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Smith takes all-around honor at martial arts competition
By Staff Reports
Saturday, November 21, 2009 | No comments posted.
Coquille Martial Arts hosted its fifth-annual open tournament last weekend at the Coquille Community Center.
The tournament drew competitors from schools in Medford, Eugene and Salem, who had never been to Coquille to compete, and also drew a representative from Sparks, Nev.
Tournaments are important in allowing martial artists to see which techniques are of value and which aren’t, according to a recent article in Black Belt magazine.
But Coquille Martial Arts instructor Karen Saxton said the events also are a time when competitors learn to “get their edge.” Some are shy in practice, while others are overly confident.
“Then there are those who in practice never quite turn on the power, but confronted with an audience and opponents unknown, suddenly show their mettle,” she said.
An example of that is 11-year-old Myrtle Point resident Kayla Houston, who placed first in three of her four divisions, including sparring.
Houston was one of six athletes from the local club in the running for best all-around martial artist, along with Franklin Smith, Tianna Huffman and Jason Brant of Coquille and Max Underdown and JJ England of Bandon. The award is based on the number of events entered and total scores.
Smith ended up as best all-around, edging Underdown based on first placements.
Smith placed second only in the black belt grand champion division, when he was sparring against adults because there were no black belts his age entered in sparring.
Smith put up a good fight against Tom King of Coos Bay, the winner, and Arlan Robinson of Nevada.
“He completely deserved it,” King said of Smith’s all-around honor. “He competed in all divisions and gave a great performance in each one.”
Other competitors from the Coquille school included adult Chris Kinney from Myrtle Point and youths Shanley Geddry, Johnathan Huffman and Milana Fortune from Coquille.
The school’s next scheduled event is a daylong seminar Dec. 5 at the school, located in the Downtown Studio, the former Barrow Drug building. The morning session will be taught by local instructors, with the afternoon session taught by Matt Lowes, who teaches the Russian Martial Art of systema.
The morning session is free and open to anyone 13 and older with at least a year of martial arts experience or a recommendation from their instructor. The afternoon session is $20 and open to older teams and adults, with no experience necessary.
Local results from the competition are listed by athlete below.
Kayla Houston, Myrtle Point, age 11 advanced: first place in creative forms, traditional forms and sparring and second place in weapons.
Chris Kinney, Myrtle Point, adult beginner: first place in forms and third place in sparring.
Franklin Smith, Coquille, age 16 black belt: first place in forms, weapons, creative forms and team sparring and second place in adult grand champion sparring. Best overall martial artist.
Jason Brant, Coquille, age 11 intermediate: First place in traditional forms, weapons forms and sparring and second place in creative forms.
Tianna Huffman, Coquille, age 9 intermediate: first place in creative forms and team sparring and second place in traditional forms, weapons forms and sparring.
Milana Fortune, Coquille, age 5 beginner: second place in forms, flag sparring and sparring.
Johnathan Huffman, Coquille, age 5 beginner: first place in forms, flag sparring and sparring.
Shanley Geddry, Coquille, age 11 beginner: second place in traditional forms and third place in sparring.
Max Underdown, Bandon, age 11 black belt: first place in traditional forms, weapons, sparring and team sparring, and second place in creative forms.
JJ England, Bandon, age 12 intermediate: first place in creative forms, second place in traditional forms and weapons, and third place in sparring.
Misty Huffman, adult intermediate: second in forms and second in sparring.
The tournament drew competitors from schools in Medford, Eugene and Salem, who had never been to Coquille to compete, and also drew a representative from Sparks, Nev.
Tournaments are important in allowing martial artists to see which techniques are of value and which aren’t, according to a recent article in Black Belt magazine.
But Coquille Martial Arts instructor Karen Saxton said the events also are a time when competitors learn to “get their edge.” Some are shy in practice, while others are overly confident.
“Then there are those who in practice never quite turn on the power, but confronted with an audience and opponents unknown, suddenly show their mettle,” she said.
An example of that is 11-year-old Myrtle Point resident Kayla Houston, who placed first in three of her four divisions, including sparring.
Houston was one of six athletes from the local club in the running for best all-around martial artist, along with Franklin Smith, Tianna Huffman and Jason Brant of Coquille and Max Underdown and JJ England of Bandon. The award is based on the number of events entered and total scores.
Smith ended up as best all-around, edging Underdown based on first placements.
Smith placed second only in the black belt grand champion division, when he was sparring against adults because there were no black belts his age entered in sparring.
Smith put up a good fight against Tom King of Coos Bay, the winner, and Arlan Robinson of Nevada.
“He completely deserved it,” King said of Smith’s all-around honor. “He competed in all divisions and gave a great performance in each one.”
Other competitors from the Coquille school included adult Chris Kinney from Myrtle Point and youths Shanley Geddry, Johnathan Huffman and Milana Fortune from Coquille.
The school’s next scheduled event is a daylong seminar Dec. 5 at the school, located in the Downtown Studio, the former Barrow Drug building. The morning session will be taught by local instructors, with the afternoon session taught by Matt Lowes, who teaches the Russian Martial Art of systema.
The morning session is free and open to anyone 13 and older with at least a year of martial arts experience or a recommendation from their instructor. The afternoon session is $20 and open to older teams and adults, with no experience necessary.
Local results from the competition are listed by athlete below.
Kayla Houston, Myrtle Point, age 11 advanced: first place in creative forms, traditional forms and sparring and second place in weapons.
Chris Kinney, Myrtle Point, adult beginner: first place in forms and third place in sparring.
Franklin Smith, Coquille, age 16 black belt: first place in forms, weapons, creative forms and team sparring and second place in adult grand champion sparring. Best overall martial artist.
Jason Brant, Coquille, age 11 intermediate: First place in traditional forms, weapons forms and sparring and second place in creative forms.
Tianna Huffman, Coquille, age 9 intermediate: first place in creative forms and team sparring and second place in traditional forms, weapons forms and sparring.
Milana Fortune, Coquille, age 5 beginner: second place in forms, flag sparring and sparring.
Johnathan Huffman, Coquille, age 5 beginner: first place in forms, flag sparring and sparring.
Shanley Geddry, Coquille, age 11 beginner: second place in traditional forms and third place in sparring.
Max Underdown, Bandon, age 11 black belt: first place in traditional forms, weapons, sparring and team sparring, and second place in creative forms.
JJ England, Bandon, age 12 intermediate: first place in creative forms, second place in traditional forms and weapons, and third place in sparring.
Misty Huffman, adult intermediate: second in forms and second in sparring.
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