Bermuda Taekwondo Association: 19 Trophies

October 21, 2010

This past weekend the Bermuda Taekwondo Association competed in the the 24th Annual HMA US Open Tae Kwon Do Championship in the United States, bringing home a staggering 19 trophies, including 3 Grand Champion trophies, as well as 35 first, second and third place medals.

Through their leader Master Richard A. Smith was once again invited to compete in Louisville, Kentucky at the 24th Annual HMA US Open Tae Kwon Do Championship which was hosted by Grandmaster Jung Oh Hwang. This year’s Championship was held on Saturday, October 16th, 2010 and attracted approximately 800 competitors with just as many spectators.

There were 16 competitors from the Bermuda Taekwondo Association who, along with their family members, made a total of 32 representatives that cheered for Bermuda. This was the largest group to ever attend this tournament from Bermuda since being invited 8 years ago. The competition events were Board Breaking, Forms, Sparring (fighting) and Weapons (Black Belt only). All of the Bermuda competitors did extremely well in their individual events and enjoyed the competition bringing home 19 trophies, which includes 3 Grand Champion trophies, and 35 first, second and third place metals.

The youngest competitor, five year old Cairo Simmons, brought home a first place is all his events while junior Black Belt Marshall Lister narrowly beat fellow junior Black Belt Philip ‘PJ’ Smith to earn the Grand Champion 6 foot trophy. Black Belt Instructor Richard Jones Sr., who is hearing impaired, and Senior Black Belt Instructor Laurie Zuill earned the other 2 Grand Champion trophies. The three Grand Champions are pictured below with Master Smith:

Master Smith was very proud of all of his students on their performance and how they presented themselves as representatives of Bermuda. The rest of the team consisted of Black Belt Instructor Iejah Caines, Reese Jones, Noah Brady-Soares, Genesis Sampson, Shakai Hall, Nasayde Guerrero, Syriah Lottimore, Sahzay Ascento, Kofi Dill, Sanchez Simons and Jahzyah Smith.

Grandmaster Hwang has extended a personal invitation to Master Smith and his school to travel with his school in 2012 to visit China and Korea on a culture trip. There are also plans being made for Grandmaster Hwang to bring a group of students to Bermuda in 2013. Overall the competition was a huge success and all of the competitors and their families enjoyed the spirit of the whole day.

Click to enlarge images: