On Sunday, March 18th in Newton, New Jersey, Team Wright out kicked, out punched, and out shouted their opponents to take home numerous first place titles at King’s Karate Tournament.
Our newest Rising White Belt Karate Stars were Nico Sampson (Wright’s nephew) and Mr. John Daniel (white belt) who both took first place in their kumite Novice Divisions. John Daniel came short of winning the “Grand Championship†after beating the Yellow Belt Champ, Green Belt Champ, Brown Belt Champ, and another Brown Belt for a close match for the final Grand Championship. John and Nico represented Team Wright as a strong dominating force for the “Bayonne Warriors,†says Head Coach and Trainer Hanshi Grandmaster Austin Wright Sr. In addition, Kenneth Jackson Jr.—black belt—was the 2017 Defending Division Grand Champion. He became Runner Up this year. He lost a close match 5-4 for the 2018 Grand Championship. Sensei Jackson also placed 2nd in Kata.
Other Karate Stars:
- Effrain Rivas– Yellow Belt 1st Place Kumite
- Novice Division, Declan McCormick- 1st Place Kata, 2nd Place Weapons and 3rd Place Sparring
- Angel Cuatlayol– 1st Place in Kata and 4th in Sparring
- Chloe Rivas- 2nd Place in Kata
- Rishi Anand- 1st Place in Brown Belt Kids Division and 1st Kata Division
- Michael Barrantes– 1st Place Green Belt Division
Coaches who attended were Kenneth Jackson Sr. and UWA International Director Grand Master Hanshi Austin Wright Sr. who is also a World Champion and former USAF Instructor. For more information on Championship Training, call (201)437-1820 or check out our website www.karatenjmma.com.
In this years O.I.K.K.A World Karate Championship once again, York Watson-Byrd dominated the Kumite Division and Won the Black Belt World Isshin Ryu Fighting Division. He placed 2nd in Forms and 2nd in Weapons. In the Advanced 2, 4th and 5th Division, Kenneth Jackson II clinched 3rd in Kumite coming back to win against several formidable opponents.