On 24th May 2008 over 260 competitors made their way to Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre for NAS Victoria Round 2.  It was another great event following round 1 with over extra 100 competitors, and several new schools attending NAS for the first time.

The day started off very smoothly and continue that way all day, with all 5 rings operating all day with non stop competition and everyone being finished up by 4:15pm, another nice early one for us all.

Round 2 had a fantastic atmosphere to the event with everyone being pumped about qualifying for State and National Titles.  It was great to see the likes of Arron Goldsmith from Shield Martial Arts and Mark Skelton from Freestyle Bushido attending the NAS tournament for the first time with there students and having some success in their events at the same time.

It was great to see the return of Victoria’s own former NAS Champion of Champions, Luke Croxford, after a short absence from competition Luke stepped up in the Male Black Belt points sparring and showed why he is a former title holder, with some fantastic kicking and very fast sharp hand work, which for his first event back saw him place 3rd in the event.  He however took it up step in the Black Belt continuous taking out first place against Rodney Jackson which saw the two competitors go back and forth at a very fast pace, guess Luke just need a warm up.  

Creative forms quite a new event in comparison to other event sat the NAS tournaments and it was great to see an increase in competitors taking part in the event.  With some of our youngest competitors putting on show of explosive forms, with acrobatic moves and advance kicking, mixed with there sharp stances, punches and traditional technique, made for a very high quality event.  At the end of the day it was Anthony Grigropoulos who over came Melissa Urbano and Lachlan Chisholm to take out the event, with great strength and technique through his execution, along with great spinning techniques and acrobatics like backflips, and kart wheels.

Sam Palmer continued her great success from 2007, taking out first place against Bree Rafferty in the Female Black Belt Open Sparring and also getting past Lisa Beasley in a play off for 1st place in the Female Black Belt Open Forms.

It was great to see a high standard of competition and sportsmanship upheld by everyone and we look forward to round 3 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.

Club / Organisation – Profile

Instructor Name: Sensai Jason Murdoch and Aaron Goldsmith.

Style: Free style martial Arts, the school is called Shield Martial Arts.

How long have you trained?: Jason has been training for 6 years, Aaron for 10 years.  Jason started doing freestyle in the last two years.  He started his training in traditional karate and also has experience in kick boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, self defense systema and military combatives.

Location of club & nights you train? The Do jo is located at Clifton Springs Primary School and training is on Monday and Wednesday nights.

How did you find out about the NAS competition? Jason has personally competed at state level a number of times over the years.  He and Aaron are just introducing NAS tournaments to their students this year.  They all came up in a mini bus together from Geelong today to compete. They want to encourage their students to up the ante.  Jason recognises that sometimes students can become complacent and competing puts the pressure on them and they can also have a lot of fun at the same time.  He and Aaron are keen for their students to develop a competitive edge and use techniques that they are taught, under pressure.

What do you like about the NAS competition?  Jason likes that particularly at the Junior level, there is so much control, that the tournaments are professionally run and safe.  NAS tournaments are the only ones that he would promote for his younger students.  He enjoys the camaraderie at these tournaments and the friendly atmosphere.

Name some of your up – coming champions from your club and how they are placing in the NAS competition….  Ben Thomas came 1st already today in under 14’s novice in forms with his exceptional kata.  Jason himself is competing in advanced division point and continuous sparring and also in forms.

What are your future goals for your organisation?  Jason and Aaron are trying to really push self defence and personal protection in the Geelong region, whilst still maintaining the traditional values of karate.  They are also busy building up and promoting Shield Martial Arts.

Competitor Profile

Name: Beau Summers (Age 14)

Style: Beau trains at Revolution Martial Arts in Kobura Do Martial Arts

How long have you trained?: Beau has been training for 14 months so far.and has achieved his yellow belt, green bar, 5th kyu.

Where do you train? Beau trains 4 nights a week at the Revolution Martial Arts Do Jo in Boronia.  Where he undertakes training in XMA, sparring, weapons training, normal classes and he sometimes assists the instructors in stage 1 classes.

Can you tell us what you like about the NAS competition?  Beau likes coming to the NAS tournaments to compete against other people and different styles than he would be exposed to at his do jo.  He also relishes the opportunity to win trophies!

Best moment / memory in competition with the NAS?  At previous tournaments, Beau has placed 1st in forms for his division and 2nd in sparring.  He is yet to compete at todays tournament but is eager to better this today.

Have you a favourite technique in competition? Beau has developed a special high low combination that he likes to use when sparring to catch his opponent off guard.

Favourite martial Artist? Renshi David Auty

What are your future goals in the NAS?  Beau would really like to go to Queensland at the end of the year to compete at the Nationals.  He would also like to place 1st in point sparring.

NAS Official Profile

Name:  Violetta Toth

Style:  G.K.R.  Violetta is a 1st dan black belt.

How long have you trained?:  Violetta has been training for 11 years.  She started in 1996.  She took a break from martial arts for a few years but returned to competition last year.

Where do you train? Violetta trains at a number of the G.K.R do jos, including Knox, Endeavour Hills and Bundoora with the state team.

How long have you been involved with the NAS?  Violetta started competing in 1998 and did so until the end of 2000.

What made you become a NAS official? Violetta is keen to get involved in more than just the competing side of NAS.  She realises that a time will come when she is too old to compete.  She is also interested in encouraging younger children to get involved in the tournament side of martial arts.

What level are you with the NAS?  Violetta completed her training certification last year and this year to become a level 1 referee.

What are your future goals with the NAS? Violetta came runner up to Sam last year and would like to better that result this year and become champion of champions.  Her other more specific goal is to get her kata down pat, foot work perfect so that she can the apply that to her kumite.

Click to Download Tournament Results Vic Rd 2 - 24th May 2008