PRESS RELEASE
June 20, 2004

The WKA U.S. National Kickboxing Championships was held yesterday (June 19th) at Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This will truly be a nationwide experience for the WKA with competitors from 16 different states represented. There were 138 athletes pre-registered online and 19 athletes who registered in person the day prior to the event. Between the no shows and those not passing their physicals, the end result was 109 competitors (adult ring sports) vying for the WKA US Amateur Title and a position of the WKA US National Team. If you came to the Nationals last year in Richmond, you are aware of the high quality of standards that the WKA adheres to and gives to its competitors and fans, this year the venue was simply amazing! Virginia Wesleyan College's Convocation center played host to the weeklong camp and the daytime elimination tournament on Saturday the 19th. The evening show featured 14 selected U.S. title matches from all three (Full Contact, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai) rules divisions. Virginia Wesleyan's facility was beautiful; it was joined with a student center that has racquetball courts, lounge areas, pool tables, a rock climbing wall and even a giant Salt Water Aquarium built right into the wall. The facility was definitely top notch. The competitors had a separate warm-up area in the auxiliary gym that was not available to the general public with warm-up mats, locker rooms, and sauna to ready themselves for upcoming bouts. Take a look for yourself at www.vwc.edu/athletics/mbasketball/index.php?m=facilities.

The event has well organized, although, there seemed to be a small shortage of officials. This seems to be consistent with large tournaments, relying on mostly volunteers. The set up was three rings with most of the work being in the larger two. Once things got started the action was non-stop in at least two rings until 5:00pm. Then, with about a one-hour break, the doors opened for the evening finals. There were too many great matches to recount them all. The event seemed to be heavily weighted to the Muay Thai divisions, with one even having 10 competitors in it (Men's MT- Welterweight -67kg/-147.4lbs). But surprisingly, the Full Contact (above the waist) division was much larger than the Kickboxing (low kick) division. It featured some of the division's stars: Lemont Davis (Virginia), Steve Mann (Virginia), Shannon Hudson (South Carolina), Brent Hess (Virginia), Dallas Crowe (South Carolina), and Nelson Lebron (Virginia), Rhonda Leland (South Carolina). All these fighters and many more who competed in the Full Contact division made this division a welcomed feature to the quality of matches. The women's divisions had a strong but small showing of 16 competitors. Perhaps the increased activity and attention to women's kickboxing has been a blessing as well as a curse as many of the top women from around the country have been opting out of the national tournaments. Hats off to the tough women willing to step it up and fight in the tournament style fighting. Erin Cantrell (Georgia) and Heather Kettelhorn (Michigan) battled back and forth for the Women's Muay Thai Welterweight Title, which ultimately went to Kettelhorn. The battle forced Cantrell to forfeit to Nicole Hess (Virginia) in the Kickboxing Welterweight Title match. It just wasn't upcoming Nicole Hess's day as she was victim of another forfeit to Rima Sidhu (New York) in a Women's Muay Thai Title match. Newcomer Sidhu had suffered an injury in an earlier match, while defeating veteran Huong Nguyen (Virginia). Alisanne Casey (Utah) and Hope Tzilianos (New York) rematched from last year's nationals for the Women's Muay Thai Bantamweight Ttile. Possibly the best match of the night, both ladies traded kicks, punch combinations and good work in the clinch. Decision went to Casey, but lookout you other Bantamweights; there is another contender in town. Rhonda Leland (South Carolina) and Tobi Carraway (Virginia) faced off for the Women's Heavyweight Full Contact Rules Title. Both fighters mixed it up before the decision went to Leland. Stacy Galloway (Virginia) showed great poise on her way to the Women's Muay Thai Middleweight Title by getting the nod over Christina Puglisi (Maryland). Pretty good for her first time in the ring. Jenny Foster (New York) defeated Lynne Chann (New York) on her way to a rematch (3rd time) with Bertina Lee (Virginia) for the Women's Muay Thai Featherweight Title. Third time is the "charm," as in this rematch Foster's change in fight strategy paid off. Both ladies gave 100% from start to finish, but this time it was Foster capturing the win.

