Date: 19 August 2008

Location: Olomouc, Czech Republic

660 Martail Arts Competitors form 41 Countries

Forms
Hardstyle Japanese junior girls
1 Beinvogl Susanne GER
2 Junker Nina GER
3 Lindqvist Anna SWE
4 Krátká Nikola CZE

Hardstyle kids girls
1 Arnhold Laura GER
2 Němcová Dominika CZE

Hardstyle kids boys
1 Muller Martin CZE
2 Goklar Sadik TUR
3 Kramer Maximilian GER
4 Kolodziejczyk Kacper SWE

Hardstyle junior boys
1 Beran David CZE
2 Junger Daniel GER
3 Salt Mathen ENG
4 Lestienne Dylan FRA

Hardstyle men
1 Frána Jan CZE
2 Eisele Andreas GER
3 Sarnitz Michael AUT
4 Dikilitas Atila TUR

Hardstyle women
1 Balasz Eva HUN
2 Doláková Ester CZE
3 Riplová Jana CZE

Korean style juniors
1 Junker Nina GER
2 Arnhold Laura GER
3 Linke Jessica GER
4 Krismer Matthias GER

Korean style men
1 Benistan Adam ENG
2 Sarnitz Michael AUT
3 Eisele Andreas GER
4 Klaška Jan CZE

Free Style men
1 Petřík Jonáš CZE
2 Nguyen Andreas GER
3 Muller Charls GER
4 Zdeněk Veselý CZE

Free style juniors
1 Muller Martin CZE
2 Kucharski Joshua GER
3 Zirbes Dennis GER
4 Alcker Katie ENG

Free style kids girls
1 Bínová Radka CZE
2 Winkler Maria Jolin GER
3 Flieter Jennifer GER
4 McKenna Elli ENG

Free Style Weapon junior boys
1 Kucharski Joshua GER
2 Zirber Denis GER
3 Whittle Scott ENG

Free Style Weapon junior girls
1 Filipová Nikola CZE
2 Kessel Evelin GER
3 Tanya Ledger ENG

Free Style Weapon kids boys
1 Underwood Jack ENG
2 Bínová Radka CZE
3 Robyn Dyson ENG
4 Herrero Ganga German ESP

Free Style Weapon men
1 Busby David ENG
2 Bílek David CZE
3 Tran Quang Nhi BEL

Free Style Weapon women
1 Herrero Ortega Julia ESP
2 Wilcokson Gemma ENG

Soft style kids girls
1 Langová Iveta CZE
2 Pfeffer Kathrin GER

Soft style junior boys
1 Roučka Michal CZE
2 Osman Adnan TUR
3 Polák Tomáš CZE

Soft style junior girls
1 Bínová Markéta CZE
2 Filipová Nikola CZE
3 Flieter Jennifer GER

Soft style women
1 Bínová Petra CZE
2 Juranic Nadja GER
3 Klopfer Daniela AUT

Soft style men
1 Gulmez Kayhan TUR
2 Vaculín Petr CZE
3 Müller Charls GER
3 Stoger Johann AUT

Weapons without music kids boys
1 Krismer Matthias GER
2 Junker Nina GER
3 Arnhold Laura GER
3 Nováková Petra CZE

women & men
1 Muller Charls GER
2 Riplová Jana CZE
3 Salt Steven ENG
3 Vasilenko Jan CZE

Veterans traditional
1 Sarnitz Michael AUT
2 Bouchet Richard FRA
3 Asandi Sorin FRA
3 Dikilitas Atila TUR

Semi contact kids girls
- 30 Kg
1 Maier Veronika GER
2 Harejková Nikola CZE
3 Suttan Helena ENG
3 Scott Dion ENG
- 35 Kg
1 Trevy Catherine FRA
2 Pedic Adina TUR
3 Dasilva Cary FRA
3 Scott Chantelle ENG
- 40 Kg
1 Rust Georgai ENG
2 Elson Kayleigh ENG
- 45 Kg
1 Maddock Charlie ENG
2 Herainová Sabina CZE
3 McSweeney Hannah ENG

