WORLD MEDALISTS RETURN TO BARRIE

Martial artists from Barrie attended the 2013 World Karate & Kickboxing Championships in Italy last week as part of the Canadian national karate team.  The handful of martial artists who train at RMA Karate Centres in Barrie qualified for the national team in May and as part of the team represented Canada at the international event.

Second degree black belt and RMA school owner Tressa Young transitioned well into the adult divisions continuing to prove she is at the top of her sport.  Competing in nine separate divisions from traditional Japanese hard style to fighting, the eighteen year old won 7 gold and 2 silver medals.  The eighteen year old continues to impress the officials every year at the annual event not only with her skill but also with the level of class and sportsmanship she displays in the ring. 

Third degree black belt and RMA instructor Linda Young, a first time national team member and international competitor did extremely well competing in the women’s veterans Japanese hard style and Chinese forms coming home with 2 silver medals.  The forty-nine year old gave herself a challenge and succeeded from national team trials to the international event in Italy.  “Tressa and several of our students are extremely successful at this high level of competition and I felt it was time to test the waters to see what I could do.  It was an amazing experience with excellent competition in my age group.   I am happy with my results but I am going to give it a try again next year with my goal being gold for Canada”, Young stated.

Second degree black belt and RMA instructor Tara Krale gave a strong performance in the women’s 35 years plus divisions.  The first time Canadian team member and international competitor found herself on the medal podium three times at the world championships.  She won 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.  Krale was all smiles with her accomplishments and proudly wore her medals home.

Purple belt Liam North proved that hard work and determination pays off.  At the age of eight years old this two-time national team member gave everything he had in the ring impressing the judges who made a point of stating he had a ton of heart.  North’s presentation of his forms were top notch including the boy’s Chinese forms division where he won a silver medal.

Between the four from RMA Karate Centres they collectively came home with 15 medals for Canada. 

46 Students Earn New Rank

MOVING UP IN RANK

RMA Karate Centres of Barrie had a busy month in June.  Not only did they open a second location in the city of Barrie but they also promoted 46 students to their new belt rank. The 46 students underwent a traditional belt grading testing their knowledge of curriculum, history and self-defense.

Receiving their new ranks were:

White Belt With Yellow Stripe – Jordan B, Claire B & Jacob R-D
White Belt With Orange Stripe – Bain J, Thomas L, Samuel L & Kai I
White Belt With Red Stripe – Alice R, Alixandra R, Eva D, Gideon M, Dylan R
Half White & Half Orange Stripe Belt – Luke L
Half Yellow & Half Green Belt – Tobin S
Yellow  Belt – Peyton R
Half Yellow & Half Orange  Belt – Parker R and Lucas B

Yellow Belt – Greydon S, Joshua B, Hunter H, Oliver T, Lillian H, Riley S & Nicole S
Orange Belt – Gwyneth C,  Jacob S, Keegan O-G, Ryan H, Ben P, Jack P, Brian F & Brian T
Red Belt – Gerard K, Ben P, Shamus B, Mike N & Ari W
Green Belt – Sam S, Kathryn B, Frances K & Isabelle R
Blue Belt – Alex R, Josh F & Devan F
Purple Belt – Liam N & Sale B

2nd Karate Location Grand Opening - South Barrie

Serving the Barrie area for nearly 9 years, RMA Karate Centres is opening its second location in the south end of Barrie with an open house this Saturday June 8th.  RMA Karate is home to world karate and kickboxing champion Tressa Young.  The second degree black belt will be teaching classes at the south location and already has a good student base to start with.  

Young, who has multiple national and world titles, is in high demand teaching traditional karate, extreme martial arts, competition sport karate and Wushu to students age 3 years and up.  

The open house on June 8^th runs from 9:30am to 12:30pm and will have several demonstrations from RMA students who are on the school’s competition team and the WKC Canadian national karate team.  There will also be give-aways, open house membership specials, summer camp discounts, father’s day specials and the chance to meet one of Barrie’s own successful internationally known world karate champion.

For more information visit www.rmakarate.com or call 705-796-1994. 

RMA Karate Centres Open Second Barrie Location

The second location of the RMA Karate Centres will have it's GRAND OPENING on June 8th, 2013.  The OPEN HOUSE takes place from 9:30am  to 12:30pm with plenty of give-aways, demonstrations and membership specials!

