There are a few people who seem to possess boundless energy. Every now and then you get to meet someone with that kind of vigor. Wayne Nguyen is one of those people. This guy never sits around and waits for a handout. Even when it seems he is on top of the world he is still coming up with something new and making it work. Mostly martial arts related enterprises have been his forte but he has also been bold enough to take on the latest innovations. His tournaments reflect his desire to be the future in modern martial arts events. Now affiliated with the Chuck Norris Kick Start system he teaches kids in need of a new start.
Wayne’s TKO Nationals is the NBL extension of his State Martial Arts league culminating in the TKO State championships. Wayne created the TKO almost twenty years ago. The first TKO or Texas Karate Organization was his creation. It represented his school and all his other endeavor’s. Over the last sixteen years Wayne’s tournaments have grown and today this event is just one of three every year encompassing three national and state organizations. The 2011 TKO Nationals was held on April 22 at the beautiful Sheridan Airport Hotel. Located just down from the George Bush International Airport.
Friday night started this two day event. As required in National Black Belt League “NBL”, the first night is usually the runoff of all weapons, contemporary forms, breaking, self defense and continuous sparring. Since some of the top world champions live in Texas, it is safe to presume many were there. Both veterans and current champions were in attendance. A classic example of this was black belt contemporary weapons where Chad Cannon, Marco Villanueva, Justin Jordan, Johnnie Murphy, Eric Cantu and several other champions making for world class competition. Chad Cannon pulled ahead for first.
During the Friday nights competition Daryl Stewart, Jan Shadoin, Jeff Shadoin, Cindy Galleo, John Pruiett, Chris Gallio, James Stevens and many other top NBL officials were present. As Friday night progressed many new champions evolved. In the black belt divisions David Tate won 12 to 14 traditional weapons and 12 to 14 creative weapons, Rommell Paul was first in boys 15 to 17 creative weapons and boys 15 to 17 traditional weapons, Sage Northcutt won boys 12 to 14 hard choreographed weapons, Nikolas Charalarmbides was the 11 and under boys creative weapons champion and Ronny Zapata won boys 11 and under traditional weapons.
Adult black belt weapons champions were Johnnie Murphy in the 35 plus black belt hard creative weapons and 18 plus traditional weapons. Justin Jordan won the men’s hard choreographed musical weapons division. Clarissa Villanueva, sister to Marco Villanueva was the women’s hard creative weapons champion and as discussed earlier Chad Cannon was the men’s hard creative weapons champion. Chad Cannon also won the men’s hard creative forms.
The contemporary black belt forms champions were Ronny Zapata – boys 10 to 11 hard creative forms, David Tate – boys 12 to 14 hard creative forms, Douglas Cyril – boys 15 to 17 hard creative forms, Jersan Kannady – junior soft forms and Suzanne Hernandez – girls 12 to 14 hard creative forms champion. Adult contemporary forms champions were Eric Cantu – men’s hard choreographed musical forms, Justin Jordan – men’s hard musical forms, Clarissa Villanueva – women’s hard creative forms and Bryce Marching ton – senior hard creative forms. Don’a Pettway was the adult black belt breaking winner.
Continuous sparring fighters battled it out on Friday night with and array of amazing fighters. These guys and gals train for full contact and non stop action. Most people aren’t aware that you don’t have to be a black to fight continuous in the NBL. As a result there have been a couple of under black belt’s winning world titles, mostly in the junior divisions. Junior Continuous champions were Frank Corona – 11 and under fly, Zion Walker – 11 and under light, Maritza Gaeta – 11 and under heavy, Anthony Corona – 12 to 14 boys light, John Garcia – 12 to 14 boys middle, Sage Northcutt – 12 to 14 boys heavy, Aaron Pomeroy 15 to 17 boys light, Ahasoub Abel – 15 to 17 boys heavy, Christina Ramsey – 12 to 14 girls feather and Angie Pardo who was the girls 15 to 17 continuous sparring champion.
Adult continuous sparring ran simultaneous with the junior continuous sparring during the Friday nights competition. Adult champions were Ashlon Smith – men’s feather, Carl Flores – men’s feather, Ryan George – men’s light middle weight, Ski Yaun Ware – men’s middle weight, Cristo Flores – men’s light heavy weight and the amazing Don’a Pettway who won the men’s super heavy weight continuous sparring rounding out the men’s fighters. Women’s point continuous champions were Yaresi Perez – women’s feather weight champion and Karen Schroeder who won the women’s light weight continuous sparring division.
Saturday morning had many bright eyed competitors warming up and wiping the sleep out of there eyes. Traditional forms divisions were first up along with large under black belt divisions filling the competition floor. After some kid wrangling and ordered chaos the black belts were up. Ronny Zapata was the 11 and under Japanese/ Okinawan champion, Reign Garza – 12 to 14 Japanese/Okinawan and Jersan Kannady – 15 to 17 Japanese/Okinawan champion. Ronny Zapata was again on top with his win in the junior Kenpo/Kajukenbo division. Korean Junior black belt champions were Maritza Gaeta 11 and under, Reign Garza – 12 to 14 champion and Nicholas Parker was first in the 15 to 17 division.
