Your friends at IMAC, USA welcome everyone who will be joining us for the 2nd Annual Martial Arts Olympics East-West Open. We look forward to sharing this extraordinary experience with you in April 2008; and, wish you the best of success at the East-West Open. In addition to organizing a once-in-lifetime trip for the competitors and spectators, IMAC USA was challenged to select a team to compete in the Olympic 'Battle of the Continents' which will feature fighting teams representing Asia, Europe, North America; and, the host country Russia. As a result, IMAC's scouting team set-out on a nationwide search to find the most outstanding American martial artists. With so much exceptional talent here in the United States, this mission proved to be demanding, but also extremely rewarding. We'd like to share with you a few great stories; and, martial artists we've had the pleasure to meet along the way. Athletes, that you can call teammates. Together, we will show the world the talent, heart and soul that America has to offer. In addition, we?d like to introduce to you the United States team.
America’s Junior Team
The United States junior team embodies the future of American
Martial arts and is our promise for tomorrow.
Samantha Smith – Dix Hill, New York
Black Belt in Kenpo Karate
Our youngest junior team member is 10-year old, Samantha Smith from Dix Hill, New York. From the age of two, it was apparent that Samantha (affectionately called ‘Sammy’) was quite an athlete; and, destined to push the limits of whatever activity that captivated her interest. She was riding ponies, including her beloved ‘Lady Bug’, in such prestigious events as the “Hampton Classic” Horse Show in Bridgehampton, New York (an annual competition for the nations best competitors). At the ‘ripe old age’ of three (3), Sammy was mesmerized by a Gap commercial featuring karate extraordinaire James Solis (who now just happens to be her teammate on Pro Rank). Fascinated by the commercial, Sammy inquired “When will I be old enough to learn karate?”. Her mother promised to look into it, figuring it would be a fun activity. If she only knew…
This ‘fun’ activity has since become an obsession. An obsession to master the sport, and an obsession to take it to the next level. Now, after six years of training, Sammy is easily recognized as one of America’s most vibrant and effervescent competitors, a force to be reckoned with. She trains six days a week, about four hours a day (it would be seven if Shihan John Busto, a 6th degree black belt at Busto’s Karate in Plainview New York, had Sunday hours). “She kept asking to learn more, always arriving early for class and staying late just to ask questions” says Shihan Busto. She’s taught classes to younger and older students alike; and, can often be found helping fellow students learn the bo staff, nunchakus and kamas. She knows more than 19 katas.
In June of 2004, she experienced her first NASKA tournament, and with wide-eyed enthusiasm eagerly thirsted for more. That fall she met world champions Daniel Sterling and Matt Emig. Emulating their great determination, she has now made herself a household name among the NASKA karate circuit. Since 2005 she has finished in over 100 divisions throughout the NASKA circuit primarily along the eastern seaboard, Minnesota, Illinois, California and Canada. In 2006 she began competing as a Black Belt, easily dominating the Traditional Forms, Tradition Weapons and Creative Forms divisions. She earned the coveted top honors by NASKA for all three divisions, and in Creative Forms went undefeated for the entire year. She’s now a six (6) time NASKA ‘World Champion’; and has won more than seven (7) Grand Championships in just the last two years.
She someday hopes to follow in the footsteps of her friend, Taylor Lautner (also known as ‘Shark Boy’) by integrating her martial arts skills into acting opportunities. She has filmed four television commercials, a short film and a television pilot; and, she’s been photographed for full page spreads in such popular magazines as Shaolin Kung Fu – Tai Chi Magazine.
She exemplifies a focused athlete with great determination and discipline.
