US Open-bound martial artists champing at the bit

GROUNDED BY Hurricane Beryl last year, Jamaica’s martial artists are champing at the bit, anticipating the July 17-19 International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) United States Open at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Forced to ride out the storm at home after a handful of fighters reached the North American mainland, Jamaica would have returned to full strength last year with their biggest contingent since 2019, thwarted by COVID 19 from 2020-2021.

Senior fighter Ackeem Lawrence yesterday said Jamaica should boast a 50-member contingent comprising approximately 10 officials, including coaches, completed by 40 competitors, led by the decorated combined martial arts team.

Lawrence said the combined martial arts team, which went unbeaten in more than 50 international team matches, will be at its strongest in many years, with members each hunting double gold in clash and continuous sparring.

Lawrence, Nicholas Dusard, Richard Stone, Akino Lindsay, and Nicholai Reid, all former US Open champions and combined martial arts team members, are joined at the 2025 Open by Adrian Moore, also a former champion, making a combined team comeback after a hiatus on the sidelines.

“I have the utmost confidence in the guys, based on the six months’ training they have undergone with Master Claude Chin and Coach Jason McKay,” Lawrence noted.

“The more seasoned fighters, I expect them to show up as they always do. With the exception of Lindsay, who will be fighting on the ESPN Night of Champions Special for the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championship bout, the other members will each be taking shots at double gold, competing in their respective divisions in clash and continuous sparring.”

”For Sharic Bowen, it will be his second time as a combined team member. We have seen his potential in training and hope he improves on his bronze in 2023,” Lawrence added.

Bowen, who whetted his beak at the US Open 2023 as a combined team invite but was denied a full debut by Beryl last year, gets his chance to prove his selection.

Among the handful of fighters at last year’s Open, Dusard won two gold medals in addition to coaching Nathan-John Pellington to a gold.

In 2023, Dusard won light heavyweight black belt titles in continuous and clash sparring, whereas Reid defeated Jamie Lindtner of Germany for the middleweight black belt world title in continuous sparring.