The 2010 IKA National Black Belt Championships

IKA champs

Members of the UIKA in the East Tennessee area participated in the 2010 National Black Belt Championships hosted by Bill Pogue of the IKA near Nashville, Tennessee.

The three Black Belt level competitors from the UIKA group competed in all three traditional events of Kata, Weapons and Kumite.

Mr. Brandon Baird, 5^th Dan, competed in the 4^th to 5^th Dan 18–39 year old division. Sensei Baird won first in Kata, second in Weapons, and first in Kumite.

Mr. Jerry Lewis, 6^th Dan, competed in the 6^th to 8^th Dan 38–49 year old division. Sensei Lewis won first in Kata, first in Weapons, and third in Kumite.

Mr. Doyle Seiber, 6^th Dan, competed in the 6^th to 8^th Dan 38–49 year old division. Sensei Seiber won third in Kata, third in Weapons, and second in Kumite.

Sensei Doyle Seiber and his two students, Senseis Lewis and Baird, represented the UIKA well by demonstrating traditional karate and placing no lower than third place in any category.

Master William Pogue did an excellent job of directing this event and any black belt would have been proud to have participated.