Men's Kickboxing (low kick) featured a lot of rising stars and a few top veterans. Both Kyle Brown (Virginia) and Arjun Nair (New Jersey) gave the crowd a great show in the Bantamweight Title match. Darius Henry showed great hands to take the Lightweight Title. Newcomer J. P. Perelmutter (Virginia) showed he had what it takes to take the Middleweight Title. Taurin McLeod (Delaware) and Dave Silipath (Virginia) traded some heavy shots before McLeod (Maryland) took the decision. Jerome Wilson (Virginia) traded with veteran Paul Cantrell (Georgia) until getting stopped in the third round, giving Cantrell the Lt. Heavyweight Title. Kamarah Pasley (Pennsylvania) took the Heavyweight Kickboxing Ttle.

Far and above, the crowd has treated to some of the best amateur Muay Thai in the men's divisions. Upcoming Umaer Haq (Virginia) made a strong challenge to Muay Thai and MMA veteran Jose Villarsco (Maryland) before Villarsco met last year's winner Stephen Strotmeyer (Pennsylvania) in the finals. This was a very fast paced match with both fighters showing great versatility on both the outside and in the clinch. Strotmeyer seemed to get of the gun a little quicker and that proved to pave the way to a decision for the Muay Thai Featherweight Title. Strong kicks and punches carried Omar Ahmed (New York) through the Muay Thai Lightweight division and ultimately to the title. The Welterweight Division was seven strong and containing two different former champions. In the semi-finals, MMA veteran Mark England (Virginia, now residing in Thailand) lost a close decision to Mark Deluca (Pennsylvania). However, the victory proved too taxing for Delucca who had to forfeit in the finials to Tarek Warda (New York) who took the Lt. Welterweight Title. The deepest division (Welterweight) saw four matches in route to the US Title. Not a bad match in the bunch. The division ended with an exciting match featuring Jamie Crowder (New York) and Aaron Fisher (Ohio). Iron City's Jason Taylor (Pennsylvania) put up a good fight against Steve Radinski (Michigan) before Radinski was crowned new Lt. middleweight Champion. Chris Romulo (New York) TKO's two opponents on his way to winning the Middleweight Title by forfeit by Nicholas Balghiti (New York) in the finals. Dominick Pisielli (Maryland) topped Harvey Grasse (Virginia) to take the Lt. heavyweight Division. Dan Pemble (Michigan) once again showed great poise cruising to the Crusierweight Title. Dan's big brother (father) fought a tough match with new Heavyweight Champion Carlos Zevallos (New York). Last fight of the night and one of the toughest of the day was Super Heavyweights Yahosuah Yahudah (Georgia) and Dave Carter (Virginia). Both of these veterans traded heavy shots with each other back and forth the whole match. Yahudah came up a little short after his earlier battle with newcomer Billy Yancey (Virginia). David Carter (Virginia) won the decision and the Super Heavyweight Title.

Fans in the Hampton Roads area, as well as those visiting from the many states, heard frequent spots on 100.5 FM The Max, benefited from the giveaways at the event, and even got to meet "The Max Girls", www.maxfm.fm/Max_Girls/max_girls.htm, who did a live radio remote on Saturday. The girls were on hand to give out freebies such as T-shirts, CD's, and a whole assortment of goodies. The Hawaiian Tropic Beauties also were on hand to help out with the ring card duties.

After the evening finals, Hometown Heroes Sports Pub on Shore Drive hosted the WKA After fight Party. Everyone who attended enjoyed some great food and beverages at Virginia Beach's premier sports bar.

The WKA thanks you for your continued support and we look forward to your participation in next year's U.S. National Tournament.

For More Information, Contact Mike Afromowitz, (917) 566-8754 or muaythaimes@aol.com.

PRESS RELEASE
June 14, 2004

Pre-Registration Strong For WKA USA Nationals

Eighty-eight competitors hailing from fifteen different states have pre-registered for the 2004 World Kickboxing Association (WKA) USA “National Kickboxing Championships” amateur tournament event that will be staged on Friday, June 18th and Saturday June 19th at Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The number of fighters who have enlisted during the event’s annual pre-registration period, which officially ends today, is similar to that of last year. This year’s pre-registered athletes will make their way to the site of the tournament from Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Michigan, Utah, and Alabama.

