A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION

Local martial artists qualify for national competition
by: Brandon Shields - Outlook Sports Editor

Will Fagan and Scott Turner traveled to Chesapeake, VA. recently to compete in the International Kickboxing Federation’s Central East Coast regional tournament, and they came home to Alexander City with first place trophies and automatic qualifications for the IKF national tournament in Florida in August.
For Fagan, who just graduated from Benjamin Russell High School, the event marked his first match in a ring.
It was the second match for Turner, who is an employee at BellSouth and a father of two.
Two other team members, Scott Easterwood and Andy Martin, were not able to compete due to injuries.
Russell Wright, who is their head coach and runs the United Arts Training Center, said the accomplishment is phenomenal.
"The Central East Coast Division is generally regarded as the toughest kickboxing division in the nation," Wright said. "Because I know a lot of people involved in the division, they asked me if I had anyone in who would participate. "We went up there and no one knew who we were, but they were chanting for the "Bama Boys" before we left. To be invited to the tournament the kickboxers had to come from a reputable school recognized by the IKF, which the United Arts Training Center is. Fagan said he was pretty nervous going into his first match."It was very nerve racking," Fagan said. "I could not compare it to anything I’ve ever done.""While I was never actually relaxed during the fight, taking the first hit in the ring did take the edge off in a way, and I was able to loosen up and fight." Turner said the nervousness was still present for him before his fight as well. "Your always a little nervous before a fight." Turner said, "You always stand the chance of getting injured." "But the fight is mainly with yourself, because you have to tell yourself you can do this, and nothing can stop you." Each fighter had an added obstacle to overcome. Because no one else in Fagan’s weight class entered the competition, Fagan had to fight up a division. After defeating his opponent, he won his second fight via a walk-over victory, because his next scheduled opponent could not fight due to injury. "Will was pretty upset because he didn’t want to win it that way," Wright said. "But we had to tell him that the other guy would’ve had to take the win if it had been the other way around."
Everything was going good for Turner in his match, until he took a punch in the face that knocked both his contact lenses out."Without my contacts, I am declared legally blind." Turner said "Sensei Wright told me to just aim for the figure that was hitting me."Wright’s assistant coaches, Thomas Smith and Ben Cleveland, said they were very proud of their students’ accomplishments. "This win just shows how hard they have worked," Smith said. If you are willing to train an hour more than your competitor, lift ten more pounds of weight, or run one more mile, you are setting yourself up for victory."
Cleveland said he was not able to go with the rest of the team to VA, but he was given constant updates on their progress. "This was one of those cases where we were hoping for the best, but we were not sure how they would do, considering their experience," Cleveland said. "But I was as proud as I could be when Scott called me and let me know that they had won." Easterwood, who was not able to go, because he was recovering from knee surgery to repair a nagging injury from when he was young, said his teammates’ accomplishments give him reason to get back into the gym as soon as he is able.
"I was going to get back into training when I am cleared anyway," Easterwood said. "But seeing and hearing about how they did makes me want to get back that much more, and train that much harder."
Martin, who is the only Junior on the team.

1.Traditional Forms and Weapons – These forms must capture the essence of classic martial arts movements, showcasing the traditional techniques, stances, footwork, and weapons. Emphasis is placed on execution of technique, application of technique, balance, speed, power, solid stances, and focus. Forms may be unmodified or modified from what a system or school considers to be the original version of the form; however, performance of the following movements will result in a downgrade of the form, or upon unanimous vote of the judges, a "no score" as a form inappropriate for the division: more than two kicks with the same leg without putting the foot down in between; front or back flips; cartwheels; front or side leg splits; releases of the weapon other than simple hand switches; or any other gymnastic movements or extreme exhibitions of flexibility or agility with the body or weapon that are deemed in the opinion of the judges to be inappropriate for the division pursuant to the general guidelines set forth here.

Commentary: There has been a great deal of debate among reputable martial artists regarding whether a form or series of moves are outside of the bounds of the Traditional Division. Because NASKA is a tournament circuit open to all styles and schools (across the nation and around the world) and from which judges are utilized, each competitor must make his or her own decision regarding whether to include movements which might be to be objectionable for the Traditional Division.

Commentary: The Creative Division is intended for those competitors who do not wish to compete with a strictly traditional form, and/or do not wish to compete against other participants who execute extreme gymnastic-type movements. Over the past several years, it was often observed that judging these "creative" forms in the same division with forms including extreme martial arts "tricks" was essentially comparing apples and oranges, and to be more fair to the participants these divisions should be separated. NASKA has therefore created a separate "Extreme Division", as detailed below, separate and distinct from the Creative Division, thus allowing the Creative Division to include only those forms with movements that originate more inherently from the classic martial arts systems.

