Daze and Knights

The preparation and execution of a Super Grands is equivalent to playing a year long chess game. When you first look at the set-up of a chess board and know how the pieces move, it appears simple enough, but ten moves into the game it seems as if you have the equivalent of a full fledged battlefield diagram. Just securing a Super Grands facility alone could be equated to a single chess game. Finding a facility with availability, enough function space, reasonably priced guest rooms and a list of other preferred amenities, then taking turns with the powers to be negotiating a deal, is all in all a separate game in and of itself that makes all the difference for the success of the event.

Then come the months of preparation where making all the right moves must be coordinated so that together they execute a flawless objective... to produce a smooth operating Super Grands... to win the success full game against all odds.

Until all the men on the chess board are captured or rendered harmless, the parameters of winning can change with any given play. Likewise with the Super Grands it only takes one wrong move to jeopardize all your strategic planing. While nothing weighs on the scale like having the entire gaming board pulled out from beneath you as Hurricane Katrina did to Super Grands 16, you might equate one of this years smaller challenges to the imaginary opponent prolonging his inevitable defeat by putting your king in check a couple of times just to harass you before he losses. As things were almost going to smoothly this year, one of the trucks containing ten large Super Grands road cases headed to the Games decided to completely disassemble on the New York State Thruway twenty miles outside the venue city of Buffalo, New York. While early enough in the game that attendees never knew the difference, the set-up schedule was on delay until enough other vehicles were rounded up to go and rescue the stranded equipment. Norkim to the rescue, the Super Grands awards company, Gord and Melanie Latimer volunteered their van for a couple of trips to put the game plan back on track.

As has been tradition for many a Super Grands, an overall event theme accompanies the six grueling days of competition. While ne’er an attendee can claim this isn’t the longest most intense tournament they attend each year, what they may not also know is that beyond their own long stay the staff is required one full week prior to and after the event for the set-up and teardown for such an elaborately themed affair. As if you wouldn’t have already known or guessed, this year’s event took on a heraldic medieval concept complete with a castle landscape constructed for five nights of Grand Finales. Emulating last year’s successful innovation, upon entering the Grand Ballroom of the Adam’s Mark Hotel, a laser tag playing field was once again constructed with a maze of towering obstacles, caves, cubby holes, hiding places, nooks and crannies, all set up to amuse and challenge the off-duty competitors and spectators alike. Separating the laser field from the rest of the Grand Finale room was a castle wall spanning the entire width of the room with a grand entrance in the middle flanked by towering turrets that led the way through the spectator seating to the Grand Finale stage and castle fortress. Once at the stage, four more castle towers and various crenelated walls surrounded the playing field. On each side of the stage the opposing players entered from their own castle tower via faux drawbridge onto the Finale stage. Forty medieval flame torches circumferenced the stage to give a soft illuminating golden ambiance that was enhanced with a misty fog that rolled out the tower entrances as the players passed over the draw bridge to the stage. There wasn’t a player or observer that didn’t’ pause in awe of the surroundings as they entered, transforming themselves into a make-believe world of long lost chivalry.

While no world title division on stage lacked for excitement and crowd appeal, there always seems to be a standout. Last year’s adult self defense consisting of Casey Marks versus David Denov must appropriately hand the reigns over to this year’s team forms division contestants. Conspicuously absent during this past tournament seasons’ competition was Ashley Artese and Dan Marshall both off to college. However they were secretly staging and practicing a dual routine with the hopes of making an unexpected SG appearance. Meanwhile the unlikely match up of Guatemala’s Edgar Cordova and Georgia, USA’s Corky Sikes were tearing up the competition circuit with their kama/sword routine. As it turned out the Artese/Marshall team did pull off a surprise attendance and an incredible daytime performance landing them in a tied situation against the Guate-Georgia duo before the two teams would meet again on the Finale stage. When the division came to stage it seemed as if all hell broke loose in the audience as many were observed atop their chairs and tables rallying for their favorites. The Ashley/Marshall team, backed by Team United, displayed a conservative synchronized routine of simultaneous high kicking and fast punching with a sparkle of unconventional facial expressions to end their classy routine. It could remind someone more of an olympic couples skating competition than a karate routine. In opposition the Sikes/Cordova team supported by a rousing GOP contingency with their hip-hop music, sporadic synchronization, mixed with mock self defense routine was equally entertaining and dynamic. So equally in fact that to the crowd’s delight, they tied! While many times a tie is loathed, here it became the highlight of the night with the crowd in a loud frenzy. Once again both pairs played out their routines never skipping a beat as the audience remained entertained and vocal. The final tally gave a victory to the United Team favorites and reassurance of SG unpredictability and excitement.

