CONTEMPORARY FORMS TITLES

9 & Under Hard Creative Forms (N-1)
Last year we commented on the typical turn over of players in this youngest of creative forms divisions and the unusual two year record by Sage Northcutt to win the title. Well step aside for the youngest prince of forms as Sage handily won it thrice, 49.95 to 49.90 over California's Jamie Nakamura. But this wasn't just a record for the 9 and under division as this is also the first time any junior player has won the same forms division age grouping three years in a row. Now a win next year in 12-14 would tie a different record set by Jorge Martinez and Mia Caldwell of four creative forms titles in a row by any player advancing in age. Northcutt hails from Katy, Texas. Jamie Nakamura trains with the famed Sasaki Kenpo school. Jared Presley of Georgia's Strike Force Team took third.

10 to 11 Hard Creative Forms (N-2)
The big turn over actually appeared in this division this year where none of the top four remained the same names. NBL rookie Renato De Leon of Texas came within one one-hundredth of 2003 creative forms champion, Brice Ferguson, in the eliminations but fell two one-hundredth short on the veteran in the Finale to leave Ferguson with his second NBL world title. De Leon is a member of Team Alchemy and Ferguson of Team FX in Virginia. Third place was taken by Andres Zelaya of Porres Kenpo Karate in Guatemala.

12 to 14 Hard Creative Forms (N-3)
Emulating last year, the winners of the eliminations wound up in a tie. One half of the equation last year was Jorge Martinez of Guatemala who, along with last years third runner up, Adam Lewis, each scored 29.94 this year. Intensity and skill level ran no higher than in this division where the tied run-off gave Lewis a narrow edge and lead position going into Grand Finale 3. With fanatical aerials, gymnastics and trix abounding the pair brought the house down, but it was Lewis, sporting his devilish looking smile, that got the judges nod and took the title from Martinez. Lewis represents Team EWO from Virginia and Martinez represents Karate Action from Guatemala. Top Team’s Josue Guerrero of Texas took third.

15 to 17 Hard Creative Forms (N-4)
If there was any division considered a no contest at the Super Grands this ran the closest. While Josh Durbin, Justin Lewis and Kyle Gray ran neck to neck in the majority of the 15-17 year old divisions, Gray ran away with this one. Wholloping Lewis 28.63 to 28.55 in the eliminations he did it twice over with a 49.97 to 49.90 in the Finale including a whopping three scores of 10.00. Gray’s clean technique was enviable as he took his first world title since his six year hiatus after winning four world titles back in 2000. Gray trains at Cain's TKD in New York and Lewis under Edwin Alejandro in Virginia. Josh Durbin of Colorado took third.

11& Under Hard Choreographed Musical Forms (N-5)
Skin and bones is generally what you find under the uniform top of most of the younger set. Not so with Sage Northcutt as he shed his top exposing the physique of an older youth. Regardless of the showmanship he topped Gene Middleton in the eliminations who in turn ousted Ryan Young in a tie breaker to claim the second place spot. By one one-hundredth Middleton earned the right to challenge Northcutt again on stage, but again Northcutt was handily victorious with his form "Intensity" over Middleton's "Rage", reversing the places each took last year in this division. Sage represented Team GOP; Gene, Team Strike Force and Ryan, Team United of Canada.

12 to 14 Hard Choreographed Musical Forms (N-6)
Last year's top two champions were both back again this year in the same age category. While Adam Lewis stole Jorge Martinez' 12-14 creative forms title this year, it wasn't going to be that easy in the musical counterpart. Martinez won the eliminations and in one of those rare instances topped the same player in the Grand Finale with the same score as last year 29.95 to 29.90. While all the judges gave Lewis the nod in creative, all did just the opposite in musical. Next year Lewis moves up in age bracket. He is from Team EWO, Martinez from Karate Action. Kevin Nebeker of the All Star Team in Utah was third.

15 to 17 Hard Choreographed Musical Forms (N-7)
Chris Martin of Hobbs, New Mexico advanced to the Finale stage for his first time meeting last years fourth place Justin Lewis of Lynchburg, Virginia. Both contenders had all the trix down pat but Lewis, the multi-year veteran, won by four one-hundredths to complete his triple crown world title wins for the year. Martin moves to adult next year while Lewis has the choice of junior or adult. Martin trains under Bryce Marchington and Lewis with Edwin Alejandro. Kyle Gray of New York took third. Last year's champion Felipe Alvarez, fell to the fourth place position.

