June 21, 2008 — Seasoned masters and novices as young as four years old squared off in intense international martial arts competition as the Third Annual King Cobra Tae Kwon Do "Battle at the Beach" International Open Martial Arts Tournament kicked into gear Saturday.
Over 125 students and masters representing 13 schools are competing in the two-day extravaganza sponsored by Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson, master sensei of King Cobra Tae Kwon Do on St. Croix.
Three demonstration and sparring rings were set up on the floor of the Good Hope School gymnasium, each with a table of judges scoring the competitors in real time. Large screens behind them showed the scores and the winners within seconds of each match's end. At one end of the gym 300 trophies were lined up, forming a wall of shiny gold pillars.
As each match's results were announced, a referee bowed ceremoniously to the competitors and presented the winner with a two-foot-high trophy, while the vanquished received a smaller trophy to honor his or her effort.
When it is all over, both the women's and men's Grand Championship Black Belt winners will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a six-foot trophy.
"This is a way of developing discipline and honor into kids," said tournament director Fermin Rodriguez during a moment's pause in his many responsibilities Saturday. "It takes kids out of the streets and makes them productive for themselves and for the community. All this is for the kids. It is about self-development."
The guide to competition etiquette demands sportsmanship and respect for fellow competitors.
A school from Puerto Rico, one from the Dominican Republic and several from St. Thomas came to St. Croix to compete in the event. The international attention and participation are important, said Rodriguez.
"We want to bring more exposure to the Virgin Islands and expose Virgin Islands students to the international arena," he said.
Competition is open, meaning it is not limited to tae kwon do but allows jujitsu, karate and all other martial arts.
Many of the school's masters are seasoned veterans like St. Croix's Arthur Dennery, a 10th degree black belt. Dennery is one of the highest level black belts on St. Croix and in the Caribbean. He is a member of the International Jiu-Jitsu Hall of Fame and according to one of his students has been teaching martial arts for nearly 50 years.
At 21, Joshua Espinal of St. Croix is one of the youngest to be master of his own school. His 10 students were doing well in early competition, snaring six first-place spots in the first round of "forms" competition where competitors show their stances and moves, but do not spar.
On Saturday, younger and less experienced fighters ages 4 to 16 competed at all levels of skill, and adults up to the level of brown belt. Sunday the most accomplished martial artists with red and black belts will compete.
Several highly regarded masters will give demonstrations between competitions Sunday, with a special appearance by Grand Master Ron Van Clief, a 10th degree black belt who starred in the Hong Kong martial arts movie "The Black Dragon" and who helped choreograph some of the late Bruce Lee's movies.
Entry is $10 at the Good Hope gymnasium door and the show begins at 8:30 a.m.
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