Submitted by: Henrie Timmers
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1st annual Tiger Paw Martial Arts tournament raises over $2000 for the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre!
The doors to the Wallaceburg Kinsmen Community Centre opened Saturday morning, May 7, 2011 at 8:30 in the morning, and the people just poured in. Karate students from all over south-western Ontario arrived to test their skills in front of, and against their peers at the first annual Tiger Paw Martial Arts tournament.
Eighty-five competitors and 200 spectators filled the Community Centre and the Kinsmen gymnasium.
The level of competition was fierce! While traditionally Karate is an open hand martial art, there were swords slashing through the air as black belt competitors jumped, spun, and tumbled with the blades. Bo staffs whistled through the air cutting 12 foot swathes, and demonstrations and competition with nunchucks and other exotic weapons made the day an exciting one for spectators.
Combat sparring and demonstrations of self defence added to the heart pounding action. And then there was the board breaking challenge!
Added as part of a fund raising drive for the Chatham Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, this event drew a lot of attention as 29 competitors, sponsored by friends and family, took this crowd pleaser to a new level. Tim Wilson, a student at Dynasty Martial Arts in Sarnia had the crowd gasping as he shattered 10, that’s right, TEN pieces of 1 inch pine in a single punch!
Goodwill donations and raffle tickets for 6 months of Karate lessons raised close to $600 for the Chatham Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, but the board breaking challenge brought the donation drive up to $2005.60!
Top money earner, (sponsored breakers) was Chuck Stuart, Tiger Paw Martial Arts student with $230 in donations. Running a close second was Tirzah Wilson of Dynasty Martial Arts Sarnia with $220. Adriaan Zandvliet of Tiger Paw Martial Arts raised $155, while Madison Crawford of Tiger Paw Martial Arts, and Royce Creusot of Dynasty Martial Arts in Blenheim both raised $100 each.
All the board breakers received custom, unique patches created by Embroidery and Things in Thamesville. Lana Timmers of Wallaceburg donated the wood for this fundraiser, the medals, trophies, and patches.
Our heartfelt thanks to all the Karate students who helped make this fundraiser for the CKSACC such a success!
Karate clubs attending the tournament were, Dynasty Martial Arts (Sarnia), Dynasty Martial Arts (Blenheim), Snow’s Academy of Martial Arts (Chatham), Snow’s Academy of Martial Arts (Windsor), Action Martial Arts (Leamington), Steve Stewart’s Modern Martial Arts (London), Emerald Island Martial Arts (Strathroy), Killworth Komoka Family Martial Arts, and of course Wallaceburg’s Tiger Paw Martial Arts.
Other attractions at the tournament included Ontario’s best sports action portrait photographer, Cindy Ewing. The Chatham Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre had a display / info booth with give-aways, as well as a Safety booth / display by the Chatham Kent Police Services, with more goodies to take home. And certainly not least, 99.1 CKXS had a display and give-aways for the public.
Jay Smith, Program Director for CKXS was on hand to judge the demo competition and a few live broadcasts through the day, and we are particularly grateful to 99.1 CKXS for all of the on air promotion of this tournament. Dave Gough of the Wallaceburg Courier Press was on hand to cover the tournament, as was Ian Kennedy from the Chatham Kent Sports Network.
Along with Jay Smith, Wallaceburg Skating Coach, Deb Dauw, and Special Constable Randi Hull of the Chatham Kent Police Services were the judges for the demonstration teams. Wallaceburg’s Tiger Paw Martial Arts Demo Team took the top prize for their synchronized performance. Team Captain Samantha Stokes and co-captains Aislyn King and Libby Moran will be taking their ten Sabres and Lynx members on the road this summer for special events including performing with the Wallaceburg Flying W’s Gymnastic Team at the July 1st festivities and fireworks.
Planning for this tournament started December 2010, and based on comments from the competitors and spectators, it was a good one.
Tournament Results for May 7, 2011-05-07
Club attendance by numbers:
- Dynasty Martial Arts Blenheim: 21
- Tiger Paw Martial Arts Wallaceburg: 19
- Dynasty Martial Arts Sarnia: 16
- Snow’s Academy of Martial Arts Chatham: 14
- Snow’s Academy of Martial Arts Windsor: 5
- Steve Stewart’s Modern Martial Arts: 3
- Action Martial Arts Leamington: 3
- Emerald Island: 2
- Killworth/Komoka Family Martial Arts: 1
- Unknown: 1
32 females / 53 males
Age categories according to tournament:
- Under 6: 10
- 7 – 9: 14
- 10 – 12: 22
- 13 – 15: 13
- 16 – 20: 12
- 21 and up: 14
Belt categories according to tournament:
- Yellow Stripe: 4
- Red and Red Advanced: 6
- Yellow and Yellow Advanced: 15
- Orange and Orange Advanced: 11
- Purple and Purple Advanced: 11
- Blue and Blue Advanced: 10
- Green and Green Advanced: 6
- Browns (all levels): 6
- Probationary Black Belts: 3
- Junior Black Belts: 6
- Adult Black Belts: 5
Event participation:
- Obstacle Course: 10 (all of under 6 participants)
- Forms and Patterns: 71 (highest score 26.5)
- Self Defence: 23
- Weapons: 75 (highest score 26)
- Sparring: 36
Total Donations and Fund Raising:
$2005.60 donated to the Chatham Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre
- Raffle Tickets Sold: $258.00
- Goodwill Donations: $304.29
- Board Break Challenge: $1443.31
Other information:
This tournament was hosted by Tiger Paw Martial Arts and Sensei Jason Turkington.
Sensei Jason Turkington donated 6 months of lessons for the raffle draw. www.ckmartialarts.com
Lana Timmers donated all the trophies, medals, patches, and wood for the breaking challenge! [email protected]
Hatashita International sponsored the door prizes for the preregistered. www.hatashita.com
Embroidery and Things donated their services for the design and material for the patches. www.embroideryandthings.ca
Swag, (the free stuff), was supplied by the Chatham Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, (http://chathamkent.cioc.ca/record/CHK0095) the Chatham Kent Police Services, (www.ckpolice.com) and of course The New 99.1 CKXS! (www.ckxsfm.com). CK Data Pro designed and created the flyers, registration forms, release forms, etc. used in the tournament. Promotion for the tournament was supplied by CKXS FM, the Chatham Kent Sports Network, (www.cksn.ca), The Chatham Kent Daily Post (www.ckdp.ca) and Chatham Classifieds Online (www.chathamclassifiedsonline.ca).
Our guest judges for the demo competition were, Special Constable Randi Hull from the Chatham Kent Police Services, Deb Dauw, Skating Coach for the Wallaceburg Skating Club, and Jay Smith, CKXS Radio Programming Manager. Their services were donated! (thanks!)
Collette O’Neil opened and ran the cafeteria for the tournament, and the Wallaceburg Kinsmen rented the facilities for the tournament at a great discount!
The photographer at the tournament was Cindy Ewing Photography and we thank her for spending the day working.
Our thanks as well to the Stuart Family for their invaluable help running the charity tables!
Submitted by:
Henrie Timmers,
Tournament Event Co-Ordinator
Tiger Paws Martial Arts
