Academy of Universal Martial Arts - Eclectic Karate
15th Annual Open Tournament
Oliver Ames HS, Easton, MA
Saturday, May 19, 2007

SEMPER FI'S GOLDEN TOURNEY!

Eleven competitors from Semper Fi Tae Kwon Do, Swansea, MA entered 19 events and won 19 trophies at an AUA Tourney. The competition was held at Oliver Ames HS in Easton, MA. The Academy of Universal Martial Arts - Eclectic Karate held its 15th annual Open Tournament on Saturday, May 19. More that 225 martial artists competed According to co-owner and chief instructor Gil Woodside this was SFTKD's first tournament. “ We've been in business for 4 years and have shied away from tournaments because of the politics that plague many competitions.” At the encouragement of the founder of the Brotherhood of Martial Artists, Sensei Doug Veronsei (owner of Mr. V's Kempo, Rehoboth) Woodside and his partner, Swansea Police Officer, Shane Mello, with trepidation, entered some of their students in the tourney.

SFTKD walked away with thirteen 1st place trophies, four 2nd places, one 3rd place and one 4th place.

• Black Belt Keith Hyson won the Black Belt Forms division and placed 2nd in the Point Sparring event
• Red/Black belt Adam Clark took 1st place in Forms for his division
• Red/Black belt Kate St. Ours took 1st in her Point Sparring division
• Brown Belt Matt Machado took home gold twice by winning his division in Forms and Point Sparring
• Brown Belt Jordenn Martins struck gold twice by winning his division in Forms and Point Sparring
• Brown Belt Samantha Cote also took home 2 gold by winning the Brown Belt Division Point Sparring and Weapon Forms
• Blue Belt Brandon Hyson took 1st in Blue Belt Point Sparring and 2nd in Forms
• Blue Belt Sierra Lavoie took a 1st in Green Belt Forms and 2nd in Point Sparring
• Blue Belt Erica Britto took 1st in Blue Belt Forms and 4th in Point Sparring
• Green Belt Roland Lavoie took 2nd in Green Belt Forms and 3rd in Men's Point Sparring
• Yellow Belt Mike Brouillette took 1st in Yellow Belt Forms and 2nd in Men's Point Sparring

Making their success more meaningful is the fact that SKTKD trains in full contact sparring not point sparring. With the help of Sensei Veronsei SFTKD trained for 2 weeks in point sparring techniques and tactics. "We took 5 Point Sparring 1st's" beamed Woodside.” Oddly enough both the Black Belt Point Sparring and Forms Championships came down to a competition between friends, Keith Hyson of SFTKD and Ryan Veronesi of Mr. V's. Hyson finished 1st in Forms and 2nd in Point Sparring.