It was a great weekend in the Pacific Northwest, where Noah and Deanna Bertsch proudly hosted the 2010 Pacific Jewel Nationals over the weekend of May 7-8, 2010, one of the classiest and nicest events in the nation. Even with the sun blazing in the hotel room at six am, you couldn't help but be excited. The fresh mountain air provided a perfect environment for great competition and fun times.
During the day, we saw old friends and new faces. Raymond Daniels was in attendance with team All Stars and (of course) won his fighting and team fighting divisions. He would go to stage for both events. Also, Rommel Gargolos made a surprise appearance representing his new team, KickStart. Now teaching for Chuck Norris, Gargolos confided in this reporter that he came to PJN to have some fun and see old friends. Reality TV is also on the backburner for the star, as he is now focusing on running his karate school in Houston. Also, two very big schools were in attendance for the PJN. The Oregon Action Team was all over the place, while the not-for-profit organization, Aim High Academy, also showed off just how good their young competitors are. Speaking for everyone at the event, it was great to see these two schools become part of the NBL family.
The finals started right on time and after a riveting Oregon Action Team opening demo, the night started off with the Junior Choreographed Musical Forms Grand Championship. Jesse Martinez, Jordan Simon, and Michelle Simms all showcased their stuff in an incredibly exciting division. After a great performance and a year off from competition, Simms would take home the crown. She hails from Pinnacle Martial Arts under Mike Tobin, and we all look forward to seeing her compete and win on the circuit as she has in year's past. We all welcome Michelle back from too long of an absence.
Next on the bill wa s the Adult Contemporary Forms Grands. Jerico Catura, Robert Hean and Anja Greenhalgh all competed in a very difficult division. After two performances and even tying himself, Jerico Catura would take home the grand, representing Team International .
After an Aim High Academy Demo, Junior Continuous divisions ruled the stage. Robert “Speedy” Natera and Juan Carlos Tanabe (both from Team Alchemy) showcased some lightning fast strikes in a highly contested bout. Speedy lived up to his nickname, flying all over the stage to take home the first place prize. Mathew Hernandez and Chance Maxwell both fought like crazy in a territorial showdown of which team rules El Paso, Texas; Team Alchemy or Team Fresh. In this brawl at least, Maxwell and Alchemy would take home the win and bragging rights. Drew Beatty and Colin Grudil showcased high flying kicks in their Light Middleweight bout. In a close fight, Beatty would win the prize.
Sage Northcutt and Karl Bettencourt both showcased skilled precision in their continuous bout. Northcutt's vast world title and stage experience won out as he would take home the first place prize. Johnathan Hernandez and Bobby Seronio fought valiantly in their Lightweight continuous fight. These two youngsters flew all over the stage in an attempt to one up each other, with Seronio taking the win. And finally, Courtney Leal and Colbey Northcutt showed that girls can indeed fight as well as the boys in their bout. Northcutt fought like she always does, taking the win.
Then, Men's Team sparring stormed the stage. Team Ezra took on the famed Team All Stars. Both teams were interesting combinations of size and speed. Joshua Pittman, Joshua May, and “ Big ” Brandon Bertsch took on Willie "Lump Lump" Hicks, Jamal Albini, and Raymond “The Real Deal” Daniels. First up was “Lump Lump” versus Pittman. After the first fight, All Stars had the lead by one point. After Albini and May faced off, All Stars still had a one point edge, 8-7. After a valiant effort from Bertsch against Daniels, All Stars would take home the win with a final score of 20-12.
The teams action continued with Team Proper facing off against Team Prok for junior teams. Enrique Bianonate, Ramses Atlata and Abraham Atlata faced off against Bobby Seronio, Keyon Allen and Patrick Salientes. After it was all said and done, Team Proper would walk home with the win with a final score of 16-8.
Alyssa Erickson, Peter "Cookie Cutter" Timmes and Blake Casey made up the competition in the Junior Choreographed Weapons grand championship. Cookie Cutter would take home a big win over both Erickson and Casey, after a riveting performance . For the Adult Contemporary Weapons grands, Jerico Catura, Darren Cox and Anja Greenhalgh came to the stage. After fending off a three sectioned Bo staff and Catura for the third time, Greenhalgh would take home the grand, making it the second of the night for Team Pinnacle.
Brandon Nunley and Keyon Allen fought for the Boys 14-15 point sparring title in a California bout. Dumlao's Nunley would outshine Allen to take the win. Allie Stevens and Kealani Remigo fought their hearts out for the 13-14 Girls Point Sparring title. After the devastating gyro type kick Stevens landed in the daytime eliminations, it was no surprise that she would take the win. Juan Pablo Santiago and Daniel Del Valle fought in a Guatemala versus USA sparring match for the boys' 16-17 title. In this bout, Guatemala had the edge as Santiago slipped by Del Valle by one point in a close match. Finally for the Senior Men's Point Sparring finals, Mark Lawrence and Paul Mendoza squared off. Fighting genes must run in the family and Justus Lawrence's uncle Mark took the win.
Next the competition turned traditional. Adryanne Angat, Trevor Kim and Jordan Simon battled for the Junior Japanese title. After fending off two world champions, the California native Angat would take home the grand. Mike Spizzuco (Japanese and Traditional Weapons), Julio Domingo (Kenpo/Kajukenpo), Rommel Gargolos (Korean), Daniela Barrientos (Female Japanese) and Anja Greenhalgh (Female Korean) were on for the adult traditional forms and weapons grand championship. After four of the six performances received at least one ten, Mike Spizzuco took the win with a score of 29.98. Finally, Junior Korean was up with Dallas Stockdale taking on Colbey Northcutt. After a tied performance, the judges decided Stockdale was the better performer, giving her the grand.
Willie Hicks versus Leautry Bruner and Raymond Daniels versus Michael Jefferson were the opening fights for the Men's Point sparring semi-finals. The young Bruner was able to finish off Hicks by a one point margin. Teammates Jefferson and Daniels squared off in a very exciting match with the elder Daniels topping the young Jefferson. Daniels and Bruner would face off later in the night.
Tracey Farnes and Joslyn Espinosa duked it out for the Women's Point Title. Espinosa's shiftiness proved key, as she was able to defeat Farnes. To end the night, Daniels and Bruner fought to determine the grand champions winner for men's point sparring. Undoubtably, Daniels was too much for the young Bruner to handle, as he would take home the win for Team All Stars.
With the final grand championship matches for sparring, the Pacific Jewel Nationals were complete for 2010. Another fun and hospitable event in the beautiful state of Washington! Congratulations to all the participants and spectators at the event.