Men’s Japanese/Okinawan champion was Eric Cantu. Moriah Chatman won the adult Kenpo/kajukenbo division. Marco Villanueva surprised everyone taking out other great NBL traditional world champions for his win in the men’s Korean forms division. Alfredo Bustamonte was the soft forms champion. In her first year as and adult, Colby Northcutt won the women’s Korean and Japanese divisions. Derrick Wilson was the senior hard traditional forms champion and Ralph Urias took home the senior 45 plus hard traditional division.
Hordes of padded miniature warriors appeared after the forms were finalized. Point sparring fighters were up. To say some of these kids under black belt divisions were large is an understatement. Adult under black belt point fighters rounded out the preliminary sparring divisions. Junior black belt point sparring champions were Evan Brown – 11 fly weight winner, Sean Nguyen 11 under light weight champion and Shaun Northcutt – 11 and under middle weight champion. Ronny Zapata who seem to have won everything but the kitchen sink, was first in the 11 and under heavy weight point sparring. 12 to 14 champions were Anthony Corona – fly weight, John Garcia – middle weight, Sage Northcutt – heavy weight. In the 15 to 17 junior point sparring some all out action electrified everyone with James Urias winning the light weight division, Rommell Paul was first in the middle weight group and Matthew Cianciosi was the heavy weight champion. Girls junior black belt champions were Suzanne Hernandez girls 12 to 14 feather weight, Delynne Moore 12 to 14 light weight and Jasman Sherman who was the girls 15 to 17 point sparring champion.
Adult point fighters were up last and running even as the hotel staff were isolating part of the ball room for another event in that part of the room later Saturday night. Black belt men’s point sparring champions were Ashlon Smith – men’s fly weight champion, Luis Jimenez – men’s light weight, Ryan George – men’s light middle weight, Chad Cannon – men’s middle weight, Peter Chartouni – men’s light heavy weight, Garrett Lee – men’s heavy weight, Andrew Carrasco – men’s super heavy weight. Black Belt women’s champions were Sonia Moreno-White – women’s fly weight, Moriah Chatman – women’s feather weight, Colbey Northcutt – women’s light weight and Regina Thompson – women’s middle weight.
Senior point sparring divisions were some of the largest adult fight groups. The first place winners were Luis Jimenez – senior men’s light weight, Tony Mosley – senior men’s middle weight, Ronald George SR – senior men’s heavy weight and Tracy Snowden – senior men’s super heavy weight. Senior men’s 45+ champions were Johnnie Murphy – light weight and Ronald George SR heavy weight. Karen Schroeder was the senior women’s point sparring champion.
The Saturday night finals were held across the hall in a special large meeting ball room. This hotel was first class and the whole place radiated with elegant ambiance. Starting on time at 7PM many martial arts celebrities were present for the action. George and Chris Minshew, Tony Lopez and a long list of dedicated martial art heavy weights were there to officiate and witness the finals. The junior contemporary forms grand champion competition was won by up and coming Rommell Paul with his fast and powerful staff form. The adult contemporary forms showdown ignited as Chad Cannon, Eric Cantu, Marco Villanueva, Clarissa Villanueva and Johnnie Murphy were competing for the money. After some of the best competition of the whole event Johnnie Murphy and his powerful sword form captured the judges vote as he took home the grand championship and the money.
Next up was junior traditional forms grand’s. Again Rommell Paul proved his first win of the night was no fluke as he pulled ahead with a awesome Bo staff form for his 2nd Grand championship of the night. Then it was the adults turn. Derrick Wilson, Eric Cantu, Marco Villanueva and Johnnie Murphy ran for the money. After an amazing effort by all competitors Erick Cantu and his Gojushiho kata pulled ahead for his win in the traditional grand championship.
All the junior under belt grand championships were ran off on stage during the night with a variety of champions strutting their stuff and entertaining everyone. Most of the first place adult point sparring champions were running off for the final fight of the night. After a long series of fights the final competitions led to the dynamic duo of Ryan George SR and Ryan George who took home the senior and adult men’s grand championships.
Regina Thompson was the women’s point sparring grand Champion. Team sparring champions were also finalized. Boys team champions was Team Kickstart. Pettways TKO was the girls team champs and after a long drawn out series of fights, Team Gipsy emerged as the TKO Nationals men’s team point sparring champion.
This was one of the most impressive tournaments I have attended this year. I would have to give it high ratings for its location, judging and event quality. Wayne Nguyen, his family and the whole TKO organization need to be thanked for putting on such an impressive event.
