NAS Tournament Results Rd 2 Queensland 20th April 2008

Over 270 competitors from all over South East Queensland and Northern NSW turned up at Carrara Stadium for one of the biggest martial art tournaments ever held on the Gold Coast. With over 28 different martial art styles attending round two of Queensland NAS, it would be fair to say the NAS competition is one of the most popular martial arts tournaments in Queensland/Gold Coast.  

There was a buzz of excitement before the day’s competition began. The grand stand and competition area was full to capacity with anticipation of a great day’s competition.

Highlights during the day’s competition included the junior demonstration event, where Success Martial Arts took out a double first and second place with an excellent performance of forms and multiple attacks.

In the senior weaponry, Cheri Parks from Taekwondo Australia World Haidong Gumdo Federation gave a dazzling performance demonstrating her skills in weaponry, coming a close second was Karen Stone from Seishin Zen Ryoku. It’s good to see these events building with intensity round by round.

Young-gun Max Wilkinson from Shito Ryu Redlands Karate came up against Montanna Bailey from Nerang PCYC in the final of the 8–9 years 5th Kyu to Black-belt sparring. Max got off to a great start, scoring with excellent reverse punches. Not to be denied, Montanna came back with an excellent spinning-kick to even the match. With 10 seconds to go, Max came forward with a lightning reverse-punch to take out the match right on the bell

Moving up a notch, the 14–15 years section of competition kept all the parents on their toes. Scott Thompson from Seishin Zen Ryoku came up against Jordane Saunders from Zen Chudan Martial Arts. Right from the start, both boys exchanged fast explosive combinations, however Scott was too quick, out-scoring and manoeuvring his opponent to take first place. 

The final of the 16–17 year-old female point sparring was a fiery match between Jessica Lomax (Go-Kan-Ryu Karate) and Alexandria Armour (Goshin Ryu). Both girls were cautioned by the referee to control their contact. Alexandria scored with excellent front-kick and reverse-punches, however Jessica was determined not to let her opponent have it all her own way and came back scoring with excellent high-kicks to win the match.

The female Black-belt division was a crowd pleaser, with excellent forms and sparring competition. After a year absence and having her fourth child, Pania Casey made a statement: she is back! She took out the forms competition and had one of the best fights on the day in the finals of the female Black-belt point sparring against her arch-rival and friend Karen Stone. Both these girls are National Champions and Champion of Champions. Ot was a nail bitter, going point-for-point as they scored against each other right to the bell. Karen was the eventual winner, winning 8-7. The NAS would also like to thank Karen for her input into the NAS competition and being such a fine sports person as she will now leave for the USA for two years. 

The male advanced division didn’t disappoint anyone who stayed back in the afternoon — these guys meant business right from the start of each match. The male advanced continuous had everything: aggression, ring craft, and excellent leg and hand techniques. In the final it came down to Jason Parker from the Institute of Modern Taekwondo and Michael Mostyn from KenshinKan. Both these guys have fought against each other on many occasions and this match was a real crowd pleaser, with both men going blow-for-blow right to the end, until Michael eventually won. 

Special thanks to all coaches, instructors and spectators for attending a great day of competition and displaying sportsmanship. To all our staff and officials, thank you for your dedication and loyalty to the NAS. Special thanks to Queensland Technical Director William Rogers, Caroline Kennedy and Caroline Soner for photos supplied.

Club/Organisation – Profile

INSTRUCTOR NAME: Sensei Shane Degney

STYLE: Seishin Zenryoku – Redlands Martial Arts Academy

How long have you trained? Sensei Shane has been training for 23 years and formed his own club 14 years ago.

Location of club & nights you train? The club is located at Thornlands in Redlands City and trains on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

How did you find out about the NAS competition? Through the Blitz Martial Arts Magazine

What do you like about the NAS competition? We find the NAS tournaments are well run and provide our students with a continuous source of competition throughout the year.  We also appreciate the number of competitors and different styles that attend the NAS.

Name some of your up-coming champions from your club and how they are placing in the NAS competition.
Ethan Airs, eight years old, Gabriel Soner, nine years old, Samara Pascoe 13 years old and Ebony Robertson, nine years old. All these young students are Blue-belts and all won divisions in round two of the NAS this year. In addition, they have all been competing in NAS for quite some time and regularly finish in the finals.

What are your future goals for your organisation? The club already boasts nine world titles, including two WUSO Titles. However, we hope to have more students competing at a national and international level in the future. We hope to grow into a nation-wide style in the future. 

Competitor – Profile

NAME:
Pania Casey-Williams

STYLE:
KenshinKan International Karate

Pania how long have you trained?
I have trained for 20 years, started training when I was only five years old.

Where do you train?
I train at our family’s dojo – Honbu, Burleigh Heads RSL, Gold Coast.

Can you tell us what you like about the NAS competition?
I enjoy the good competition given by other, fantastic martial artists. I am a mum and my son, five-year-old Stephen has been competing since last year in the pee wee division and to see him and his fellow competitors grow and improve, they are so cute! I have seen a lot of people grow in martial arts and in general through the NAS tournaments in the past 15 years. This is what NAS has given me and it’s a privilege to witness so much growth in so many people within their individual art

Best moment/memory in competition with the NAS?
It’s a toss-up between winning the Champion of Champions and watching Stephen win his first bout in point sparring and hearing his team-mates cheering him on. A very noisy three minutes.

Have you a favorite technique in competition?
I would have to say my roundhouse-kick would be my favorite.

Favorite martial artist...
There are a lot of talented martial artists in NAS but I would have to say my father Shihan Jim Casey is the one that I look up to and always will.

What are your future goals in the NAS?
Maybe to regain the Champion of Champions title again. Also to be the best role model I can be to the future karatekas such as my children.

NAS Official Profile

NAME:  DIANE SAWYER

STYLE:  AUSTRALIAN MARTIAL ARTS TAEKWONDO

Diane how long have you trained? 
I have trained for eight years under Sensei Kristy Heitmann. I obtained my 1st Dan last year and have two sons training with me. It’s very much a family affair.

Where do you train? 
Carrara community centre

How long have you been involved with the NAS? 
I have been a strong supporter of the NAS since 2001 as a competitor. In 2004, I became involved as a table official, and in 2007 obtained level 1 accreditation as an NAS judge.

What made you become an NAS Official? 
Being involved as a table official since 2004 and attending nearly every seminar, I got the courage to step-up to the next level and become an NAS judge. I am truly glade I did this as I feel there should be more female officials involved in martial arts tournaments.

What level are you with the NAS? 
Level 1

What are your future goals in the NAS? 
I intend to progress through the judging levels and try to set high standards for myself and other judges to follow.

Click to Download Tournament Results Queensland Rd 2 -
20th April 2008