HTML Copyright © 2001-2002, awsltd.netABACO FIGHTER WINS
Sarone Kennedy of Casuarina Point recently went for an executive board meeting of the Four Winds Martial Arts Association where he serves as the international secretary and historian as well as a member of the board of promotions. At the same time the association was holding the Four Winds Martial Arts Open Tournament at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium. As a second degree Black Sash, Kennedy is usually one of the judges for the events. The tournament was open which means martial artists of all styles and ranks were invited to participate. Stylists from Tae Kwon Do (Korean), Karate and Jujitsu (Japanese) and Kung Fu (Chinese) styles were represented.
Hundreds of spectators cheered and were awed by the performances of the many competitors. Participants came from several Family Islands as well as Grand Bahama and Nassau. There was also a contingent from the United States. The tournament had the usual events: empty hand forms, weapons forms, and fighting. There were divisions made by age and rank.
The seniors divisions were for persons 36 year old and above. Kennedy said he was a little apprehensive because he was more than ten years older than the youngest senior, and also because he had not actively participated in competition for nearly five years. He said that he made the decision to compete at the last moment as there were sufficient judges for the divisions that he could participate in. The result was that he earned fourth place in weapons and empty hand forms and first place in fighting in the seniors division.
A special feature of the tournament was the competition for the national championship belt in each division. Kennedy said that the seniors fighting division champion, Leonard Major, had been one of the persons who had helped in his instruction years ago. In the fight for the championship Kennedy placed second and received a silver medal. Marvin Bethel of Marsh Harbour also competed in Black Sash weapons divisions and placed third in weapons forms.
Sarone Kennedy, who considers himself semi-retired, has students in Nassau, Grand Bahama and the USA. He said that he expects some of his students to compete in the next Four Winds Martial Arts Association Open Tournament.