2006 WKA World Championships Pictures

For motivation for this weekend's WKA Ontario qualifier, here are some pictures of Quentin, Dirk, Alison, Imran, Jordan and the beach from last year's World Championships in Spain. Unfortunately, I don't think there will be a beach like this in Germany.

WKA here we come - Go Team ProStyle (a.k.a. Pizzaz!) GOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Circle of Friends, May 12

The Circle of Friends tournament takes place on May 12 in Hamilton and is hosted by Jeff Burroughs (Liberty's Karate). This is the first event of the Team Kata "Triple Challenge" (the other two being the Georgian Triangle Open and the Tournament of Martial Arts Champions). Dirk, James, Imran, Aditya, and the Ferguson's will be making the trip.

Jeff Burroughs, 905-928-9051 http://www.libertyskarate.com

Sir Allan MacNab Recreation Center
145 Magnolia Drive
Hamilton, Ontario

Highlights from Canadian Open, March 24

We knew we were in for an exciting night when James and Imran (aka "Team Pizzazz Representing Pro-Style Martial Arts and Walter Baric"), started their musical team Bo form to the tune of What is Love? to open the Canadian Open night show to wild applause.

After their spectacular opening, Imran kept up the excitement with a flawless performance competing in the boys musical weapons grands. Imran made it to the grands after winning his division on Friday night (probably the only competitor to take the bus to the tournament). He had a good chance of making the kata grands if he hadn't changed a front stance into a side splits on the slippery mats.

After wild applause to my introduction (albeit only from James and Imran) I provided the audience with a pleasant change of pace and made sure they could clearly see my Bo moving when I competed in the adult weapons grands (against Andrew Cabilan, Cedric Ferland, and Marie Eve Dicaire - thankfully Mike Bernardo introduced me as the "40+ winner" ;)

In the kata grands, I more comfortable. I accomplished my goal - performing on stage in the grands without dropping my Bo, tripping, or throwing up.

The night ended with the most exciting team fight, with Domenic from Team Aversa scoring a kick to the head a couple of seconds into overtime to win the Elite team fighting (and $3000) over Team United.

Earlier in the day, Selina was outstanding, winning her fighting division and the junior fighting grands.

Results

• Imran - 1st pizzazz, 1st musical weapons, 2nd weapons
• James - 1st pizzazz, elite fighting competitor
• Selina - 1st fighting, grand champion fighting
• Dirk - 4th weapons, 2nd kata, 2nd korean forms
• Alison - 2nd fighting
• Norm - 1st weapons, 1st kata
• Jordan - 2nd weapons, 3rd kata, 2nd fighting
• Callum - 2nd kata, 4th fighting
• Ian - competed in kata, fighting
• Seran - competed in weapons, kata
• Brian - competed in weapons, kata

Update, March 30 - more photos and coverage have been posted at SportMartialArts.com

Update, April 4 - more photos and covereage have been posted at http://canadianopenonline.com/

Results from Shotokan International, March 17

Many Pro-Style members competed at the 2007 Shotokan International tournament held on March 17 in Orleans, hosted by Pascal Monette. This was the first year we've participated and everyone had fun and performed well.

James and Imran performed their musical team Bo kata. Simon and I performed a team kata (Bassai) that was a bit less "exciting" (let's just say neither of us dropped anything ;)

Results (incomplete - please contact me with your results and/or corrections)

• Selina - 1st kata, 1st fighting, 3rd weapons
• Saul - 3rd kata, 2nd weapons
• Jordan - 3rd kata, 2nd fighting
• Darien - 4th kata, 2nd fighting
• Larissa - 2nd kata, 1st fighting
• Seran - competed in kata and weapons
• Brian - 1st kata, 1st weapon
• Vivian - 2nd kata, ...
• Zoe - 1st fighting, ...
• Ian - 1st fighting, ...
• Callum - ...
• Little Simon - 2nd kata, 2nd fighting, 2nd weapons
• Simon - 3rd kata, 2nd fighting, 2nd weapons
• Norm - 2nd kata, 1st fighting, 1st weapons
• Alison - 2nd kata, 2nd fighting, 3rd weapons
• Imran - 2nd kata (adult), 2nd weapons (adult)
• James - 2nd fighting, 1st weapons

Update, March 29 - here are some pictures captured from the DVD.

WKA Canadian Team Tryouts, May 18-20

If you qualify at the Ontario Regional Tryouts, you can participate in the WKA Canadian Team Tryouts on May 18-20 (Victoria Day long weekend). Even if you don't compete, please come out to cheer and see some great competition.

http://www.wkacanada.com/
John Douvris 613-234-5000

Palais Des Congres
200 Promenade du Portage
Hull, Quebec

Registration
$50 per event
Friday, 18 May, 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Tournament starts
Friday 7:00 pm (continuous, traditional karate divisions)
Saturday 9:00 am (forms, weapons, sparring rounds 1 and 2)
Sunday 10:00 am (forms, weapons, sparring round 3 finals)

Quebec Open, April 27-28

The largest tournament in Canada, the Quebec Open takes place on April 27-28. Part of the NASKA tour, competitors from around the world will be there to compete and put on a great night show. Quebec City is a bit far, but the city is beautiful and the tournament is extremely well organized (events really do start on time, with judges and scorekeepers at each ring before the tournament starts).

Be sure to bring extra cash - there are a couple of vendors with pretty good selections of Bo's at the tournament. However, if you do buy a Bo before your weapons event - don't use it for the event. I have first hand experience with using a new Bo at a tournament :(

http://www.quebecopen.com/en/
418-523-6638 418-626-3693 (fax)

PEPS de l'université Laval
boul. Laurier
Québec City

Pre-registration:
$50 1 event and $20 each additional (before April 21)
Studios Unis d'Auto-Défense
95 St-Vallier Ouest
Québec, QC G1K1J7
**Money orders, travelers checks or bank certified checks only**

Late Registration:
Friday April 27 $60 1 event, $20 each additional

Very Late Registration:
Saturday April 28 7am $60 1 event, $30 each additional

Tournament starts
Friday 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am

Aversa Brothers Challenge, April 22

After a few years absence, the Aversa bothers will be hosting a tournament right here in Ottawa on Sunday, April 22. If you're looking for a local tournament (besides our own) to compete in, this event is not to be missed! I know there will be a lot of Pro-Style members competing.

You may recall that Domenic won the mens lightweight division and made it to the finals of the grands (against Daniel Levine) at this year's Adrenaline Rush. If you want to pre-register, please see Dirk, James, or myself. James and I also have some extra registration forms with information about the divisions.

Domenic or Fortunato Aversa
613-724-6046
613-724-6154 (fax)

La Contessa Reception Hall
156 Cleopatra Drive, Ottawa

$35 (1-3 events, pre-registration before April 14)
$50 (1-3 events, at the door, 8:30 am to start of division)

Tournament starts 10:00 am

Sunfuki International Cobra, April 14

Pierre Saulnier's Cobra tournament is fast approaching. If you wish to pre-register, please contact Dirk, James, or myself. We should have a big Pro-Style turnout for this (unfortunately Alison won't be able to make as Darien's hockey team will be going for the big one that weekend).

Shihan Pierre Saulinier karatesunfuki@aol.com
450-623-6291
450-623-6296 (fax)
www.karatesunfuki.com

l'Olympia de Deux-Montagnes
611 20th avenue
Deux-Montagnes, Quebec

$50 one event
$5 each additional (pre-registration)
$10 each additional (at the door)

Registration, Saturday 9:00 am
Tournament starts 9:00 am

Night show 7:00 pm

Karate Sport Action Classic, March 31

For those of you not going to the WKA tryouts this weekend, Karate Sport Action is holding their annual tournament this Saturday, March 31. I could not find any information on the web, but you can contact Eric for more information.

Eric Tremblay, 450-430-3735, karatesportaction@yahoo.ca

Centre Culturel Therese de Blainville
120 blvd du Seminaire
Ste-Therese, Quebec

$50 one event, $10 each additional event

Registration, 8:30 am
Tournament starts 10:00 am

WKA Canada - Ontario Qualifier, March 31

For those that are planning to tryout for the 2007 WKA Canadian Karate Team, the Ontario Regional Qualifier takes place in London, Saturday, March 31. Please note it may be very difficult to find a hotel room - at this time, http://www.expedia.ca shows no rooms available.

http://www.wkacanada.com/
Michael Bernardo 519-691-0999

Hilton Hotel
300 King St
London, Ontario
519-439-1661

Registration
$40 per event
Friday, 30 March, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday, 31 March, 8:00 am to start of division

Tournament starts 10:00 am

Welcome to the Yoko Geri

Welcome to the Yoko Geri (or "side kick" in Japanese). I was going to name this the Unofficial (*) Team Pizzazz, representing Pro-Style Martial Arts and Walter Baric Fan Club, but that name is a bit too long.

Team Pizzazz members (playas) include James and Imran.

This is also the Pro-Style Martial Arts tournament blog. Here, Pro-Style members and friends can find information about upcoming and previous karate tournaments as well as the latest Team Pizzazz news.

* James and Imran may not have a problem with this blog, but it just sounds way cooler to be an "unofficial" site