The Nickel Capital Budo Challenge marked its 20th annual martial arts tournament at Cambrian College recently.
Mayor Brian Bigger attended the opening ceremonies and congratulated KMAC, and Sudbury School of Martial Arts, for achieving this milestone. KMAC was also congratulated on the school's 40th year of operation in the Greater City of Sudbury.
This year, KMAC entered more than 65 of their own students to compete against 15 schools from all over Northern Ontario and Quebec. The Budo Challenge offered over 100 divisions in four main categories: open-hand forms, weapons forms, self-defence and sparring.
It also included 12 Grand Championships; to qualify and win a Grand Championship a competitor must win first place in their own respective division and then compete against others age groups and/or gender groups.
Top honours went to Shaughnessy Richard from Coniston KMAC for winning the Junior Novice Forms Division, Martin Courshesne of Valley KMAC for winning the Junior Black Belt Forms Division and to Denis Houle of Sudbury KMAC for winning the Men's under Black Belt Division.
Up next for Team KMAC is the WKC National Qualifier in Sault Ste. Marie.
The Canadian Nationals will take place in Ottawa during the May long weekend.