Regarding the Creative Weapons Divisions, it is important to note that any particular weapons movement shall NOT be a factor in determining whether the weapons form constitutes a Creative or Extreme Form. The determining factor shall be the particular body movements as defined below in the Extreme Divisions. Consequently, a Creative Weapons competitor is permitted to perform weapons move (i.e., twirls, releases, spins, etc.), but is not permitted to perform "Extreme" body movements (i.e., flips, 540 and above spins or any inverted body moves, etc.).

3. Extreme Forms and Weapons – The Extreme Divisions allow the competitor to perform any movements whether they originate from traditional or contemporary martial arts systems or otherwise. However, (1) at least half of the form must originate from martial arts techniques, and (2) the competitor must execute at least one technique that involves an inverted move or greater than 360 degree spin. Emphasis is placed on the quality of execution of techniques and movements, martial arts skills, balance, speed, power, degree of difficulty, and showmanship. In addition, only those movements that portray a definite offensive or defensive martial arts purpose, or are included to illustrate extreme flexibility or agility, are allowed. Inclusion of other movements, or the performance of a form or weapons form meeting the criteria above for a Traditional or Creative form, will result in a downgrade by the judges, or upon a unanimous vote of the judges, a "no score" as a form inappropriate for the division.

Commentary: As martial arts evolves from the Traditional to Creative to Extreme, this category allows for the integration of techniques and movements from all martial art styles, gymnastics, acrobatics, dance, and athletic disciplines. If a competitor wishes to participate in a division with moves not permitted in the Traditional and Creative Divisions but meeting the guidelines described here, the competitor should compete in the Extreme Division.

4.Musical Forms and Weapons: The Musical Divisions requires a form or weapons form meeting the above criteria for a Traditional, Creative, and Extreme form, choreographed in a general sense to the beats or rhythm of music chosen and provided by the competitor. Primary emphasis shall be placed on innovative choreography of moves to the music, however, the basic criteria listed above for all forms must also be observed. Simply performing a Traditional, Creative, or Extreme form with background music, or a form not meeting the basic criteria for all forms above, will result in a downgrade by the judges, or upon unanimous vote of the judges, a "no score" as a form inappropriate for the division.

Each competitor must provide a music player of reasonable and non-intrusive size at ringside to play his or her music, and an attendant at the player who must be present at all times during the performance. As each form begins, a music volume check must be made, during which time the player attendant will look to the center judge for a nod of approval or a signal to lower the volume. Once this volume is set, it may not be increased during the performance of the form.

Commentary: The Youth Creative Weapons Division permits music as an option. Because such divisions are not Musical Divisions by the above definition, choreography to the beats or rhythm of the music is not required. Likewise, because the Grand Championships are not considered Musical Divisions, choreography to the beats or rhythm of the music is not required. Please note that even though your form does not have to be choreography to the beats and rhythm of the music in the above circumstances, if a competitor decides to use music, the music will be judged as part of their form or weapon form performance.

Commentary: If a competitor receives a "no score" decision by the judges because they feel the competitor's form is not appropriate for the division, the competitor is not allowed to redo his/her form or weapon form in that division. It is the responsibility of the competitor to read and understand the rules of the division he/she is competing in before competition starts.

Grand Championships: Traditional Forms and Weapons have their own Grand Championship. Accordingly, the winners of their respective divisions must compete with a Traditional Form. No music is allowed in the Traditional Forms and Traditional Weapons Grand Championships.

The Creative, Musical and Extreme Divisions in Forms and Weapons are combined in the Grand Championship Round. Consequently, the winner of the separate Creative and Musical Divisions may incorporate Extreme moves and/or music in the Creative/Musical/Extreme Grand Championships.

In the Overall Youth Grand Championship, each Grand Champion MUST compete with a form or weapon form that represents their individual Grand Championship. For example, if a competitor won his Creative forms division, and then went on to win the Creative/Musical/Extreme Grand Championship, that competitor may compete with an Extreme Form in the Overall Grand Championship even though the competitor may have won the Creative or Musical Division. A Traditional Grand Champion winner MUST always compete with a Traditional Form or Traditional Weapon Form when competing for any Overall Youth Grand Championship. Traditional form and weapons Grand Champion winners MAY use music in their form or weapon form ONLY when competing in any Overall Youth Grand Championship.

Adult From and Weapons Grand Championships remain the same as 2003. If, however, a 30 & Older Winner decides to compete in the new 30 & Older Weapons and Forms Grand Championship, he/she is precluded from entering the 18 & older Form and Weapons Grand Championship.