Local Sports

Jackson Allen, a Black Belt at Nuon’s Martial Arts of Whitehouse, recently captured the U.S. Open World Karate Championship in Orlando, Fla.

Allen competed in the 11-under Black Belt Continuous Sparring Division. The 10-year won the event by fighting two two-minute rounds in the final. Competitors in the division were from the U.S., South Africa, Mexico and Venezuela.

Allen also placed eighth in Traditional Forms and 11th in Traditional Weapons.

A total of 21 students from Nuon’s competed as well against competitors from Brazil, Costa Rica, England, Germany, Mexico, Japan, South Africa, Venezuela, and the United States.

Other competitors and their results were: Zack Aldredge (10-11 Black Belt Division), sixth, Creative Weapons; eighth, Creative Forms; fifth, Continuous Sparring; Alex Bridges (10-11 Advanced Belt Division), ninth, Traditional Kata; Jackson Bridges (8-9 Black Belt Division), second, Creative Forms; third, Point Sparring; fifth, Elite Eight Creative Forms; Reed Burdette (8-9 Intermediate Belt Division), fourth, Traditional Forms; Caleb Cox (8-9 Intermediate Belt Division), sixth, Traditional Forms; Anthony Doan (8-9 Intermediate Belt Division), fifth, Traditional Forms;

Also, Jimmy Fortune (12-13 Black Belt Division), third, Continuous Sparring; fifth, Creative Kata; fifth, Point Sparring; Felicia Haltom (12-13 Black Belt Division), second, Musical Forms; fifth, Traditional Weapons; eighth, Creative Weapons; second, Creative Forms; sixth, Continuous Sparring; ninth, Point Sparring; sixth, Traditional Forms; Alicia Hampton, second, Point Sparring; Micaela Johnson, good showing; Valencia Johnson, good showing; Kollin Keller (8-9 Intermediate Belt Division), sixth, Traditional Forms; Jordan Morales (10-11 Intermediate Belt Division), good showing; Micayla Rude, third, Point Sparring; fifth, Traditional Forms;

Also, Michael Sapp (10-11 Black Belt Division), second, Creative Weapons; second, Point Sparring; sixth, Continuous Sparring; fifth, Traditional Weapons; Alex Smith (12-13 Advanced Belt Division), third, Point Sparring; Christian Smith (12-13 Intermediate Belt Division), good showing; and Brandon Walker (13-14 Intermediate Belt Division), fourth, Creative Weapons.

Nuon's Martial Arts Karate Team represented East Texas in the U.S. Open World Karate Tournament in Orlando, Fla., recently. Team members pose with their trophies.
(Courtesy photo)