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Oxford Al- When it comes to full-contact martial arts competition, nothing in Alabama compares to the annual Yoshukai
Superfights. Having missed the last two years of this exciting event, I was looking forward to the adrenaline-pumping
combat this year. I wasn't dissapointed. Fighters from as far away as Canada and Japan met in the Oxford Civic
Center to duke it out for bragging rights, killer trophies, and prize money. There were also weapons and kata demos which
is always a treat because the Yoshukai school, a Kobudo organization, focuses on traditional weapons forms and are not
yet caught up in the useless flashy acrobatic fluff we see in the XMA events.
I was very impressed with the competitors this year but one young man stood out from all the rest. Jarel Bowman representing
Trammell Fitness and Martial Arts in Atlanta Georgia took to the mat and dominated with a combination of clean technique and
powerful striking skills. This skill along with raw aggression and the most effective targeting of any competitor in the arena
made it evident to me that this was no tap-tap- point tournament nerd. Mr. Bowman was a real fighter and he proved
it by winning the semi-knockdown championship. He also casts a pretty good spotlight on his instructors and Mr. Richard
Trammell's Shidokan dojo (www.trammellfitnessandmartialarts.com). Good job, guys. Hope to see more of you at future Superfights.
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