Meanwhile another pair of players were making history tying a record set in 1997. The competition of brother and sister, Sage and Colbey Northcutt, tied a brother/sister record of winning 10 world titles in one year with five apiece that was set by Brian and Shannon Gallagher exactly 10 years prior at Super Grands 7. And take a look at these other astonishing similarities. All four players won only one title in their first NBL winning year. All four represented a Texas based team when winning their five titles apiece. Both of the brothers won their five titles with one each in creative forms, musical forms and traditional weapons and two in sparring divisions. The sisters each won three forms, weapons or self defense titles and two sparring titles including one in team sparring and one in Korean forms. Wow! I wonder what could happen in 2017.

Unlike the Gallaghers in 1998 however, the Northcutts vow to return in 2008. I imagine Colbey, with 11 world titles, has her sights set on topping Regina Thompson’s all time record of 22 titles in the next few years. These two siblings top the scale with their diversity of competition as well as winning achievements in a variety of fighting and forms divisions. These charismatic kids are not only champions in the ring but model competitors as well never displaying a hint of disorderly conduct despite Sage’s mischievous smile.

It seems many of this year’s standouts came in pairs as another set of siblings broke all kinds of records as well. The Lewis brothers of Team EWO in Virginia racked up a total of five titles together for the most at a single Super Grands by a pair of brothers, With no walk-over matches they fended off the likes of Jordan Simon, Jorge Martinez, Mia Caldwell, Chris Martin, Josh Durbin and Kyle Gray.

While few sport karate world champions attempt a comeback after a couple years hiatus, any that do set their mind to it usually can pull it off. Such was the case of the white knight, Kyle Gray. Not seen in the national landscape for six years since he won four titles as a 10 year old at the 2000 Hollywood Super Grands. This clean cut, quiet teenager brought old fashioned basics to the floor, but he incorporated just enough extreme techniques to make him a stellar standout in his snow white uniform. Making the stage for four divisions he only earned one title but gained a lot of respect for his ability to rebound in a single season and an obvious respect by his peers for the following season.

After injures and accidents left Ronnie Ferguson and Brandon Bertsch a little depressed and sidelined a couple of years ago, both decided a comeback was in order this season. Bumping off some exceptional reigning world champions both won titles in weapons and point sparring. Ferguson never ceases to amaze. He still reigns with his six year longest span for a win in the same division racking up the senior hard contemporary world title from 1998 to 2003. Now over 50 years in age, he’s winning in weapons and fighting and nothing looked sluggish about his performances. Bertsch on the other hand is still basically a rookie adult, only in the adult category for his second Super Grands, but he unseated Cody Hackman for the traditional weapons title and topped former world champion Jeff Tiller for the super heavyweight point sparring title.

And speaking of old knights that never die, Larry Tankson finally accomplished a decade of continuous years winning a point sparring world title. Along his path lay a karate who’s who of victims from his wins in 18+, 35+ and 45+ divisions. He could retire knowing that no one could surpass his title for at least four years (Trevor Nash has 6 in a row presently) but as yet there has been no announcement. Bets are on that he can make it to eleven!!!!

The Super Grands is a team affair where both school teams and sponsored teams become seasoned royalty over the years. Winning top spots as the number one team or number one school is fiercely contended with few ever breaking into the top ten spots for the coveted school awards.

One such sponsored team making noteworthy news however has to be Team B.O.S.S. If you don’t know who they are you’re obviously not the tournament promoter on the other end of the phone line fielding the multitude of phone calls from team coach and organizer, Dave Quenzel. Nor are you the player in a point fighting match against one of the orange clad team members. While Team B.O.S.S. can’t quite claim to be overall team boss yet at the SG they did rack-up three adult wins in both point sparring and continuous sparring. Their roster of talent ranges from South Carolina to West Virginia with a promised expanded growth for 2007.

