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Students Showcase Skills at World Martial Arts Tournament

The Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu Federation of the U.S. Virgin Islands returned to the 2014 U. S. Open World Martial Arts Tournament in Orlando, Florida, and entered 15 competitors who showcased their skills against over 4,000 of the best of the best in martial arts, July 11-12.
The students competed in traditional forms, traditional weapons, continuous sparring and point sparring. Some of the more experienced students competed in Sport MMA. Caleb Potter, 12-years-old and a black belt, rocked the crowd and won 1st place. Kamal Tyson, 12-years-old and a black belt, won 2nd place in an exciting match. Tyson also won 2nd place in continuous sparring. Jadan Orr, 9-years-old and a black belt, also won 2nd place. Alsenio Cepeda, a 19-year-old brown belt, won 2nd place. His brother, black belt Eddy Cepeda, age 17, sparred exceptionally well and won 3rd place.
For the first time, Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu entered a competitor in extreme forms. Eric McAllister, an 11-year-old brown belt, displayed an exceptional kata, bringing home 3rd place. McAllister also won 1st place in continuous sparring, 3rd place in in point sparring, as well as medals in traditional forms and clash sparring.
This year was exciting due to students participating in a new division called “clash sparring.” The division was the creation of one of the tournament hosts, Corey Schaffer of International Sports Karate Association (ISKA).
Cody Bryan, a 10-year-old purple belt, won 1st place in his division of clash sparring. Makaydah Wilson, an 11-year-old brown belt (one of only two female competitors) won 2nd place as did Caleb Potter. Winning 3rd place in clash sparring were black belt Kamal Tyson and Eddy Cepeda, brown belt Louis Penn III, age 12, and white belt Diego Ward, age 10.
Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu was also joined by Florida residents Jannae Edney, 7-year-old orange belt, who won 1st place in continuous sparring and 3rd place in point sparring. Edney’s father, Troy Edney, a Virgin Islands native, was so proud of his daughter, he said he would “drive all the way home with the trophy displayed out of the car window.” Jannae Edney has visited St. Croix and competed in a local tournament with Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu.
Another V.I. descendent who competed in the tournament was Harold Smith III. His mother, Ebone’ Jackson-Smith, a 5th Dan black belt international champion and daughter of Grandmaster Louis A. Jackson, coached her son in the continuous sparring division.
Joshua Espinol, a black belt from St. Croix, who now resides in Florida, won 4th place in adult traditional weapons. He is a student of Prof. Jackson and received his training in the V.I.
“Our students performed exceptionally well, and I am proud of each and every one of them.” said Prof. Jackson. Besides their exemplary performance, they displayed the Bushido of the martial arts. Many grandmasters commended them on their discipline, outstanding skills and sportsmanship.
Special recognition goes to the top fighters: black belts Jadan Orr, Caleb Potter and Kamal Tyson, who all won 1st place in their various sparring divisions, and to brown belt Eric McAllister and purple belt Cody Bryan, who both won 1st place in two new divisions.
The competition was very strong, with top fighters from all over the world from Russia, South Africa, Jamaica and Chile.
Assisting Prof. Jackson was Sensei Sherwon Williams.
Results are as follows:
1st Place 6
2nd Place 5
3rd Place 15
4th Place 6
Medals/Finalist 24
Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu thanks its sponsors and community partners who continue to support the organization and the youth of the U.S. Virgin Islands. They include U.S.V.I. Department of Tourism, Stephen Evans Freke, V.I. Lottery, O’Neale’s Transport, Comprehensive Orthopedic, Cruzan Viril Ltd., Diesel Dynamic, Christian Pharmacy, H & H Tire & Battery and Primary Care PLLC. Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu also thanks the students and parents of Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu Federation for their continued dedication and commitment.
For more information, contact Louis A. Jackson at 642-0300 or e-mail at contactus@pjimaa.com.

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