During the event, amateur kickboxers throughout The United States will compete in single-elimination formatted tournament with three different rules divisions: Full-Contact, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. Competition is separated into 11 different weight classes amongst male fighters and 7 different weight classes amongst female fighters within each rules division.

In addition to being awarded an official championship belt and certificate, the winner in each weight class of each rules division will be named to the 2004 WKA USA national team, which will travel to Switzerland in September to compete in the annual WKA “World Championships” tournament event.

Fighters interested in competing in one of the June tournaments are invited to register accordingly by completing the form on the WKA USA website’s tournament registration page located at http://www.wkausa.com/nationals/2004/registration.htm. While the regular registration fee is $40, the WKA USA is offering a pre-registration discount rate of $30 to entrants who enroll in one of the event’s tournaments by today (June 10th).

Prior to the tournament, the WKA USA will co-host a four day Muay Thai training camp at Virginia Wesleyan College. The camp, which will feature instruction for students of all levels from June 15th through June 18th, will be led by renowned Muay Thai trainer, Kru Vut Kamnark. Decorated world champions, Bunkerd Fairtex, Matee Jedeepitak, and Pongsan Ek-Yotin of Thailand, will assist Kamnark in his coaching efforts during the camp. Those interested in registering for the camp may do so by completing the form that is accessible on the same web page as the WKA USA tournament registration form.

Established in 1970, the World Kickboxing Association (WKA), which boasts representatives in more than 90 different countries, is one of the most well known governing bodies in the sport of amateur and professional kickboxing. Recently, the WKA made unprecedented efforts to promote unity and order within its sport by agreeing to co-sanction its "World Championships" tournament event with another prominent sanctioning body, the International Amateur Kickboxing Sport Association (IAKSA). Formed in the late 1970's to regulate kickboxing events throughout The United States, the WKA USA has helped its parent organization sustain significant growth worldwide. The United States organization has over 30 events scheduled for 2004.

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PRESS RELEASE
May 28, 2004

WKA USA Amateur Nationals Kickboxing Championships Set To Begin June 18th

Fighters eligible for pre-registration discount

The United States division of the World Kickboxing Association (WKA USA) will stage its fourth annual "National Kickboxing Championships" amateur tournament event at Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Friday, June 18th and Saturday, June 19th.

During the event, amateur kickboxers throughout The United States will compete in single-elimination formatted tournament with three different rules divisions: Full-Contact, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. Competition is separated into 11 different weight classes within each rules division.

In addition to being awarded an official championship belt and certificate, the winner in each weight class of each rules division will be named to the 2004 WKA USA national team, which will travel to Switzerland in September to compete in the annual WKA "World Championships" tournament event.

Fighters interested in competing in one of the June tournaments are invited to register accordingly by completing the form on the WKA USA website's tournament registration page located at http://www.wkausa.com/nationals/2004/registration.htm. While the regular registration fee is $40, the WKA USA is offering a pre-registration discount rate of $30 to entrants who enroll in one of the event's tournaments by June 10th.

Prior to the tournament, the WKA USA will co-host a four day Muay Thai training camp at Virginia Wesleyan College. The camp, which will feature instruction for students of all levels from June 15th through June 18th, will be led by renowned Muay Thai trainer, Kru Vut Kamnark. Decorated world champions, Bunkerd Fairtex, Matee Jedeepitak, and Pongsan Ek-Yotin of Thailand, will assist Kamnark in his coaching efforts during the camp. Those interested in registering for the camp may do so by completing the form that is accessible on the same web page as the WKA USA tournament registration form.

Established in 1970, the World Kickboxing Association (WKA), which boasts representatives in more than 90 different countries, is one of the most well known governing bodies in the sport of amateur and professional kickboxing. Recently, the WKA made unprecedented efforts to promote unity and order within its sport by agreeing to co-sanction its "World Championships" tournament event with another prominent sanctioning body, the International Amateur Kickboxing Sport Association (IAKSA). Formed in the late 1970's to regulate kickboxing events throughout The United States, the WKA USA has helped its parent organization sustain significant growth worldwide. The United States organization has over 30 events scheduled for 2004.

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