Light contact kids girls
- 30 Kg
1 Herajková Nikola CZE
2 Scott Dion ENG
- 35 Kg
1 Scott Chantale ENG
2 Read Abigal ENG
3 Trevy Catharine FRA
3 Hanson Cheyenne GER
- 45 Kg
1 Belskaya Dajana CZE
2 Herainová Sabina CZE
3 Elson Kayeleigh ENG
3 Rust Georgia ENG

Semi contact kids boys
- 25 Kg
1 Hurst Jake ENG
2 Scott Damien ENG
- 30 Kg
1 Kessel Alexander GER
2 Pickin Jack ENG
3 Derby Sam ENG
3 Korben Ward WAL
- 35 Kg
1 Evans Tom ENG
2 Schmidt Dustin GER
3 Kolafa Zdeněk CZE
3 Lanzone Matteo ITA
- 40 Kg
1 Eli Jah Evril ENG
2 Kapoun Jan CZE
3 Schaal Tobias GER
- 45 Kg
1 Filannino Savino ITA
2 Reuben Charlesworth ENG
3 D-Reese Williams ENG
- 45 Kg
1 Marlow Ryan ENG
2 Dedic Ajdin TUR
3 Weston Bogle ENG
3 Tesoriello Emanuel AUT

Light contact kids boys
- 25 Kg
1 Alyas Hamza ENG
2 Scott Damien ENG
- 30 Kg
1 Harze Bono BEL
2 Máté Jóni HUN
3 Squirrell Jonathan ENG
3 Říha Viktor CZE
- 35 Kg
1 Clique Romain FRA
2 Girard Julien FRA
3 Stránský Richard CZE
3 Sadik Goklar TUR
- 40 Kg
1 Oneill Ryan ENG
2 Hearth Ben ENG
- 45 Kg
1 Frust Jordan ENG
2 Martínek Aleš CZE
3 Michalski Frederic GER
3 Dunneth Leon ENG
+ 45 Kg
1 Weston Bogle ENG
2 Rahman Zakir ENG
3 Císař Tomáš CZE
3 Fatih Akbulut TUR

Semi contact junior girls under 18
- 45 Kg
1 Holmes Kirsty ENG
2 Demir Kubba TUR
3 Kessel Evelin GER
- 51 Kg
1 Demidová Anastazia RUS
2 Ježková Milena CZE
- 55 Kg
1 Guralnik Ksenia RUS
2 Stelnerová Anna CZE
3 Semlitsch Jeannine AUT
4 Kocurová Lucie CZE
- 59 Kg
1 Šindlerová Blanka CZE
2 Jozková Natala CZE
3 Hasini Sharini GER
- 63 Kg
1 Billingham Tara ENG
2 Zofová Hedvika CZE
+ 63 Kg
1 Ivankovicz Katharina GER
2 Jachnická Kristýna CZE
3 Kosová Iveta CZE
4 Polly Clarke ENG

Light contact junior girls under 18
- 45 Kg
1 Andělová Věra CZE
2 Holmes Kirsty WAL
3 Guadagnolo Carole-Anne FRA
3 Karouche Djena FRA
- 51 Kg
1 Lindqvist Anna SWE
2 Webb Sophie ENG
3 Petrželková Tereza CZE
3 Smith Josephine ENG
- 55 Kg
1 Richardson Hannah ENG
2 Kocurková Lucie CZE
3 Hanson Jenifer GER
3 May Claire FRA
- 59 Kg
1 Lindqvist Maria SWE
2 Catella Charlotte FRA
3 Šindlerová Blanka CZE
3 Dallas Sophie ENG
- 63 Kg
1 Martínková Tereza CZE
2 Zofová Hedvika CZE
+63 Kg
1 Veronika Kohoutová CZE
2 Mulky Jasmine ENG
3 Jachnická Kristýna CZE