Junior Hard Open Musical Forms (N-8)
Usually open musical is for the intense, crazy, unconventional players that can be totally off the wall. I wouldn't necessarily of expected Kyle Gray to show up here. Joshua Durbin, of course. But these two headed to the Grand Finale with Gray actually the leader by one one-hundredth. Durbin was his crazy self with some fanatical aerials and fast paced hand work. Gray was fast as well exhibiting his clean basics. In the end Durbin outscored Gray 29.98 to 29.95 with a whopping four judges scores of 10.00, tied for the highest score of the Games. Gray hails from the Super Grands home town of Buffalo and Durbin from Colorado under Steve Amaro. Justin Lewis took third this time around.

Junior Soft Open Forms (N-9)
Allan Bedruz of K2 Karate in Houston, Texas has been quietly racking up world title wins over the past four years and after topping Silvio Scarcella of Woodbridge, Canada in this division this year he has wound up with a total of six. Incredibly versatile, he has titles in creative, Japanese, Korean, soft and Kenpo divisions. I can't recall too many other players winning all those forms divisions. He trains under Dave Johnson and Scarcella under Doug Job. Wait a minute...... he trains under Dave Johnson in soft style? Yea, I'd like to see Dave Johnson do the soft style that Bedruz does !?!

11& Under Female Hard Creative Forms (N-10)
This division said good bye to the three year reign by Mia Caldwell this year. Directly across the border from Caldwell's home in El Paso, Narda Beas of Jacob Tapia's Top Team in Juarez, Mexico stepped up to the plate and snatched the title with some clean looking kicks. She'll not only be a force to be reckoned with in the future but so will runner-up Michelle Sims of Pinnacle Karate in Utah whose karate yell will perk up the most inattentive. Cearra Cargo of Team FX took third.

12 to 14 Female Hard Creative Forms (N-11)
Mia Caldwell's new challenge this year came from her own home town of El Paso, Texas. Caldwell, of the Top Team and Stephanie Rosles of Team Alchemy went head to head with Caldwell winning both the eliminations and the title on stage in Grand Finale 3. This marks her fourth creative forms title in a row tying Jorge Martinez' record. Second runner up was won by Shanna Young of Team EWO in Lynchburg, Virginia.

15 to 17 Female Hard Creative Forms (N-12)
Despite Sophi Terry's lowly second place regional seed she persevered to place second just under reigning champion Lauren Ferguson. But in the Finale Ferguson again showed why she's the champ displaying a variety of creative techniques adding a win for her Team FX in Virginia. Terry hails from Papo Villarubia's GRMAC in Rochester, New York. Krystle Seley of Laco Villanueva's Team Alchemy, took third.

Junior Female Hard Choreographed Musical Forms (N-13)
With last year's champion, Clarissa Villanueva, failing to show, runner-up Mia Caldwell had the way paved to win this girls musical forms division. And indeed, she topped her younger rival, Michelle Sims, 49.95 to 49.90 to win her first musical forms title after three prior years in the runner-up positions. Caldwell hails from El Paso, Texas and Sims from Washington Terrace, Utah. Narda Beas of Juarez, Mexico took third place.

Men’s Hard Creative Forms (N-14)
Last year's musical forms runner-ups went head to head three times this year in creative forms before a champion emerged. Taking second and third in this division last year, Jerico Catura of Team DDX and Bear Loebe of Team Focus tied in the eliminations. Catura won the run-off by one one hundredth and topped Loebe again by a mere two one-hundredths to win the title back after taking second last year's to Eric Wilson. Catura displayed moves uniquely his own adding a flavorful touch to his form. He hails from San Jose, California and Loebe from Houston, Texas. Andrew Cabilan of Ontario, Canada took third.

Adult Hard Choreo-graphed Musical Forms (N-15)
Darrell Lewis was back from his vacation of a few years and was looking as good as ever. He topped Jerico Catura by three one-hundredth utilizing his patented high flying moves. However Catura tightened it up within one one-hundredth in the Grand Finale, but still leaving Lewis with the win. Lewis represents Team Alchemy and Catura Team DDX. Ashley Artese of New Jersey, took third.