Check this out!  Draws will be held for your chance to win 10% off to 30% off RMA Memberships!!  Give-aways will include RMA t-shirts, 1 month trial memberships & more! 

JOIN a 6 or 12  month Karate membership and receive: 2 classes/week FREE uniform ($49 value) School Crest ($10 value) Sparring Gear Set ($130 Value head, hands & feet) Don't miss the OPEN HOUSE at RMA Karate Centres' newest location.  570 Bryne Drive, Unit N, Barrie!
RMA KARATE CENTRES 570 Bryne Drive, Unit N BARRIE, Ontario L4N 9P6 Ph# 705-796-1994 Email: info@rmakarate.com

RMA 8 MAKE CANADIAN NATIONAL KARATE TEAM

Eight martial artists from RMA Karate Centres traveled to Ottawa on the Victoria Day long weekend to take part in the WKC Canada Karate & Kickboxing national team trials.   The eight qualified for team trials last month at the Ontario provincial trials.

All 8 from RMA gave a strong performance and with weeks of preparation, their hard work paid off.   The eight martial artists made the WKC Canadian national karate team.   The top four place on the team with positions 5^th and 6^th as team alternates.

Orange belt Rachel W placed 4^th in 12yrs & under girls Chinese forms.   Blue belt Sale B placed 6^th in 12yrs & under girls creative weapons securing her spot as a team alternate.   Blue belt Liam N competed in the 12yrs &under boys divisions winning silver in continuous fighting, bronze in speed fighting, 4^th in Chinese forms and 5^th place alternate in Korean forms.

Brown belt Brooke Z competed in the 12yrs & under divisions and placed 6^th place alternate in the Korean forms.

Black belt Samantha M competed in the 13 to 15yrs girls divisions winning bronze in Chinese forms and 4^th place in Korean forms.

Black belt Tara K competed in the women’s 35yrs plus divisions winning silver in traditional weapons, silver in creative weapons, 4^th place in Chinese forms and 5^th place alternate in traditional forms.

Black belt and RMA instructor Linda Young competed in the women’s 42 years plus divisions winning bronze in Chinese forms and 4^th place in traditional forms.

Black belt and RMA instructor Tressa Young competed in the women’s 18 years plus divisions winning gold in 8 divisions including traditional forms, traditional weapons, Korean forms, Chinese forms, Freestyle forms, Creative weapons, Extreme forms and speed fighting.   Young also won silver in the musical weapons division.

The eight will continue their extra training to prepare for the upcoming world karate and kickboxing championships taking place in Taranta, Italy this October.

RMA chief instructor Craig Ridout said “very proud of all eight and what they have accomplished.   The best part was watching mother and daughter compete alongside each other.   It was great to see everyone giving everything in the ring and their weeks of preparation paid off”.

Craig Ridout and Linda Young also received their next black belt degrees this past weekend at the event, recognized for their accomplishments and what they have given back to the martial arts.   Linda Young received her third degree black belt and Ridout received his fourth degree black belt.

YOUNG TO OPEN NEW SOUTH END DOJO

Students and instructors from RMA Karate Centres have had a very busy April competing across Canada and the United States.   Not only have 8 martial artists from this martial arts club advanced to the national karate team trials, many of them have kept busy attending other competitions to keep the skills sharp and prepared for the upcoming nationals in Ottawa.

Second degree black belt instructor Tressa Young, junior black belt instructor Samantha M and blue belt student Liam N have attended competitions in Lynchburg Virginia and Quebec City, Quebec to continue their hands-on experience with top level competitors.

These martial artists have and continue to display good sportsmanship, high-level skill and the positive attitude needed to compete at a national level.   The latest two competitions that followed the provincial trials have resulted in Young winning two first places, three second places, three third places and three fourth places.

Samantha M has won one third place, two fourth places and one fifth place while Liam N has won seven first places, three second places, one third place and two fourth places.

Young, will not only be preparing for the upcoming national team trials taking place May long weekend, she is also busy getting ready to open up a second location of RMA Karate Centres.   Young, a multiple world champion, will be the head instructor of the south Barrie location set to open up June 8^th.   “The south location has already started to receive online registrations for the many programs offered at the south Barrie location including extreme martial arts and Wushu”, Young stated.

