Hey Gang,

We have returned from yet another great weekend, perhaps the
greatest yet! Our Blackbelt core group, as members of NAFMA TeamUSA
travelled to Toronto and battled TeamCanada for the '06 WorldCup
Invitational championship in Kata, Pointfighting and padded
sticksparring. Congratulations goes out to Ben Outlaw for capturing
1st place in International competition Padded stickfighting, Saboto
Trent with a 2nd place in padded stickfighting, I myself took 3rds in
Padded stickfighting, Men's 34 and up Kata, and Pointfighting and
special mention to Todd Graham fighting impressive matches in
pointfighting and sticksparring and to Shannon Boggan who couldn't
attend due to injury. Some of the highlights of the day's competition
included Saboto and myself tieing in kata competition, the return of
the "Cartwheel kick" fired by yours truly, which was a show stopper
so I'm told! Ben Outlaw's battle to first place in stickfighting.
Sabato's upset victiory for 2nd place resulting in a sweep of the
Men's div 34 and up padded sticksparring by members of TeamUSA not to
mention our Bristol Pa group of Blackbelt fighters. The Canadains
were the heavy favorites to win being that Filipino stickfighting was
TeamCanada's primary art and their recent championship vitory in the
Philippines. Our team beat the odds. It has been most gratifying to
see our hard work, the road to Toronto beginning in Sept with the
NAFMA Team trials, Nov's NAMFA TeamUSA weekend training camp in
UnionTown Pa and finally Victory in Toronto bringing home the World
cup. Next year, the 07 WorldCup Invitational will be hosted here in
the USA in our area. The level of competition promises to be even
greater and more challenging with the inclusion of atleast 5
additional countries expressing interest in competing not to mention
TeamCanada's wishing a shot at redemeption. You know they'll be
training harder.

Cheers!

Mel