2010 Dragon Rock Karate Classic

Nelda Edwards has been an important member of the Texas Amateur Organization of Karate for a long time. She can be seen at many of the tournaments helping make the events run efficiently. Adding in her personal touch has made for some successful events including the AOK State Championships. Nelda has also helped many AOK members and competitors in the recent past when they died by collecting donations and consoling the grieving families and mustering the Texas AOK membership to pitch in.

Producer Nelda Edwards with Grand Champion Chad Cannon - 2010 Dragon Rock

She found herself on the receiving side of the warmth from the organization when her husband died unexpectedly late in 2008. This most certainly left a great void for us all. It is hard to believe that she loved the Texas AOK so much that she continued to be a part of that years State Championships as best as possible and under the stress with the lost of a loved one. Nelda continues to treat the Texas AOK like one of her babies and we all owe her a debt of thanks.

It is no coincidence that Nelda’s tournament The Dragon Rock Karate Classic was one of the biggest events so far this year in the Texas AOK. Over four hundred competitors crowded the Givens Recreation Center to compete in this years Saturday April 10th 2010 tournament. Many of the divisions were big. As could be expected the kids divisions filled the rings with all belt levels. Many of the best judges and officials from the Texas AOK were on hand to help these big divisions run efficiently.

Now, when they said starting time is 9 AM, they weren’t kidding. First up were the black belt and under black belt forms, weapons and specialty. One of the first division up was 45 plus black belt forms where William Sheldon was first in an abnormally large senior executive division. Black belt executive women was also unusually large with Alma Vorties, Corrie Serrano, Karen Schroeder and Sheryl Quick competing for first place in forms. Sherly Quick emerged as the champion.

Then the 18 plus women’s kata ran with Martha Garcia taking the top spot. In a large 35 plus black belt men’s kata division Mike Polomo became the champion running up against other great competitors like Wayne Nguyen, Manuel Serrano, Daniel Perez, Anthony Allen, Bill Dyler, Carter Ware and Victor Dominguez. Manuel Serrano won the soft forms championship after a narrow victory over Colin Duffy. Courtney Allen was first in black belt self defense.

Clarissa Villanueva from south Texas was able to overcome great competitors like Eric Cantu, Colin Duffy and Justin Jordan for her victory in 18 plus black belt specialty. Some of the best martial artist in Texas were in the 18 plus black belt men’s kata. Chad Cannon pulled ahead with his air time and great tricks to win the men’s kata. Martha Garcia took home another victory for her win in the women’s 18 plus black belt k belt kata.

Another unusually large division was black belt executive specialty. This division had some real legends competing. With Wayne Nguyen, Johnnie Murphy, William Sheldon, Manuel Serrano, Anthony Allen, Zedrick Burnes and Charles Shedd all vying for top spot. After some amazing displays of skill and talent, William Sheldon and Johnnie Murphy were tied for first. William Sheldon was able to win the run off and took home first place.

As I said before big black belt divisions were on the card for the day as adult black belt traditional kata had no less than nine competitors. Now this was another amazing division filled with the best and well known competitors. After what I consider world class competition, and I would know, William Sheldon was able to overcome last years state champion, Eric Cantu, for his well deserved victory.

Chad Cannon - 2010 Dragon Rock

Black belt adult weapons was up. Now normally I don’t continue to make mention of division size but this was one of the biggest black belt weapons divisions I’ve seen since the 2009 Texas AOK State Championships. There were ten competitors present for the weapons competition and all were great. After all had performed their weapons forms Chad Cannon was first utilizing his dynamic open hand tricks to win first place. William Sheldon, Justin Jordan and Johnnie Murphy tied for second place. A run off allowed William Sheldon to emerge second place in what I can only say was an amazing division.

Some of the junior Black belt divisions were even bigger than the adult ones. David Tate emerged the champion in a massive 12 to 17 years old black belt specialty/ weapons division with his phenomenal dynamic staff form. The junior black belt kata divisions followed the size of the adult divisions. Sebastian Pedroza was first in the 10 to 11 years old black belt kata division. 12 to 13 years old kata had 12 competitors and took 45 minutes to run. David Tate ended up winning his second first place in another big division. Rommell Paul was the champion in the 14 to 16 years old kata division and our favorite champion Jersan Kannady took home the 16 to 17 years old black belt championship.

In junior point sparring many up and coming competitors were showing their stuff. I can’t over emphasize the large divisions in junior point sparring. Even with these big groups of competitors the Texas AOK judges and staff were able to terminate each division in an efficient manor. Safety is first with this organization and out of control competition is not tolerated. The tournament arbitrator was utilized only a couple of times and only for points of protocol. A well disciplined group of junior black belt fighters made this an outstanding competition.

Junior black belt 12 to 13 years old girls champion was Clarissa Rodriguez. The 16 to 17 boys champion was again Jersan Kannady. Other Junior black belt champions were 10 to 11 boys years – Blair Benton, 12 to 13 boys – Issac Jones, 14 to 15 boys and for an another trip to the winners position – Rommell Paul.

Adult point sparring ran last. Ashley Wood overcame Krystle Hirt for her win in the women’s 18 plus light weight division. Karen Schroeder did a great job in the women’s executive point sparring division for her win. Martha Garcia won the women’s fly weight division. By the way guys ever wonder why there is no women’s point sparring weight division over light weight or in some tournaments a middle weight division? Well lets just say, never ask a women her age or weight. Consider this a tip that will keep you happily married or dating for a long time.

David Tate - 2010 Dragon Rock

The men’s point sparring finalized the bulk of the competition. Black belt executive light weight men’s champion was Anthony Allen. Senior executive 45 plus division had 7 fighters. The final fight was between Mike Hill verses Chuck Timmons. Chuck ended up on top with a narrow victory over Mike Hill. Senior 35 plus black belt heavy weight came down to Courtney Allen and Daniel Perez with Daniel winning this division. After a series of great fights Jacobe Gilder won the men’s black belt light weight point sparring division. Jason Chartouni won the men’s middle weight division and Chad Cannon was first in the men’s black belt heave weight division.

In the adult grand championships it was to be Chad Cannons tournament. As he took out his competition in the kata/weapons division and then ended up taking home the men’s point sparring grand championship. The junior kata/weapons grand champions were David Tate and Joshua Ocompo. This concludes my observations on the Dragon Rock Karate Classic.