Semi contact junior boys under 18
- 45 Kg
1 Gould Tom ENG
2 Šeba Jan CZE
3 Horemans Diego BEL
- 51 Kg
1 Kotrba Vojtěch CZE
2 Daniel James ENG
3 Mahmoud Mustafa GER
4 Konig Michael GER
- 55 Kg
1 Zkaryan Karen RUS
2 Rasputin Alexander GER
3 Kotlár Daniel CZE
4 Colemann Mitchel ENG
- 59 Kg
1 Vurm Jakub CZE
2 Aysin Mikhail RUS
3 Dávid Zámbo HUN
4 Traub Jan CZE
- 63 Kg
1 Benedikt Pavel CZE
2 Ryabchikov Egor RUS
3 Luke James ENG
4 Mathew Lees ENG
- 67 Kg
1 Ramazanov Tarlan RUS
2 Prokopalov Edgar GER
3 Akastus Viktor AUT
4 Kessel Daniel GER
- 71 Kg
1 Nowlan Chris ENG
2 Kruger Jan GER
3 Kolda Martin CZE
4 Šeba Lukáš CZE
+ 71 Kg
1 Strajčev Filip CZE
2 Kaan Saka TUR
3 Ivankovic Marin GER
4 Lyons Paul ENG

Light contact junior boys under 18
- 45 Kg
1 Sedqwick Mark ENG
2 Aliani Yacine FRA
3 Bessin Robertino SWE
4 Horemans Diego BEL
- 51 Kg
1 Habash Kristian HUN
2 Kotrba Vojtěch CZE
3 Hickman Danny ENG
4 Bambuch Jakub CZE
- 55 Kg
1 Zkaryan Karen RUS
2 Hawthorne Callum ENG
3 Cridland Tom ENG
4 Alvarez Anthony FRA
- 59 Kg
1 Khan Azad ENG
2 Aysin Mikhail RUS
3 Witkowski Piotr POL
4 Hunanyan David ARM
- 63 Kg
1 Coursia Jeremy FRA
2 Chambaudry Sylvain FRA
3 El-Sheikh Billal DEN
4 Scott Michael FRA
- 67 Kg
1 Richards Jane ENG
2 Akastus Viktor AUT
3 Bin Slimare Nadar DEN
4 Fatka Petr CZE
- 71 Kg
1 Tarant Tomáš CZE
2 Mendes Tavares Leopold FRA
3 Cecchini Alessio ITA
4 Michalski Philip GER
+ 71 Kg
1 Ivankovic Marin GER
2 Červenka Robin CZE
3 Franchini Kevin FRA
4 Strajčev Filip CZE

Semi contact women
- 50 Kg
1 Wilcockson Gemma ENG
2 Balász Eva HUN
- 54 Kg
1 Ryumina Anastacia RUS
2 Sagomonjan Elena RUS
3 Korjenic Merima GER
3 Veselková Ivana CZE
- 57 Kg
1 Denise Bryant ENG
2 Sedláková Lucie CZE
3 Vetter Lena GER
3 Haas Nadine GER
- 60 Kg
1 Kobosilová Irena CZE
2 Ďuricová Kamila CZE
3 Charlesworth Julie ENG
3 Kovats Beatrix AUT
- 63 Kg
1 Bohmann Claudia AUT
2 Rusnak Anna AUS
- 66 Kg
1 Sturzaker Beverly ENG
2 Jasioková Beata CZE
3 Klopfer Daniela AUT
+ 66 Kg
1 Das-Gnota Nina ENG
2 Veselková Alice CZE
3 Janes Caroline ENG
4 Bossard Angelique FRA

