Nov. 7, 2002- The fifth International Open Karate/Martial Arts Championship is set for Saturday and Sunday at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas.
The competition is expected to draw martial artists and karatekas from the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, elsewhere in the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela and the states of New Jersey, Arizona, Ohio, New York, New Hampshire and Florida, according to Louis Jackson, hanshi,, or professor, and tournament director.
The event is being sponsored by Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu on St. Thomas.
On Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., seminars and demonstrations on self-defense will be conducted by grand masters and professors including Faltan Uddin of Los Angeles, who starred in the film "Mortal Combat the Last Samurai" and the "Karate Kid" trilogy. Also expected to take part are Sumio Demura, a noted Japanese master, and Stanford McNeal of St. Louis, Missouri.
More than 200 young people from St. Thomas and St. John will compete on Saturday in various age groups and weight classifications, Jackson said.
Sunday's championships begin at 9:30 a.m. and will feature three-man black belt team competitions. In more than 100 divisions, male and female competitors will vie for 400 awards.
Admission for spectators is $6 for adults and $4 for children each day. Food and drinks will be on sale. For further information, call Jackson at 776-0642 or 473-9998.
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