2008 GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Open Weapons Grand Champion- Compete Nationals, March 2008
Open Forms Grand Champion- Ocean State Grand Nat'ls, April 2008
2007 NASKA WORLD CHAMPION AWARDS:
First Place- Black Belt Traditional Forms
First Place- Black Belt Traditional Weapons
First Place- Black Belt Creative Forms
2007 GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Traditional Weapons Grand Champion- Compete Nationals, March 2007
Extreme Forms Grand Champion- Ocean State Grand Nationals, April 2007
Traditional Weapons Grand Champion- New England Open, May 2007
Traditional Weapons Grand Champion- Twin Towers Classic, August 2007
Traditional Weapons "Overall" Grand Champion- Twin Towers Classic, August 2007
Weapons Grand Champion- Excel Open, New York- September 2007
Traditional Forms, Grand Champion- Disney's Martial Arts Festival, Orlando, Florida- October 2007
Contemporary Forms, Grand Champion- Disney's Martial Arts Festival, Orlando, Florida- October 2007
2006 GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Musical Weapons Grand Champion- Excel Open, New York- September 2006
Musical Division, Grand Champion- Disney's Martial Arts Festival, Orlando, Florida- October 2006
2006 NASKA WORLD CHAMPION AWARDS:
First Place- Black Belt Traditional Forms
First Place- Black Belt Traditional Weapons
First Place- Black Belt Creative Forms (Undefeated for the entire year)
2005 NASKA AWARDS:
First Place- 6 - 7 years Advanced Forms
Second Place- 9 years & under Advanced Weapons
Second Place- 17 years & under underbelt Extreme Weapons
Second Place- 17 years & under underbelt Extreme Forms
Second Place- 13 years & under underbelt Musical Weapons
Second Place- 13 years & under underbelt Musical Forms
2008 NASKA BLACK BELT FIRST PLACE FINISHES (5 so far):
1. Extreme Weapons- Compete Nationals
2. Creative Weapons- Compete Nationals
3. Creative Forms- Compete Nationals
4. Extreme Weapons- Ocean State Grand Nationals
5. Musical Forms- Ocean State Grand Nationals
2007 NASKA BLACK BELT FIRST PLACE FINISHES (43):
1. Traditional Weapons- AKA Grand Nationals Karate Championships
2. Traditional Forms- AKA Grand Nationals Compete Karate Championships
3. Creative Forms- AKA Grand Nationals Compete Karate Championships
4. Traditional Weapons- Compete Nationals Karate Championships
5. Traditional Forms- Compete Nationals Karate Championships
6. Creative Forms- Compete Nationals Karate Championships
7. Traditional Weapons- Charlie Lee Nationals
8. Traditional Forms- Charlie Lee Nationals
9. Creative Forms- Charlie Lee Nationals
10. Extreme Weapons- Ocean State Grand Nationals
11. Traditional Weapons- Ocean State Grand Nationals
12. Traditional Forms- Ocean State Grand Nationals
13. Creative Forms- Ocean State Grand Nationals
14. Traditional Weapons- Quebec Open
15. Traditional Forms- Quebec Open
16. Creative Forms- Quebec Open
17. Musical Forms- New England Open
18. Traditional Weapons- New England Open
19. Traditional Forms- New England Open
20. Creative Forms- New England Open
21. Extreme Weapons- Bluegrass Nationals
22. Traditional Weapons- Bluegrass Nationals
23. Traditional Forms- Bluegrass Nationals
24. Creative Forms- Bluegrass Nationals
25. Extreme Weapons- US Open
26. Traditional Weapons- US Open
27. Traditional Forms- US Open
28. Creative Forms- US Open
29. Extreme Weapons- Battle of Atlanta
30. Creative Weapons- Battle of Atlanta
31. Musical Forms- Battle of Atlanta
32. Traditional Weapons- Battle of Atlanta
33. Traditional Forms- Battle of Atlanta
34. Creative Forms- Battle of Atlanta
35. Extreme Weapons- Twin Towers Classic
36. Creative Weapons- Twin Towers Classic
37. Extreme Forms- Twin Towers Classic
38. Musical Forms- Twin Towers Classic
39. Traditional Weapons- Twin Towers Classic
40. Traditional Forms- Twin Towers Classic
41. Creative Forms- Twin Towers Classic
42. Traditional Weapons- US Capitol Classics
43. Creative Forms- US Capitol Classics
2006 NASKA FIRST PLACE FINISHES (BLACK BELT) (31):
1. Traditional Weapons- Compete Karate Championships
2. Traditional Forms- Compete Karate Championships
3. Creative Forms- Compete Karate Championships
4. Traditional Weapons- Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
5. Traditional Forms- Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
6. Creative Forms- Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
7. Traditional Forms- Ocean State Karate Championships
8. Creative Forms- Ocean State Karate Championships
9. Traditional Weapons- Quebec Open Karate Championships
10. Traditional Forms- Quebec Open Karate Championships
11. Creative Forms- Quebec Open Karate Championships
12. Creative Forms- New England Open
13. Traditional Weapons- Bluegrass Nationals
14. Traditional Forms- Bluegrass Nationals
15. Creative Forms- Bluegrass Nationals
16. Traditional Weapons- US Open
17. Traditional Forms- US Open
18. Creative Forms- US Open
19. Traditional Weapons- Battle of Atlanta
20. Creative Weapons- Battle of Atlanta
21. Traditional Weapons- DC Capitol Classics
22. Traditional Forms- DC Capitol Classics
23. Creative Forms- DC Capitol Classics
24. Traditional Weapons- Twin Towers Classic
25. Traditional Forms- Twin Towers Classic
26. Creative Forms- