We had a huge turnout for the Aversa Brothers Challenge held here in Ottawa this past Saturday. With 32 Pro-Style competitors, we took home the $500 prize for the most supportive individual school. Well, actually, Master John took home the prize - but he couldn't have done it without us! After much encouragement (constant persuasion and arm-twisting), we had great turnout from "new-to-non-Pro-Style-tournament" adult competitors Nancy, Marie, Heather, Marc, and Tony. Unfortunately, Devon had to sit this one out, with a big shiner from last Thursday night's sparring class. They all performed extremely well and I'm certain they will be joining us for a road trip soon.
After some pre-tournament jitters (actually, quite a lot of jitters, including nausea and nightmares), Nancy won her first ever tournament event (kata, with Heian Sandan). Nancy and Heather fought their way into the fighting finals, with Heather winning a close one (at 1-0 she's undefeated in sparring). Big Tony placed 2nd in kata and 2nd in fighting while Little Tony Jr battled his way to take 2nd in sparring in his first tournament. Marie took 2nd in her kata division. Marc won in kata and placed 3rd in fighting.
Other highlights included Selina's usual complete domination in sparring (undefeated in 2007), Dirk and Alison competing in the adult form grands, Imran winning the junior kata grands (I'm telling you, it's the Gi!), Jordan winning weapons (with a great made-up-on-the-spot kata), Aditya winning all of his events yada yada yada, yawn (just kidding - winning never gets boring :^)
And finally, Simon beat me in sparring to take home a well earned 2nd (actually, he beat James, who then beat me for 3rd - so technically, he didn't beat me ;^)
Special thanks to my videographers: Larissa's dad, Diane, and Marc. Unfortunately, there were so many of us, we could not get all the Pro-Style competitors on video.
Below is a incredible cartwheel kick by Robbie Lavoie on Marc Monsour at the end of the mens fighting grands (Robbie won).
- Imran - 2nd weapons, 2nd musical weapons, 1st kata, kata junior grand champion
- Aditya - 1st weapons, 1st kata, 1st fighting
- Alison - 3rd weapons, 1st kata, 1st fighting (and bravely fought Tammy Bernardo in the grands)
- Jordan - 1st weapons, 2nd kata, competed in fighting
- Darien - 7th weapons, 3rd kata, 1st fighting
- Taylor - competed in weapons, kata, and fighting
- Alyssa - ???
- Brian - 4th weapons, competed in kata
- Seran - 6th weapons, competed in kata
- Saul - competed in weapons, 5th kata
- Selina - ??? kata, 1st fighting
- Larissa - 5th weapons, 7th kata, 1st fighting
- Danilo - ???
- Shivani - ???
- Courtney - 2nd weapons, ??? kata, ??? fighting
- Ian - competed in weapons and kata, 2nd fighting
- Callum - 2nd weapons, 2nd kata, competed in fighting
- Simon Jr - competed in weapons and kata, 3rd fighting
- Zoe - ???
- Melisa - ???
- Anthony (Tony Jr) - ??? kata, 2nd fighting
- (Big) Tony - 2nd kata, 2nd fighting
- Marie - 2nd kata
- Nancy - 1st kata, 2nd fighting
- Heather - 4th kata, 1st fighting
- Marc - 1st kata, 3rd fighting
- James - 1st in farthest weapons toss (unofficial record), 3rd musical weapons
- Dirk - 2nd weapons, 4th musical weapons, 1st kata
- Peter - competed in fighting
- Simon - 2nd weapons, 3rd kata, 2nd fighting
- Norm - 1st weapons, 1st kata, 4th fighting
- (Old) James - 3rd weapons, 2nd kata, 3rd fighting
