The day started off at 9am spectacularly with an awesome display of demonstrations from both the Junior and Senior divisions. The Junior being won by Robyn Lane from Tang Soo Do with an amazing performance using Bo Staff, closely followed by Andrew Richardson from North West Martial Arts Academy. Andrew also won the 10-11yrs 5 th – Black Forms division, while close on his heels were Jake Baigent Still and Jazziniho Basaras both from Go-Kan Ryu. Following on from this was some entertaining Creative Form from Mr Brett Mundy of Akuma Tora Shotokan Karate. All the children’s Continuous Sparring divisions were amazingly large and the winners of all had a tough job on hand by the sheer volume of rounds to become the champion.

8-9 years 5 th – Black forms was won by the younger of the Lane sisters Kendal, with Savannah-Louise Gockelen from Fudo Shin Ryu 21 st Century coming 2nd.

Jeremy Allen from Khalsa Karate Confederation beat the Round 1 champion Andrew Spink from Excel in a truly spectacular Male Open Forms division. Carl Thomas from North West Martial Arts Academy came 3 rd.

Terry McCarthy from Learn-TKD.com who was unable to compete in Round 1 due to a broken hand, had recovered enough to compete in Round 2 and came a close 2 nd to Derek Fairminer of Khalsa Karate Confederation (David Elliott of Combat karate coming 3 rd) in the male Intermediate Sparring.

The female Sparring Open division was thrilling with Hannah Curror fighting her way to the top spot with controlled perseverance. Sabrina Annon won open female Forms with a stunning performance. Saving some of the best skilled fighting to the end was a fantastic showcase in the male Open Continuous Sparring (always a crowd pleaser). The atmosphere was great at the final event of what was a long hot day. Mr Peter Felix from Nemesis did an amazing job in all his rounds and fought a nail-biting decider to come third. Mr Andrew Spinks just pipped him to 2 nd with an already broken foot (Not a NAS injury!!!). The overall champion was Mr Michael Johnson with an outstanding performance of skill and control.

Round 2 was similar to Round 1 in that it had just over 200 competitors partly due to the school holidays, but the encouraging fact was that instead of entering one or two events to test the water, the majority of competitors actually entered 3 to 4 events this time, meaning that the overall entries doubled from last time.

Our referees, judges and table officials did an amazing job on the day, following some kind of viral epidemic. We were at bare minimum for the whole day and everyone of them worked so hard all day long with just one break, they kept their cool and their focus and worked as a team throughout a long hot day. We offer many thanks and appreciation to them.

It was an amazing effort by most clubs to embrace this circuit with open minds, they took on board the spirit of what we are trying to achieve. This is a tournament circuit aimed at inviting all styles to show their skill and style in a non-contact environment and to appreciate other styles whatever they may be. If any club does not want or understand non-contact this is not the circuit for them. Feedback so far has been overwhelming; with clubs expressing to us that their students had a fantastic day and can’t wait for the next one! Also many higher grades expressing their wishes to train to become referees and judges, which is exactly our aim. This is not our circuit, this is your circuit; we want all clubs to invest in this and become part of it. Our ambition is to have all clubs and styles represented by judges and referees, as well as competitors.

A new club to join the circuit is Nemesis. Instructor Peter Felix came 3 rd in the male Open Continuous (a massive and very tough division) and first in the Veterans Open Sparring. Peter brought along his team who all took to the tournament in the way in which we hope all clubs to do. They embraced the rules and adapted accordingly, therefore taking away many well deserved trophies. Fight Factory Chief Instructor Darren Chan can also be very proud of his team who also took away a vast amount of trophies by better adapting their techniques from Round 1 and understanding the rules (what scores and what doesn’t) and conducted themselves with good team spirit and dignity. They created a great atmosphere around the divisions in which any member of their team took part which seemed to spread to the spectators around.

Of course there were many more including: Steve Cowley’s Martial Arts Academy, Go-Kan Ryu and Martin Day’s Combat all of which have the NAS spirit. This was their 2 nd of our two tournaments and they returned just as enthusiastic and have been great ambassadors of NAS.

We have added a new event to our tournament, Synchronised Forms in the Demonstration Division. This consists of a team of 3 competitiors. The team can consist of male and female, but they must be either all adults or all children, and will be marked on technique, precision and of course timing. This event proved to be in great demand here in the UK, so we have included it in our tournament.

With this addition we would like to clarify the criteria for our Demonstration Divisions:

Demonstration Senior or Junior (male/female): This is where one or more can perform as they choose, be it with weapons and/or music.

Demonstration Creative Forms (all ages) is for one competitor with or without music.

Demonstration Weapons is for one competitor to perform a traditional Weapons Form.

And finally, Synchronised Forms (senior or junior). Must be a team of 3 can be male & female mixed, but must be either junior or senior and is scored on technique, skill and of course timing.

We welcome judges and referees to all of our seminars from all styles equivalent of brown belt and above and Table Officials over 18yrs, any grade.

We endeavour to improve our standards and quality control with each event. We will not accept deliberate or malicious CONTACT and this shall be enforced via competitor, coach or even club disqualification.

OFFICIAL PROFILE
STEVE COWLEY

Steve Cowley is one of UK NAS’ top officials. Steve came on board at the very beginning when we were preparing for the launch of NAS in the UK. He liked the non-contact format we were proposing and the rules and regulations that set our standard. In Steve’s words “We did what we said on the tin”.

Steve is a 6 th Dan in Kyo Shin Taijutsu and used to compete in point sparring many years ago. Originally Steve trained in Taekwondo some 30 years ago then Kaikypshinkai. He then moved to London in 1976 where he met his Taijutsu Instructor. Steve has been teaching professionally since 1986 and runs Steve Cowley’s Martial Arts Academy in High Wycombe.

Steve enjoys the NAS circuit for its standards and professionalism and is one of our top judges and referees. He has entered many of his own students into the circuit and they have had their share of successes in many divisions.

For more information on Steve Cowley’s Martial Arts Academy please contact Steve:

Tel: 07818 058 189
Email: steve@bodyfitgym.co.uk
Website: www.bodyfitcentre.com

Click to Download Tournament Results UK Guildford Specturm
Rd 2 - 30th July 2006