The East Coast Open was one of the smaller tournaments I’ve seen but very well run. I got to referee for the first time! It was quite an experience, I didn’t know if I would enjoy it but I did.
Jason Doiron was the only competitor from St.Peter’s taekwondo fighting in the red belt division; because it was a smaller tournament the children received 2 one and a half minute rounds and the adults two, two-minute rounds.
A girl from the St.Peter’s kung fu club went in the tournament and did well with no taekwondo fighting experience, very good fighting spirit.
There was some excellent matches Chrissy fitsommons (not sure of spelling) won a good match she is quite a talent. Also in the black belt heavy weight division there was an excellent match between a black belt named Keith (Marty Macdougall student) and another black belt named Nathan, Nathan has national fighting experience and I think Keith does to, Nathan won a good match, there was also a weapons division with 2 competitor’s one of Marty’s students did a very nice staff form winning gold and Chrissy fitsommons did a nunchuk form winning the silver.
Here is an entry from my journal on how I thought my match went
November 4, 2000 East Coast Open ( Marty Macdougall’s
tournament)
I fought a red belt from the Korean Tigers Taekwondo:
I fought smart hit with edan peechs and made him miss. I threw punches to back him up and set up my feet with my hands. I blocked a couple of his kicks.
He had a pretty good counter side kick the first round was probably around 3-1 for me.
I was tired by this round and slowed things down I fought at the edge of the ring but I out timed him making him miss and hit with more edans and a few counter side kicks I never threw quite enough combinations although I used my hands to set up my feet. I circled and moved a lot, I have been really working on foot work and it helped, I should have took more advantage of some good fakes that I used. He went for a head kick which missed me because I leaned my head back(very close) at the end of the match I nailed an edan round kick.
(won gold medal)1-0 record