Adult Hard Open Musical Forms (N-16)
It was a Bear Loebe verses Jerico Catura again in the open musical forms division. After leaving Sara Escriba of Guatemala in third the pair went to the Grand Finale with Catura as the favored eliminations player. Being the Super Grands any thing can happen and did as high and close scoring with a total of five 10.00's handed out, left Catura one one-hundredth behind the shirtless Loebe. Loebe is now the winner for a second year in a row. He heads up Johnnie Murphy's Team Focus while Catura is the top men's forms player for Team DDX.

Adult Soft Contemporary Forms (N-17)
If you can figure Rommel Gargoles’ wins and losses out you're doing better than I am. He used to compete all the time and lose. Now you never see him compete so he wild cards his division and wins! After loosing the elimination by one one-hundredth to Can-Am first place seeded Adam Hoke and topping, by one one-hundredth, West-Pac first place seeded Roark Hodson, he advanced to Grand Finale 4. In the finale he topped Hoke by 49.94 to 49.92. Gargoles lives in Blackwood, New Jersey, Hoke in Rome, New York and Hodson somewhere in the backwoods of Utah.

Women’s Hard Creative Forms (N-18)
It would be hard to picture a Super Grands with out Ashley Artese or Melissa Sioson as they have both been fixtures in NBL since their junior years. Even through their college years they have faithfully showed up to strut their stuff. The best part about each is the forever smile you receive from them. Sioson won a tied run off against Ashley Davies in the eliminations to take on Artese again in the Finale. As she has pulled off the last four years previously, Artese won her creative forms division leaving her the undisputed women's contemporary forms championship. She hails from New Jersey, Sioson from Northern California and Davies from Southern California.

Senior Hard Contemporary Forms (N-19)
Ronnie Ferguson ruled this division for six years from 1998 to 2003 when an injury right be before the 2004 Super Grands knocked him out of contention. Now with a two year rule, David Johnson was to be challenged by the former champion. With one of those hair splitting scores, Johnson topped Ferguson in the eliminations utilizing an unseeded position. In the Finale these two players performed looking years younger than they really are. After all, how many fifty years olds like Ferguson do you see pulling off full splits in their forms? Johnson won the Finale stretching his run of victories to three continuous years. Johnson operates K2 karate in Houston, Texas and Ferguson runs Xtreme Martial Arts in Martinsville, Virginia. Dave Coppock of Colorado took third.

Senior Women’s Hard Contemporary Forms (N-20)
It's hard to believe that in-between winning this title last year and vying for it again this year that Dawn Kabela gave birth to a cute little girl. Christine Fisher of Ohio gave Kabela a run this year as the pair tied 29.55 in the eliminations. Kabela won the run off by one one-hundredth and the Finale by three one-hundredths, but it was a close call for this two year champion. Kabela heads Victoria Karate Academy in Texas and Fisher co-operates Rising Star Karate with her husband in Loudonville, Ohio. Julayne Shiflett of Team B.O.S.S. took third.

TRADITIONAL FORMS TITLES

11 & Under Japanese/ Okinawan Forms (N-21)
Jacob Holguin and Sage Northcutt shared the Pan Am number one seed and wound up sharing the top two positions of this very competitive division as well. Meanwhile Michelle Sims won a tied run off against Kevin Houser to take third place again this year. Holguin topped Northcutt for the preferred position going into the Grand Finale. With both Texas practitioners performing Goju-Shiho-Dai, the judges saw a very close match-up awarding each player either a 9.99 or 9.98. Holguin received one more 9.99 that Northcutt to win the title two years in a row. He is trained by Dave Johnson and Northcutt by Adam Longoria.

12 to 14 Japanese/ Okinawan Forms (N-22)
With kids from the USA, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala, this packed division looked like a who's who of 12 to 14 year olds in sport karate. With last years top two champs moving into the 15 to 17 year old division it was any ones guess as too who would dominate. Austin Cooke of North Carolina, was up half way through the division, missed second place and a chance to go to the Grand Finale by one one-hundredth. He won his tied run off against Miguel Soto of Mexico for third. Left in the top slots were last years fourth and eighth place 11 and under winners Colbey Northcutt and Jordan Simon. With Northcutt performing Goju-Dai and Simon doing Unsu the judges decisively picked Northcutt as the winner. She trains under former junior Japanese champion Adam Longoria in Texas while Simon trains under Five time Japanese champion, Lelagi Togisala in California.

