MARS HILL, Maine — Aroostook’s only martial arts competition, Graves’ Annual Summer Kick-Off Karate and Ju-Jitsu Tournament, was held Father’s Day weekend at Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School.
Twin brothers Dylan and Dustin Coty of Caribou repeated as black belt ju jitsu grand champions at the June 17 Graves’ Summer Kick-Off Tournament in Mars Hill. Grand Master Bill Graves proudly presented the trophies. (Contributed photo/Tomi Henderson)
The gymnasium was filled with competitors from throughout New England and New Brunswick and the stands were packed with the largest crowd of spectators and supporters in the last five years.
With six rings running simultaneously, students from ages 4 to 65 years old and black belt instructors provided plenty of action to the cheering of the large crowd. Point sparring matches, paired ju-jitsu throwing routines, weapons kata and form kata, and power impactor offered more than four hours of challenges for the competitors and entertainment for the spectators.
With so many well trained, tough participants, winning one of the 16 large trophies for the top three spots in each division required strong performances. In some fighting divisions, the first-place winner had to best five other opponents during the series of single-elimination bouts. A handful of regional Graves’ students went home with two trophies from their respective divisions.
Luke Plourde of the Caribou dojo won a first in pee wee novice fighting and a second in ju-jitsu with his partner Evan Ayer. Taylor Curtis, a junior brown belt, garnered a third in sparring and a second in throwing with Trevor Boucher.
Sensei Jonathan Robinson of Island Falls, right, scores one of his points on the way to a victory in the 17-34 age group in black belt point sparring. He went on to take two trophies during the Graves’ Summer Kick-Off Tournament June 17 in Mars Hill. (Contributed photo/Tomi Henderson)
Adam Brown of Mars Hill won the adult green belt power impactor division and came in second in ju-jitsu, while Mallory Kingsbury, also from the Mars Hill dojo, took first in her maxi pee wee fighting group and garnered a third-place trophy with Jack McQuade in throwing.
Many family members enjoy martial arts classes with Graves Institute of Self Defense and several of these relatives managed to take home an award. Keiran and Gwen Everett, a brown belt brother-and-sister tandem from the Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, class, combined to take first in ju-hitsu and were first and third, respectively, in their fighting divisions. Another pair of siblings, Michael and Grace Hardy of Houlton, took first and second in green belt sparring.
From the Sherman branch of Graves’ Ketsugo, Annalin Stubbs, a mini pee wee green belt, won two third-place trophies in ju-jitsu and fighting. Jacob Stubbs took home a first in ju-jitsu and a third in kumite. Joel Philbrook, son Jack and daughter Brooklyn all won first-place trophies — in throwing for Joel and kumite for both youngsters.
Alexa Kennedy, left, gets set to spar with Sensei Charlotte Hartt as Sensei Mike Giles judges during the Graves’ Summer Kick-Off Karate and Ju-Jitsu Tournament held last month at Central Aroostook High School. Hartt was declared the winner of this match, one of several held during the day at the 26th annual tourney. (Contributed photo/Tomi Henderson)
Sensei Andy Hartt and daughter Charlotte accounted for a second place in kumite and a second in black belt ju-jitsu for Sensei Hartt. His throwing partner was Sensei Jonathan Robinson of Sherman, who also was a dual trophy winner with a first in Black Belt power impactor.
Other Black Belt divisions were highly contested as each participant desired one of several huge 5-foot, three-tiered grand championship trophies. Senseis Dustin and Dylan Coty, twin brothers from Caribou, accomplished a truly tough feat by winning the black belt ju-jitsu for the second year in a row. Dustin Coty went on to take first in men’s sparring in the age 17-34 group and got to fight senior black belt winner Sensei Jay Peavey for the grand championship. Fifth degree Peavey won the close match, 3-2, for his second consecutive grand championship.
Sensei Dustin Coty, left, and Sensei Jay Peavey put on a great display of fighting techniques as they fought for the black belt grand championship trophy at the Graves’ Summer Kick-Off Tournament held June 17 in Mars Hill. (Contributed photo/Tomi Henderson)
Sensei Buzzy Qualey of Sherman won senior men’s fighting in the 35-45 age division and Sensei Malcolm Grant took first place in the age 45 and over men’s kumite. These two Graves’ instructors ended up fighting off for the senior grand and by another 3-2 final, the big trophy went to Qualey. The women’s grand went back to Bangor with Sensei Erin Giles after a couple of tough matches.
Sensei Ashleigh Craig and Paige O’Bar of Caribou combined to win a set of second-place awards in junior black belt ju-jitsu as well as a third and a first, respectively, in point sparring.
Graves’ Ketsugo offers classes at eight dojos from Island Falls to Fort Kent as well as women’s self defense classes. More information on these classes as well as photos and videos from recent tournaments and testing may be viewed on Facebook on the Graves Institute of Self Defense page.