As runner-up team again this year, Team DDX has to be one of the most admirable teams in sport karate history. Organized by Denise Jenson of Oregon and coached by Morgan George, this year they exemplified the epitome of talent and player modesty as a whole. Their serene gray, black and white uniforms were seemingly popping up in every adult division and many times they were headed to the Grand Finale, this year winning 10 titles.

But by far the diverse GOP Team ranked number one with their variety of top notch players, each with their own unique and outgoing personalities. After all, find another team in sport karate history that can attest to the amusement offered by Regena Thompson, Chris Gallio and Cindy Gallio especially when they’re rivaling each other. They garnered 18 or so (sometimes I’m never too sure who really is on their team) world titles between their juniors and adult.

Few school teams will ever rival the likes of Corky Sikes’ Team Strike Force from Jesup, Georgia. This 2005 reigning school team has won four of the last five Super Grands as the overall number one sport karate school in the world, however still remains four titles shy of the record eight wins by Schumann’s Kenpo of Guatemala City, Guatemala. They reigned with one exception from 1992 to 2000. Besides the Strike Force leader himself winning two titles, his 11 year old protegee, Gene Middleton, kept Jacob Holguin from winning four titles this year with his win in 11 and under creative weapons. Speaking of Holguin this twelve year old looking 18, grabbed three forms titles adding to the credits of K-2 Karate School in Houston, Texas. With instructor David Johnson’s title and two won by Alan Bedruz, K-2 won six titles, the most by any school team for the second year in a row. Tied with five world titles apiece was Ron Ferguson’s Team FX, Edwin Alejandro’s Team EWO, Trevor Nash’s Team United and Laco Villanueva’s Team Alchemy. Alchemy was also the third most winningest school overall.

It’s not hard to spot a Team Alchemy player with the pin stripe and red uniforms nor is it hard to find any of them... just head to the junior NBL sparring divisions. Between Derek Torres, Kevin Torres and Anthony McGinnis they cashed in for four titles combined with forms champion Darrell Lewis for their fifth.

Canada’s United Family Karate headed by fearless leader Trevor Nash’s victory in team fighting was furthered with Shane Baker’s two sparring wins and Steckham’s wins in fighting and weapons... Melissa Steckham’s wins that is! This NBL rookie with the famed brother may not have expected to even make it to the stage let alone expect to beat both her opponents going into the Finale; having previously lost once in her point sparring and being the underdog in her weapons division. I’d hate having to be the more experienced older brother living with that for the next year.

Xtreme Martial Arts from Virginia moved into fourth place as the most overall winningest school with the return of Ronnie Ferguson leading the way with two titles for Team FX. Lauren and Brice Ferguson’s three wins gave Team FX a total of five. While it may appear like a family affair Ronnie is actually no relation to the brother and sister pair. Rounding out those schools winning five first place world titles was Edwin Alejandro’s EWO Team with the Lewis brothers wins.

For the second year in a row Victoria Karate of Victoria, Texas was runner-up overall school champions. With the union of Luis Jimenez and Dawn Kabela, titles won by Kabela herself along with Sergio Calva and Jonathan Garcia left them with three first place world titles.

We’d be remiss without mentioning the Guatemalan teams where both Schumann’s Kenpo and Luis Morales’ Karate Action walked away with three each. And if you’re thinking Karate Action wins were all thanks to the dynamo Jorge Martinez, guess again. Rookie Sara Escriba pulled off one of these rare “Hackman” scenarios, tying for second place in the eliminations, winning the run-off and proceeding to the Grand Finale and upsetting the favorite to win the title. In her case the women’s creative weapons division.

Well it’s been seventeen games in a row and all have been winners. None seemed to be the perfect game, but each time the Super Grands innovates and improves. None the less it never ceases to have its challenges leiden with surprises as well. That’s what makes the Super Grands the Super Grands and the most coveted title to win in sport karate.