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YourHub.com \\ Vero Beach \\ Stories \\ Sports \\ Recreational

A Kickin' Good Time from The Bamboo Dojo

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Contributed by: Karen Kelly on 8/9/2008

The 15th Annual Bamboo Dojo Invitational Karate Tournament took place on Saturday, August 9th at The Vero Beach Heritage Center. The instructors of The Bamboo Dojo in Vero Beach, led by owner and head instructor, John Michael Matthews, welcomed competitors of all ages, from a dozen different Treasure Coast and Space Coast dojos, to take part in the tournament. Many different martial arts styles were represented in three separate events.

The tournament began with the kata competitions in each belt division. Laura Drondoski, a student of The Bamboo Dojo, won first place in the Junior Black Belt Division for her kata. Her brothers, Edward and John Drondoski, kept the family's winning streak going with first and second place, respectively, in the Adult Black Belt Division kata competition. In the Senior Black Belt kata contest, first place was won by Joe Justado. Winning second place was Abe Estacio, and third place went to Justin Guerra, all members of The Bamboo Dojo. Also competing in the lower belt divisions for The Bamboo Dojo were Kaila Kelly and Bridget Schraeder. Both received honorable mentions in their individual divisions.

The next event in the tournament was the weapons contest. Justin Guerra won first place in the Black Belt Division, demonstrating a well executed weapons kata. Kaelin Liebenberg, of Vero Beach Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, took second place in this division, with Laura Drondoski taking home a third place medal.

A demonstration of Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu was also given by members of the U.S. Batto Federation. This awesome display of Japanese-style sword wielding was the highlight of the day's events. Juan Posada, one of The Bamboo Dojo's instructors, demonstrated the "lightening cut," in which he was able to slice a Tatami mat using three quick precise cuts with his sword in just one second.

Following the demonstration, the last competition of the afternoon was held in sparring. Laura Drondoski ended a successful day taking home third place in the Women's Black Belt Division. The Senior Men's Division was won by Joe Justado. First place in the Men's Black Belt Adult Division was won by Abe Estacio, with Edward Drondoski winning second place.

Who needs to travel to China for the Olympics when you have this caliber of competition right in your own backyard!

To view more pictures from the tournament, visit www.islandimagesestore.com

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