15 to 17 Japanese/ Okinawan Forms (N-23)
The top two 2005 winners of the 12 to 14 year old division moved up this year to face reigning champion Felipe Alvarez of Guatemala and it couldn't have been a much closer contest. Alvarez and last years younger champion, Sergio Calva of Mexico, tied at 29.35 leaving the United States representative, Torren Davis one one-hundredth behind in third place. In the Finale the two Latinos went head to head with Alvarez winning his second year title. Alvarez hails from Schumann's Kenpo and Calva from VKA-Zen Martial Arts.

11 & Under Kenpo /Kajukenbo Forms (N-24)
Jacob Holguin rebounded from a defeat by Sage Northcutt last year topping him 28.87 to 28.79 in the eliminations. Holguin performed Shensi on stage to Northcutt's Comni and beat him once again by five one-hundredths for this year’s title. Holguin trains Kenpo from Dann Baker and Northcutt from Willie Galvan, both NBL Kenpo world champions themselves. Jaime Nakamura of Sasaki Kenpo took third place.

12 to 14 Kenpo/ Kajukenbo Forms (N-25)
Canada, Guatemala and the USA filled the top spots in this division. While last years champion Allan Bedruz moved up in age to the next division, Colbey Northcutt moved up into this division. She took on Jorge Martinez of Guatemala topping him with room to spare in both the eliminations and the Grand Finale. Third place was won by Silvio Scarcella of Canada who trains under Jamie Seabrook.

15 to 17 Kenpo/ Kajukenbo Forms (N-26)
Allan Bedruz made an easy transition into the 15 to 17 year old division taking last year’s title prowess right along with him defeating Ernie Robledo in the eliminations 28.88 to 28.84. The Grand Finale was more of a challenge as Robledo, performing Long Six, pulled within one one-hundredth. Bedruz trains at K2 Karate in Houston, Texas. Robledo trains from multi world champion Jody Sasaki in Oxnard, California. Last years champion, Felipe Alvarez of Guatemala, took third.

11& Under Korean Forms (N-27)
After his second place standing to Colbey Northcutt last year, Kevin Houser of Elite Martial Arts in New Jersey was the run away victor this year with his rendition of Koreo. Trouncing his closest opposition 29.30 to 29.18 he proceeded to Grand Finale 3 where he won the favor of all the judges to win his first NBL world title. Left in the wake was Gene Middleton who topped Jonathon Rios in a tied run off for the right to go to stage against Northcutt. Houser is a member of Team RCU, Middleton a member of Team Strike Force and Rios of Team Langley.

12 to 14 Korean Forms (N-28)
The top three in this division all advanced from 11 and under last year. Left in third place was Mia Caldwell (Can you believe she’s really 12 now?) of team EWO. Left for the Grand Finale was 11 and under reigning champion Colbey Northcutt and last years fourth place victor, Frankie Fernandez. Both performed Gae-Baek, but the sharpness of Northcutt caught the nod by all seven judges giving her one of her five world titles of this years Games. Northcutt trains TKD from Bear Loebe and Fernandez trains under Rick Lee in South Carolina.

15 to 17 Korean Forms (N-29)
How would you like to be called Dippy? Well the world title winner of this division is regularly call that an just smiles at the nickname. Dipankan Bhattachrya (and don't ask anyone to pronounce it) narrowly topped the sharpness of Kyle Gray in the eliminations, but handily beat Gray by five one-hundredths in the Finale. Both are top notch Korean stylists. Gray performed Gae-Baek and Dippy played out Koreo. Sergio Calva from the State of Mexico in Mexico took third place.

Men’s Japanese/Okinawan Forms (N-30)
Cody Hackman's curse returned at he slipped back into oblivion at third place. With many of the prior Super Grands Japanese world champions not competing (three were in attendance however) the field narrowed to two new players previously unknown as top two contention. Andrew Cabilan, Japanese sized in stature, topped the eliminations scoring with Georgia's Corky Sikes on his heels only separated by one one-hundredth. Again By one one-hundredth Cabilan topped Sikes with his form Gopi-Sho to win his first NBL world title. Cabilan is a member of the Pro Rank Team while Sikes heads Team Strike Force.

