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THE
FIRST A.O.K NORTH REGION
TOURNAMENT
OF
2002
Tony Jordan
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Presented
The
5th Annual |
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GRAY
EAGLE
OPEN KARATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday,
February 2, 2002
Fair
Park
Dallas,
Texas
Below are the
results with story by Johnnie Murphy... I apologize for not having stories
sooner...
2002
Gray Eagle
By
Johnnie Murphy
Dallas Texas is a place where some of the nations
greatest sports events are held. The Gray Eagle Open
Karate Tournament and the evening Kick Boxing
Tournament were no exception. It stands head and
shoulders above the rest of the top karate
tournaments in the region. Attendance was up
dramatically from 2001. Competitors came from across
the State of Texas for the chance at tough
competition. Tony
Jordan promoted this years Gray Eagle Tournament at
Dallas Fair Park in the Tower Building on February
2, 2002. It was a bright sunny day with a clear blue
sky, a perfect day for an event of this caliber.
This
years tournament was held in association with the
Tay Son Nhan Martial Arts Association for which Tony
Jordan is the Chief Instructor in the USA. The Gray
Eagle was sanctioned by the Texas A.O.K and the TKO
State circuits as well as the WCMA World Circuit.
The Saturday kick boxing show was sanctioned by the
T.A.C.K.A. (Texas Amateur Contact Karate
Association) kick boxing organization. David Mason,
head of T.A.C.K.A. and son of the now deceased Walt
Mason, was in attendance to oversee the kick boxing
part of the event.
Beautiful
eagle statue awards are the trademark of the Gray
Eagle tournament. Tony and Johnetta Jordan spared no
expense to make this event an experience that would
be remembered by all who in attendance. Well run
rings and plenty of experienced judges kept things
running efficiently. Tony Jordan was working hard to
ensure that there were no problems.
Black
belt adult divisional forms champions were Bear
Loebe who won black belt specialty and hard style
forms. Corey Grimm - soft forms, Corley Hamill -
executive black belt forms, Chandra Miller - women
forms, Dawn Mauer - executive women’s forms, James
Cox - self defense and Wayne Nguyen winning black
belt weapons. The Junior black belt forms champions
were Michael Cartwright 12-13, Cassie Hendon 14- 15
and Alex Wiik 16-17 junior black belt forms forms.
James Davidson was the 17 and under black belt
specialty/weapons champion.
Black
belt sparring concluded with some of the best
competition sparring available and included several
national and world champions. Angel Huerta won men’s
black belt light weight sparring with Bear Loebe
first in men’s middle weight and Chuck Timmons Jr.
won the men’s heavy weight black belt sparring
division. Other adult sparring champions were
Rebecca Mcspadden who won the women’s sparring,
Tracy Anderson took home the executive sparring
title, Normon Roberts took on the heavy weight
executive crowed in the largest black belt adult
sparring division of the tournament and after a
close fight with Chuck Timmons Senior, won a tough
divisional title. Margaret Beasley was the women’s
executive sparring champion.
Junior
black belt sparring champions were Michael
Cartwright winner of boys 12 - 13 sparring, Virginia
Chisholm 12-13 girls sparring, Robert Warever boys
14-15 sparring and Clarissa Rumphs, who was the
girls 14 - 17 black belt sparring, champion. In one
of the toughest junior fights of the event Alex Wiik
took on Cody Lafon in boys black belt 16-17 sparring
and ended up in first place.
Under
belt divisions concluded with new talent emerging
and lighting the way for a bright future in Sport
Karate. These kids and adults get better each year
with the pool of talent growing in size and skill.
Some of these kids looked like they had a gymnastics
background and pulled off some amazing tricks in
their open divisions. Some the best under belt
competition came in the specialty/weapons divisions
where large numbers of competitors were vying for
the win. Beginner Specialty/Weapons won by Johnathon
Hagler, JeremyBarara won the intermediate junior
specialty/weapons division and Kari Spann was the
advance weapons/specialty champion. Beginner and
intermediate adult specialty/weapons champion was
Annette Thornburgh and Cindy Scheaffer took home the
adult specialty/weapons title.
Later
on during the night Tony Jordan and David Mason
teamed up to put on Championship Kick Boxing
matches. Some of the best kick boxers in the region
showed up to compete in a show that included TAKKA
Texas Titles. The tough competition had several
knock down moments and provided nonstop ring action.
Many Dallas celebrities in the martial arts and
fighting community were there to witness the action.
Hundreds of people packed the Fair Park Tower
building for a chance to see their favorite champion
in action. The event concluded with a tribute to the
late Walt Mason, and then a final series of title
fights.
If
you missed this year's event… make plans now to
attend next year's event to be held in the same
location on February 1, 2003. It promises to be even
bigger and
"Thank you
for your support of the Gray Eagle ....."
Tony Jordan
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