed while Antonio has reach and power. Jamal executed some quick moves and augmented blitzes against Antonio to take the victory after some scary moments with both competitors ending up out of the ring.
Last up was Jacobie Gilder and Jamal Hassan. They were playing there advantages to the max. As I have seen in the past Jamal used his speed and ring savvy wisely to score against the more experienced Jacobie. Jacobe managed to turn things around with his own phenomenal speed and dynamic kicking moves and ended up playing Jamal like a fiddle. Using time to his advantage Jacobie executed smart tactics to stay ahead and make Jamal try rushing with desperate blitzes thus running time out and winning the grand championship. Congratulations to the Benavidez family for another great Battle of Texas.