Semi contact men
- 60 Kg
1 Kartal Erhan TUR
2 Shaun Bradley ENG
- 63,5 Kg
1 Mark Gould ENG
2 Vitaly Timofeev RUS
3 Bénce Neméth HUN
3 Engel Otto GER
- 67 Kg
1 Klaška Jan CZE
2 Akastus Viktor AUT
3 Peverelle Phil ENG
3 Ellis Darreh ENG
- 71 Kg
1 Huseyin Semerci TUR
2 Severino Magno ITA
3 Mostl Tomáš CZE
3 Beniston Adam ENG
- 75 Kg
1 Lars Flessner GER
2 Lenberg Alexey RUS
3 Semerci Tunay TUR
3 Hölbling Dominik AUT
- 81 Kg
1 Friedel Michael GER
2 Halli Mohamed GER
3 Mofidian Askar AUT
3 Wehbe Haythan LEB
- 86 Kg
1 Galuppo Alessandro ITA
2 Malyshev Andrey RUS
3 Eisele Andreas GER
3 Ellis Gary ENG
- 91 Kg
1 Maddock Daned ENG
2 Folladorri Harald AUT
3 Kožušník Jiří CZE
3 Federer Alexander AUT
+ 91 Kg
1 Kotík Petr CZE
2 Valdman Petr CZE
3 Mass Alex GER
3 Bebik Ivan RUS

Light contact women
- 54 Kg
1 Ryumina Anastacia RUS
2 Laird Geraldine ENG
3 Veselková Ivana CZE
- 57 Kg
1 Belskaya Zhanna CZE
2 Sedláková Lucie CZE
3 Fryer Katie ENG
- 60 Kg
1 Kobosilová Renáta CZE
2 Simmet Sophie ENG
3 Laitinen Lene DEN
3 Di Gianni Noemi ITA
- 63 Kg
1 Lochová Klára CZE
2 Rusnak Anna AUS
3 Di Lauro Francesca ITA
3 Mulerová Martina CZE
- 66 Kg
1 Cecchini Valentina ITA
2 Jasioková Beata CZE
3 Klopfer Daniela AUT
+ 66 Kg
1 Day Kelly ENG
2 Pollhammer Renate AUT
3 Holcová Martina CZE
3 Hájková Monika CZE

Light contact men
- 57 Kg
1 Reeve Nathan ENG
2 Allabian Vladimir RUS
3 Agami Joseph DEN
3 Samer Hassan LEB
- 60 Kg
1 Shaun Bradley ENG
2 Nasr Nabil FRA
- 63,5 Kg
1 Timofeev Vitaly RUS
2 Nisar Qasim ENG
3 Ibiso Isaac Erekosima NGR
4 Maurer Dennis GER
- 67 Kg
1 Szymanski Andrzej POL
2 Avwar Amar ENG
3 Klaška Jan CZE
4 Yazdanparah S. Mohsen IRI
- 71 Kg
1 Mostl Tomáš CZE
2 Thorrold Ben ENG
3 Petars Lewis ENG
- 75 Kg
1 Lenberg Alexey RUS
2 Pader Szabolscz RUS
3 Quinn Peter ENG
4 Končil Pavel CZE
- 81 Kg
1 Homolka Jan CZE
2 Quinn Alan ENG
3 Tahal Petr CZE
4 Hajdinjak Josef AUT
- 86 Kg
1 Galuppo Alessandro ITA
2 Dadswel Muray ENG
3 Stretton Adam ENG
4 Widehen Yanick FRA
- 91 Kg
1 Brzoň Vojtěch CZE
2 Corso Gianto ITA
3 Freeman Craig ENG
4 Halimeh Bilal SYR
+ 91 Kg
1 Sawa Piotr POL
2 Gábor Miklós HUN
3 Gilmore Paul ENG

Semi contact Veterans women
+ 63 Kg
1 Charlesworth Julie ENG
2 Das-Guota Nina ENG
3 Janes Caroline ENG

Light contact Veterans women
+ 63 Kg
1 Bryant Denis ENG
2 Klopfer Daniela AUT

Semi contact Veterans men
- 75 Kg
1 Harze Tom BEL
2 Serkowitsch Eduard AUT
3 Diehm Peter GER

