The successful Jamaican team which bagged 14 medals at last weekend's World International Karate Tournament in Nagoya, Japan. - Contributed

JAMAICA'S SEIDO karate team returned home this week with a swag of 14 medals and the prestigious Grand Champion Trophy, won by heavyweight Bruce McFarlane, at the World International Karate Tournament in Nagoya, Japan.

The team's haul included five gold, two silver and seven bronze medals, while McFarlane was the stand-out performer at the event as he dominated the heavyweight division over the weekend.

Dazzling fighting skills

More than 600 competitors from 12 countries battled for honours but it was the Jamaicans who dominated the two-day competition, often leaving the other participants in awe with their dazzling fighting skills.

Omar Rose, called 'The Untouch-able' because of his amazing ring craft, retained his middleweight title that he won in South Africa, and also got bronze in the Kata competition.

Betty Salmon won gold in Kata and also fighting. Everett Simms, the veteran, got silver in black belt middleweight fighting, losing out to Rose in the semis.

The Jamaicans dominated the finals, often making them all- Jamaican affairs. Judy Ann Henry, the nurse from UHWI, entering her first overseas tournament, got gold in the women's yellow belt Kata division.

Sandra Simms doubled with bronze in women's black belt fighting and Kata. Black belt Sheree Smith also doubled, as she got silver in Kata and bronze in fighting.

Trevor Cooper was third in men's black belt middleweight fighting, while green belt Richard Austin won a bronze for fighting.

Fourth-place finishes went to Elizabeth Rhule (black belt fighting), Claudette Milford Allen (yellow-belt Kata) and Richard Austin (green belt Kata), while black belt Barbara Cooper and brown belt Simin Case came fifth in their divisions.

Jun Shihan Tony Robinson was ecstatic at the team's performance and emphasised that once again, Jamaica showed its ability to the world in sporting endeavours.

"We have gone on the world stage, time and time again, pitting our skills against the best in the world and coming out victorious, so I guess that makes us the best in the world then," he said.

The team was also accompanied by Kyoshi George McFarlane, who shared the sentiments of Robinson, made even more special as he is the father and coach of Bruce McFarlane.

The team will now turn its attention to the next world tournament to be held in Cape Town, South Africa.