On Sunday 13th February, Mrs. Gassor-Jones, 4th Degree Black Belt held the first International Martial Arts Association (I.M.A.A) Interclub Tournament of the year at Duffryn Sports Centre, Newport.   The I.M.A.A is the umbrella name for Gassor’s ITF Taekwon-do and Taekem-Kwan Kickboxing Schools headed by Master Gary Gassor, 7th Degree Black Belt.

130 Competitors took part during the day with competitors from Gassor’s Taekwon-do and Taekem-kwan Kickboxing.  The Tournament was well supported with Spectators and help from our Officials and St.John’s Ambulance.  

For some students this was their first Tournament and a chance to gain experience for the larger Tournaments planned for later this year.  The Tournament attracted students from as young as 4 years old who train in ‘Little Dragons’ Taekwon-do right the way through to Adults and all competitors received a medal for entering. 

Mr. Ayrton Mullins and Mr. Connor Sweeting both 1st Degree Black Belts, demonstrated the Tournament rules and how to score points for the sparring competition with various kicking and punching techniques.  The parents and students found this demonstration very interesting and the illegal techniques very humorous.   The demonstration gave the students and parents/spectators a better insight into the Tournament rules. 

The Tournament started at 10am with ITF Patterns from White Belt to the higher Dan Grade patterns which proceeded with students taking part in the Jump Kick Competition, which proved very popular especially with the Juniors.  Later in the afternoon the Tournament moved on to Sparring with students competing in both Taekwon-do and Kickboxing. 

After each category, Master Gary Gassor, 7th Degree Black Belt presented the well earned medals to the students and photos were taken by the I.M.A.A Official Photographer, Mr. Dino Dash. 

Master Gassor said ‘I am really happy with how successful today went with our fighters from both Taekwon-do and Kickboxing doing well.  Well done to everyone who took part! Proceeds raised from the Tournament will go towards helping our Gassor’s Taekwon-do Tournament Team, which already has a very busy year ahead of them with upcoming UK-ITF Tournaments’.

Mrs. Gassor-Jones said ‘I would like to thank the officials for all their help and hard work and for making the Tournament a great success.  I would also like to thank the students and parents for their continuous support and look forward to the Tournaments we have planned this year’.

Due to the success of the Tournament we will be holding another Two I.M.A.A Interclub Tournaments at Duffryn Sports Centre, Newport on Sunday 5th June and Sunday 6th November, 2011. 

Gassor’s Taekwon-do Tournament Team are now preparing for the UK-ITF Welsh Championships on Sunday 27th February hosted by Master Ian Lawes at Penarth Leisure Centre, Penarth.  Gassor''s Taekwon-do Tournament Team have 51 competitors entering the Tournament and are really looking forward to taking part on the day.

To view more pictures of the IMAA Interclub Tournament please click on the following link http://www.mafcmartialarts.com/interclub-tournament-photos.html