+ 75 Kg
1 Morrison Jason ENG
2 Kulbinder Sunda ENG
3 Akdas Ahmet TUR
4 Wolff Olivier GER

Semi contact masters
- 75 Kg
1 Dareh Ellis ENG
2 Dave Hilton ENG
3 Miloš Černý CZE
4 Kolerus Robert AUT
+ 75 Kg
1 Maddock David ENG
2 Sendor Roman AUT
3 Olivier Wolff GER
4 Pavel Kocábek CZE

Semi contact Team men
1 Czech Republic
2 Turkey
3 Germany
4 England

Semi contact Team women
1 Austria
2 England
3 Czech
4 Germany

Semi contact Team juniors
1 Czech
2 England
3 Germany

Full contact women
- 50 Kg
1 Mairot Lucy FRA
2 Balász Éva HUN
3 Hupcejová Monika CZE
- 54 Kg
1 Sevdia Arif ENG
2 Persson Dorthe DEN
- 60 Kg
1 Turan Züleyha TUR
2 Lochová Klára CZE
3 Cortiňas Maria Del Mar ESP
3 Kharki Nahed FRA
- 66 Kg
1 Koričanská Věra CZE
2 Hambergerová Ilona CZE
3 Sandór Lilla HUN
+ 66 Kg
1 Kersting Katharina GER
2 Pollhammer Renate AUT

Full contact men
- 57 Kg
1 Barák Filip CZE
2 Reeve Nathan ENG
- 60 Kg
1 Blažejovský René CZE
2 Hendrich Thomas DEN
- 63,5 Kg
1 Moravec Ondřej CZE
2 Nevečeřal Jiří CZE
- 67 Kg
1 Frček Michal CZE
2 Hon Martin CZE
3 Karadag Naci TUR
3 French Michael ENG
- 71 Kg
1 Vitásek Josef CZE
2 Škeřík Tomáš CZE
3 András Lakatos HUN
3 Romano Bruno ITA
- 75 Kg
1 Fendrich Jan CZE
2 Fauconnier Eric FRA
3 Khoubani Hassan IRI
- 81 Kg
1 Homolka Jan CZE
2 Wolf Lukáš CZE
3 Komáromi Attila HUN
3 Zarekhoshzaban Morteza IRI
- 86 Kg
1 Stretton Adam ENG
2 Widehen Yanick FRA
3 Kazda Petr CZE
- 91 Kg
1 Havránek Jiří CZE
2 Kazda Jan CZE
3 Halimeh Bilal SYR
3 Pfeifer Samuel AUT
+ 91 Kg
1 Šibrava Jan CZE
2 Černý Zdeněk CZE

Lowkick women
- 50 Kg
1 Mairot Lucy FRA
2 Hupcejová Monika CZE
- 54 Kg
1 Lišková Eva CZE
2 De Souza Riera Maria Isabel ESP
3 Loužilová Tereza CZE
3 Delagnau Morgane FRA
- 60 Kg
1 Cortiňas Maria Del Mar ESP
2 Kharchi Nahed FRA
3 Holá Alena CZE
3 Lindqist Maria SWE
- 66 Kg
1 Jindrová Martina CZE
2 Oleksik Agnieszka POL