RMA 8 ADVANCE TO NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS

Eight martial artists from RMA Karate Centres in Barrie took part in the WKC Canada Southern Ontario provincial trials in London on April 13^th with the hope of making it to the national team trials in Ottawa next month.   Competitors must qualify for the national championships by placing in the top 8 of their division at one of the regional qualifiers taking place across Canada. 

The RMA martial artists who attended the Ontario qualifier performed strong in the black belt competition with all 8 advancing to the national team trials.

RMA black belt instructor Tressa Young gave a strong performance in the adult women’s divisions winning 7 gold medals and 2 silver.  The 2^nd degree black belt  won gold in traditional kata, gold in traditional weapon, gold in musical weapon, gold in musical open forms, gold in Korean forms, fold in free style forms, gold in point fighting and silver in both the creative weapon division and Chinese forms.

RMA black belt instructor Linda Young competed in the Veteran Women divisions (42yrs+) and for her first time competing at the provincial trials did extremely well.  She won silver in the traditional kata division and after competing in the 18yrs + women’s Chinese forms alongside daughter Tressa Young, she won bronze.

Young senior (Linda) said “It was fun and challenging.  A great event with so many talented martial artists from across Ontario.  I have lots to work on to help prepare for nationals next month.  And it was a blast competing alongside my daughter who always inspires me”.

RMA black belt instructor Samantha M, a seasoned WKC competitor, won silver in Korean forms, silver in Chinese forms and made top eight in the traditional weapons, musical weapons, point sparring, traditional kata and creative weapons.

Black belt Tara K, a first time WKC competitor, did well in the 35yrs+ women divisions winning gold in traditional kata, gold in traditional weapons, silver in the creative weapons and top eight in the 18yrs + women Chinese forms.

Blue belt Liam N proved all his hard work paid off when competing alongside the black belts in the boys 12yrs & under divisions.  Liam won gold in continuous fighting, gold in Korean forms, silver in point speed fighting, silver in Chinese forms, bronze in traditional weapons and top eight in the traditional kata and musical weapon divisions.

Blue belt Sale B had the attitude and determination needed for her first provincial event competing in the girls 12yrs & under divisions .  Sale won silver in Korean forms, bronze in musical weapons, bronze in traditional weapons and made top eight in the creative weapons division.

Advanced brown belt Brooke Z competing in the girls 12yrs & under divisions, is no stranger to the WKC team trials.  She did amazing winning gold in Korean forms and bronze in Chinese forms.

Orange belt Rachel W not only takes karate at RMA Karate Centres, she also attends dedicated Wushu classes with Sensei Tressa Young.  These dedicated Wushu classes helped Wilson win gold in the girls 12yrs & under Chinese forms.

The eight continue their training pushing themselves even further to give them the edge they need to make the WKC Canadian national karate & kickboxing team and represent Canada in Italy this fall.

SENSEI & STUDENT WIN AT COBRA

Black belt instructor Sensei Linda Young with student Liam N attended the International Cobra martial arts tournament in Laval, Quebec on April 6^th returning after great success.  The large scale event attracted competitors from across Quebec and Ontario with some divisions having as many as 20 competitors vying for top placement.

The two martial artists from RMA Karate Centres in Barrie gave a strong performance at the event.   Blue belt Liam N won 2^nd in traditional weapons, 3^rd in traditional kata, 3^rd in musical weapons, 4^th in creative weapons and finalist in the sparring division.

Second degree black belt Sensei Linda Young won 1^st in the Womens traditional kata and went on to compete in the mens traditional kata division winning 3^rd place.

The two along with six other martial artists from RMA Karate Centres in Barrie are headed to the WKC Canada provincial trials in London on April 13^th.  Only the top 8 from each division qualifies to advance to the WKC Canadian National karate team trials in Ottawa.

LOCAL MARTIAL ARTISTS WIN AT CANADIAN OPEN

Eight martial artists from RMA Karate Centres in Barrie took part in the Canadian Open martial arts championships in Gatineau, Quebec March 22 & 23^rd and did extremely well.

Red belt Isabelle R won fourth in musical forms and was a finalist in the weapons and forms division.   Fellow red belt Katie B won third in musical forms and fourth in forms.

