Graves karate students win at tourney

    HOULTON, Maine — As satisfying as winning an award can be, receiving a trophy in front of family and the hometown crowd is a truly fulfilling accomplishment.
An eye opening number of regional martial artists from various branches of Graves Institute of Self Defense enjoyed just such an experience recently at the 23rd annual Summer Kick-Off Karate and Ju-Jitsu Tournament, held at Houlton High School.
The only martial arts event held north of Bangor drew competitors from throughout Maine, with a few coming from other New England states and New Brunswick. Local karate students from the ages of 5 to 65 got to compete and bask in the glow of applause from a large audience and many also won a trophy.
Over 250 trophies and medals were presented to competitors in point sparring, power impactor, Ju-Jitsu pairs, form kata and weapons kata. To assure fairness, groups were formed using gender, height, weight, age and experience levels which was determined by belt color. Many of the single elimination fighting divisions started with over 20 individuals, so top three winners had to spar and win several times.
A number of Graves’ students enjoyed the unique accomplishment of not only winning a fighting trophy but also taking home a second award in another event. Robert Cullins, a brown belt from Fort Fairfield, got his double in sparring and weapons kata. Ashleigh Craig and Paige O’Bar, both of Caribou, each won a fighting trophy and then paired up to win their Ju-Jitsu division for a trophy each. Teagan Ewings, another junior brown belt from the Houlton dojo, also won a trophy in each of her fighting and throwing sections.
In various green belt matches several area competitors also were dual winners: Johnny Cimino of Caribou, Emily Lane and Victoria Heath, both of Island Falls, and Kira and Malachi Fitzherbert of Mars Hill.
A surprising number of families enjoy classes at one of the Graves’ martial arts dojos throughout Aroostook and several left the recent tournament with multiple members carrying home awards. Cullins and his son Jacob both won, as did brothers Cole and Gunner Gray from the Perth-Andover N.B. class. Another brother duo, Johnny and Joseph Cimino of Caribou, paired up take first place in their Ju-Jitsu division.
There were a number of sister acts that stood out as well, like Ashleigh and Lauren Craig of Caribou, who garnered a trio of trophies. Houlton siblings Teagan and Teanne Ewings combined for a pair of throwing awards and a sparring trophy. And the Hartt clan from Island Falls truly cleaned up as sisters Charlotte and Sadie, as well as their father, Andy, each won first place in their respective brown belt sparring divisions.
The brother and sister team of Liberty and Jamison Fulton of Mars Hill combined for three trophies, while the Fitzherberts each won a fighting award and combined for two more trophies by winning their Ju-Jitsu divisions.
Huge three-tiered, five-foot high grand championship trophies sponsored by local businesses were up for grabs in the black belt divisions. Sensei Jerod Kingsbury of Mars Hill fought his way through the open black belt division, and then won matches against the winners of the executive and senior division winners to take home the grand in men’s point sparring.
Senseis Jay Peavey and Mitch Wheeler combined skills to take home a pair of grand championship trophies in a tough Ju-Jitsu group. Peavey also performed a second routine with Sensei Matt Coty of Caribou and they won the second-place awards. To top out his day, Peavey also won a trophy in the senior men’s fighting division.
Competitors and spectators alike enjoyed an exciting and fulfilling day and many are already looking forward to next year. There are eight regional Graves’ Schools of Self Defense offered throughout Aroostook and all are currently accepting new student for the winter session of adult and kids classes. Check them out on Facebook for more information or call Grandmaster Bill Graves at 551-5777 with any questions.