Lowkick men
- 57 Kg
1 Rodrigues Comes Ivan ESP
2 Liop Gilbert Alain ESP
3 Happy Ottah NGR
3 Berabah Yacine FRA
- 63,5 Kg
1 Onbouda Bibi CAM
2 Aykut Yakut TUR
3 Bassiri Kabir AFG
- 67 Kg
1 Buale Chuni Flaviano ESP
2 Beran Tomáš CZE
3 Biró Daniel HUN
3 Huráb Jan CZE
- 71 Kg
1 Hohlov Oleg MOL
2 Zielinski Adrian POL
3 Lepej Martin CZE
3 Baz Cordero Jonatan ESP
- 75 Kg
1 Djanang Nguepkak CAM
2 Fendrich Jan BEL
3 Akakpo Cepric BEL
3 Baldelli Diego SUI
- 81 Kg
1 Dorri Ali IRI
2 Babic Michael BEL
3 Rác Josef CZE
3 Szabó Lóránd HUN
- 86 Kg
1 Sadibou Sy SWE
2 Kollár Filip CZE
3 Staubmann Aly AUT
3 Curia Jean Tony FRA
- 91Kg
1 Havránek Jiří CZE
2 Russo Pasquale ITA
3 Hallajpour Mahyar IRI

Oriental rules women
- 54 Kg
1 Lišková Eva CZE
2 Delagneu Morgane FRA
3 Opak Monika POL
3 Voraberger Eva AUT
- 57 Kg
1 Sikora Anna POL
2 Nogaj Vanessa POL
3 Holá Alena CZE
- 63 Kg
1 Sychrová Renata CZE
2 Mudrochová Lucie CZE
3 Turan Zuleyha TUR
- 66 Kg
1 Jindrová Martina CZE
2 Oettl Astrid AUT
3 Kučerová Aneta CZE
3 Kersting Katherina GER

Oriental rules men
- 63,5 Kg
1 Wytwer Adrian POL
2 Adamczyk Daniel POL
3 Tamás Bittmann HUN
3 Maurer Dennis GER
- 67 Kg
1 Mudroch Josef CZE
2 Rrzadek Filip POL
3 Mkrtchyan Hayk ARM
3 Borssén Johan SWE
- 71 Kg
1 Arapiev Daud RUS
2 Karczewski Alan AUT
3 Dvořák Jakub CZE
3 Hayoz Omar SUI
- 75 Kg
1 Hynanyan Anatoli ARM
1 Kent Tom ENG
3 Hamilton Rickie ENG
3 Neméth Tibor HUN
- 81 Kg
1 Zedníček Ivo CZE
2 Špiller Ondřej CZE
3 Gaspár Attila HUN
3 Babataheri Babak IRI
- 86 Kg
1 Sadibou Sy SWE
2 Srubek Ondřej CZE
3 Scarlett Delroy USA
3 Cardona Lopez Nestor ESP
- 91 Kg
1 Michalak Pawel POL
2 Uřičář Jan POL
+ 91 Kg
1 Toman Václav CZE
2 Berka Martin CZE
3 Mlinkski Piotr POL

Over 1,000 amateur martial artists from 52 countries have already registered to compete in the ISKA Amateur World Championships being staged in the city of Olomouc, Czech Republic from 19 to 24 August 2008.

Event report

I.S.K.A. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008 – OLOMOUC CZECH REP

This was to be the first closed ISKA World Championships.  In order toattend the tournament you had to qualify as part of your National Team. After 6 squad training and team building sessions, Team England were primed and readyto take on the rest of the world.I myself was very pleased to have competitors in every discipline available from Forms, Kata, Semi, Light, ull-Contact and Thai Boxing.  This is something we didn’t have in previous championships.  I felt really confident that we had a really strong team with many potential medal winners.The venue was the Sporthalle Haly in the City of Olomouc in the Czech Republic.Olomouc was a very pleasant City with a good infrastructure and had a beautiful square at its heart with romantic buildings and monuments lined with cafes and restaurants.Our 230 strong team of competitors, officials and spectators arrived in four groups. Group north, group south and 2 midland groups.  After presentations and weigh-ins everyone retired to their hotels, which were a vast improvement on those in Hungary last year.

The next morning the tournament began at 10.00 a.m. prompt kicking off with all the Kids and Junior fighting divisions.The morning start was hectic to say the least, it was a good job that we so many National and Assistant Coaches available to us as we had kids kicking off on every area and ring available. Luckily our Coaches had put a system in place which allowed things to run smoothly and things soon settled down.Our girls did us proud in the Semi-Contact divisions with Georgia Rust, Charlie Maddocks, Kirsty Holmes and Tara Billingham all taking Gold for Team England to become World Champions.