Blue belt Liam N won first in musical forms, second in continuous sparring, third in point sparring, fourth in weapons and fourth in forms. Fellow blue belt Sale B won first in weapons, second in musical forms and fifth in both the forms and sparring divisions.

Advanced brown belt Brooke Z won fifth in both the forms and weapons divisions.

The highlight of the Canadian Open was the black belt divisions where the high ranking martial artists were not only hoping for bragging rights after earning top place, they were also looking forward to the tough competition from across North America.

Black belt Tara K did extremely well continuing to show steady improvement winning two thirds in the forms and weapons divisions.   Black belt Samantha M gave a strong performance after healing from an ankle injury winning second place in continuous sparring and third place in the musical forms division.

Black belt RMA instructor Tressa Young proved to her opponents that she has earned her place in the adult divisions winning first place in the elite men/women’s weapons division, women’s weapon divisions, women’s forms divisions, women’s point sparring division and women’s musical weapons division.   Young also won second in the elite men/women’s forms division.   The highlight of Young’s weekend competition was winning grand champion title in men & women’s forms division and winning grand champion title in the men & women’s elite weapons division.  

Liam, Sale, Brooke, Tara and Samantha along with RMA instructors Tressa Young and Linda Young will be headed to provincial trials in hopes of advancing to the WKC Canadian National team trials in Ottawa May Victoria long weekend.

RMA LEAVES A MARK AT SMAC KARATE TOURNAMENT

Five martial artists from RMA Karate Centres in Barrie took park in a martial arts competition in Niagara Falls, New York on the weekend.  The SMAC Internationals had competitors from across Canada and the United States taking part at the event and RMA Karate represented their school and city of Barrie well.

Red belt Katie Belliveau gave a strong performance with improved stances placing 6^th in musical weapons and was a finalist in the forms, weapons and sparring division.

Blue belt Sale Berube placed 1^st in traditional weapons, 3^rd in creative weapons, 3^rd in forms, 5^th in musical forms, 6^th in Korean forms and finalist in sparring.

Blue belt Liam North placed 1^st in point sparring, 1^st in forms, 2^nd in traditional weapons, 2^nd in creative weapon, 4^th in Korean forms and finalist in musical weapons and continuous sparring. 

Black belt Tressa Young competed in the 18 years plus men/women division and placed 2^nd in musical weapons, 2^nd in traditional forms, 3^rd in musical open and 4^th in the traditional weapons.  Young also placed 1^st in the women’s fly weight sparring division.

Black belt Linda Young returned to the tournament circuit after a seven year break competing in the 45 years plus men/women division and placed 6^th for traditional forms.

RMA BRINGS BACK HARDWARE FROM HAMILTON!

Students and instructors from RMA Karate Centres were in Hamilton on February 23^rd competing at the Ontario Provincial Open martial arts championships and their hard work paid off!  The Barrie martial arts competition team have 2 training sessions each week with many of them also training in dedicated private lessons. 

“Their commitment to their training continues to pay off with better technique, better forms and better performance in the ring”, RMA head instructor Craig Ridout stated.

Red belt Isabelle R won her a FIRST place trophy for the first time since starting to compete in 2012.  This is Isabelle ’s second year on the competition team and she just keeps getting better.  Isabelle won first in musical and was also a finalist in the weapons and forms divisions.

Blue belt Sale B did a great job with fantastic stances placing 4^th in weapons and 5^th in musical.

Blue belt Liam N  impressed the judges placing 1^st in sparring, 1^st in weapons, 5^th in forms and finalist in musical.

Black belt Tara K competed in women’s division competing among many world medalists and held her own placing 2^nd in sparring, 3^rd in weapons and 5^th in forms.

Black belt Samantha M continues to impress and prove her best keeps getting better placing 1^st in Korean forms, 2^nd in traditional forms, 3^rd in weapons and 4^th in sparring.

RMA instructor and black belt Tressa Young started her first competition of the year proving to the adults, both men and women, she is a formidable opponent.  Young placed 1^st in weapons, 1^st in traditional forms, 2^nd in musical weapons, 2^nd in musical open and 3^rd in sparring.

Non-competition team members Rachel and Ari did well for their first competition of the year winning one third and two finalist placements.

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