Adult Kenpo/Kajukenbo Forms (N-31)
The last time Mexico’s Julio Domingo attended the SG back in 2003 he only managed eighth place. Back again this year the thirty year old tied Colorado’s David Coppock at 28.08 all and won the run-off before heading for Finale 4 for the showdown. Despite the super size of both players they move with every bit of confidence, dexterity and speed as needed in Kenpo forms. With his Cho Pao form Domingo won the division and his first NBL world title. Multi NBL world champion Dann Baker took third place.

Men’s Korean Forms (N-32)
Every Korean world champion since 1998 was in attendance with one exception despite the fact they didn’t all compete. Last year’s champion, Edgar Cordova of Guatemala, took third. Left for the title was 2004 world champion Jerico Catura with newcomer Andrew Cabilan. Cabilan gave a great rendition of Gae-Baek but it was Catura’s Ulijiyung that gained the favor of six of the seven judges and gave him his second title as the Korean king. Cabilan hails from Canada and Catura from California.

Adult Soft (no Wushu/Kenpo) Forms (N-33)
Roark Hodson has been runner-up for ever in this division and again this year took a deficit of five one-hundreds to the eliminations winner Adam Hoke. Well chalk one up for Team Independence. In a rare reversal after such a difference in eliminations scoring, Hodson topped Hoke by a mere one one-hundredth giving him his first traditional soft style title world title. Hodson calls Utah home while Hoke is from nearby Rome, New York. Jonathan Atiya of Utah was third.

Women’s Japanese/Okinawan Forms (N-34)
Melissa Sioson has placed as a runner-up in the top four positions for the last four years. This year she found herself pitted against last year’s champion Daniela Barrientos. Barrientos has a long standing history in NBL, winning this title twice. But this year Sioson, representing her new Team GOP and executing the form Gopei-Sho, topped Barrientos in both the eliminations and by a mere one one-hundredth in the Grand Finale. Barrientos who hails from Mexico performed Jei-Pai. Sioson is from Jim Buhisan’s USA Martial Arts in San Jose, California. Carrie Goldbeck of North Carolina took third.

Women’s Korean Forms (N-35)
Who said unseeded players can’t win? Ashley Artese hadn’t been to any tournaments during the season to catch a seed so this reigning champ entered without one. She topped “Apple” Sioson both in the eliminations and the Grand Finale to retain the title. Artese performed Gae-baek while Sioson performed Kon Sang Ku. Artese is from New Jersey when not in college in Virginia. Sioson, GOP’s newest team member, is from California. Unison’s Ashley Davies took third.

Senior Hard Traditional Forms (N-36)
Cody Hackman set a trend last year winning a tie breaker for second in the eliminations only to go to the Grand Finale and beat the eliminations first place victor. This same scenario happened an incredible four times this year including in this division. Johnny Watkins of North Carolina tied Federico Aguilar of Guatemala for second, one one-hundredth behind David Johnson. Watkins won the run-off and advanced to beat Johnson in the Finale 49.94 to 49.91. Watkins is a member of Team MVKC, Johnson the founder of Team K2 and Aguilar a representative of Team GOP from Schumann’s Kenpo Karate.

Senior 45+ Hard Traditional Forms (N-37)
When Chris Jensen isn’t yackin’ on SportMartialArts.com’s forum he must be training. He returned to the SG this year more determined than ever to win a world title. Only one one-hundredth separated both Jensen and Ronnie Ferguson and Ferguson and Dann Baker in the eliminations with Jensen and Ferguson going to the Grand Finale. Jensen performed the Korean form Kan San Goon while Ferguson did the Japanese from Goju-Shiho-Dai. Jenson won by two one-hundredths. He hails from Foster City, California where he runs Golden State TKD. Ferguson is the head of Team FX from Martinsville, Virginia.

TEAM FORMS TITLES

Open Team Forms (N-38)
As reported in the SG write-up, this year’s team forms division virtually brought the house down. After ties between the team of Ashley Artese/Dan Marshall and Corky Sikes/Edgar Cordova in the eliminations, they tied again in Grand Finale 1 for the world title run-off. With Team United backing Artese/Marshall and GOP behind Sikes/Cordova the room was a noisy as a high school football rally. Artese/Marshall won the run-off. Third was won by a Mexican team headed by Juan Gonzalez.