The lads responded to this with a string of great results for Tom Evans, Elijah Everill, Ryan Marlow, Jake Hurst, Tom Gould and Chris Nolan all taking Gold in Semi-Contact.In the Light-Contact there was a Gold medal for Chantelle Scott to add to her Bronze in the Semi-Contact.The pick of the girls was Team England’s Hannah Richardson who had hard fights all the way through but she just got stronger as she went on – winning Gold in style.The lads faired somewhat better than the girls with great wins for Alyas Hamza, Mark Sedgwick, Jake Richards, Ryan O’Neill, Jordan Frost and Weston Bogle but the two lads who really stood out were Zakir Rahman and Azad Khan.  These two lads are real class, they faced strong opponents from the Czech Republic and Russia respectively in their finals but they just upped a gear and dealt with them both.  These two lads can achieve all they want to in the future and are two names to look out for!

The Opening Ceremony for some reason was put back until that evening and turned out to be a real dazzling affair.Each Country selected some of their kids to carry their Countries placard and flag and as their Countries name was announced they had to march in and line the perimeter of the Sporthalle.
This was followed by some live pop and rock singing acts followed by some dance groups.  It was great entertainment for the spectators and a very proud moment for the kids involved.

Next came the usual speeches from the local Mayor, the promoter of the event, ISKA European President Mr. Fritz Exenberger and ISKA World President Mr. Cory Schaffer which brought the first day to a close with Team England’s kids having achieved a good day’s work and setting the standard for the adults to follow.It was now time for all the National Directors and myself to attend the World Congress meeting chaired by our President Mr. Cory Schaffer of the United States.

This was again a very productive meeting and well attended.  We voted Rome, Italy as the host of next year’s European Championships with Spain hosting the World’s in 2010.  It was great to see many of my friends again and was a very enjoyable evening.The next morning’s competition started promptly at 9.00 a.m. with Forms and Kata.The creative and weapons to music in particular was spectacular to watch.  With strong competition from Germany and the Czech Republic in particular.Team England battled well winning many medals.  The best being Jack Underwood taking Gold in the Kids 12 and under Musical Weapons division against some strong opposition and National Coach Dave Busby taking the Men’s Musical Weapon division to also become World Champion 2008 with a fine sword display. Adam Beniston also won Gold in the Men’s Korean Style.

The Men’s Oriental Rules also began that morning with Team England’s Tom Kent and Rickie Hamilton getting into the action.  Rickie was first up and this kid has the heart of a lion, pushing forward with good boxing, kicking and knee combinations and never taking the back foot.Although being tough fights Rickie out pointed his first two opponents, fighting his way to the Semi’s which would be held the following morning.

The one thing that was very noticeable at this World Championships was that the standard of the competition was very high and if our people were going to win they would have to be on their game.Next up was Tom Kent known to us as the baby faced assassin, so much so that when he went to weigh-in they thought he was a Junior!  His well built and angry looking Czech opponent must have been thinking the same when
he entered the ring.  Tom is a quiet unassuming lad, but when he steps through the ropes he flicks a switch and becomes a man on a mission and his Czech opponent was about to find out.  Tom systematically took him apart with punches, low kick, body kick, knee and head kick combo’s, eventually stopping his opponent in the third round.  This was a wake up call for anyone underestimating this kid!National Coach Lee Whittington was over the moon with the lad’s performances and eagerly awaited the next day’s competition.You could tell Team England were having a lot of success as suddenly every Country in the tournament were shouting for the opposition regardless of what Country they came from.  But this just made us even more focused and determined to win.

Our ladies points fighters came up next and really put on a display Gemma Wilcockson out pointed her Hungarian opponent in a fight that went one way and then the other with Gemma nicking it at the death.Nina Das Gupta and Beverley Sturzaker both beat Czech opponents to take Gold. Julie Charlesworth won Gold in the Veterans but it was Denise Bryant who took Gold in both Semi-Contact and Light-Contact who really stole the show with really tenacious displays especially in the Light-Contact, a double World Champion.Kelly Day showed strong basics and real heart in what were hard earned wins.  Her Austrian opponent was well beaten in the final, another World Champ.

The outstanding fighters in the Men’s divisions of Light and Semi-Contact were Dave Maddocks (Semi) and Nathan Reeve (Light).  Both were class acts and rightful World Champions.  Dave won both normal and veterans and Nathan also won Silver in the Full-Contact as well narrowly missing out to a strong Russian opponent.Mark Gould also took Gold in Semi-Contact along with Shaun Bradley& Chris Squirrell in the Light-Contact.  Jason Morrison performed extremely well in the veterans which are always taken very seriously by all competitors. Jason had some tough fights for his Gold. Daz Ellis showed he still has what it takes winning the Masters division with style.But the guy I really felt sorry for was Murray Dadswell.  This lad deserves a mention.  Murray was completely ripped off, he had shown great skill and composure in every bout with fine displays of controlled Light-Contact.  Murray has massive potential and should have won Gold.  He is another lad that has a big future ahead of him.

The surprise of the tournament was Qasim Nisar losing in his final to his strong Russian opponent.  We all thought Qasim was a dead cert but as I’ve already said, the standard of the competition was very high.It was time for the Teams.  Our Junior Boys team was really on form and only lost in the final down to some bad refereeing.  Our Ladies won Silver. While the Men’s team lost out to eventual winners the Czech Republic and ended up with the Bronze medal.

It was back to the Ring Sports divisions and Rickie Hamilton was back in the ring for his Semi-Final. He faced a very strong Georgian who as soon as he came out had ‘pro’ written all over him.Rickie being Rickie got stuck into him and even rocked him during the second round but the Georgian just had that bit too much for him in the end.Our Coach Lee Whittington had his suspicions about the Georgian, who we found out afterwards was based in the Czech Republic. We decided to google his name and found the evidence we needed that this guy was a real ‘pro’.We lodged an appeal which was upheld and the guy was disqualified and Rickie was awarded the Silver medal.

Tom Kent was due to fight the Georgian in the final but automatically took Gold.  Tom was disappointed as he wanted to fight the guy, pro or not.  That’s the type of guy Tom is.This Georgian guy slipped through the net and checks will be tightened up for next year’s event.

In Full-Contact we now have a Ladies World Champion in Sevda Arif who outgunned a very competent and tough Danish opponent to take Gold.  Sevda also took Silver in the Light-Contact division.  She had a nice black eye to show for it but said it was all worth it.

Another World Champion in Adam Stretton.  Adam is a great lad with a real dig on him.  Adam knocked out all of his opponents including the French guy in the final, dispatching him in the second round.  Adam is not just a big puncher he also has good all round techniques.  We are all really pleased for him.
Michael French took a respectable Bronze in his division.

The World Championships climaxed with an Evening Gala, which as usual with ISKA is a great way to finish the Championships. This show had it all – dance groups, ring girls, live music, fireworks, good fights, knockouts and demonstrations.  Everyone left on a high.The buzz in the Team England camp was clear to be seen.  We had managed to keep the great team spirit in the team even though we had grown in every area.The feedback we have received from the trip has been fantastic with everyone looking forward to Rome next year.

I would like to say a big thank you and well done to all of our Team, from competitors to coaches, to referees, officials and spectators.

You are all part of our Team and I appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at our British Open Championships on 9th November 08 and our English Open and Qualifiers for the European Championships in Rome on 29th March 2009.

Andrew Hennessy
ISKA UK Director Amateur division

ISKA Amateur Thaiboxing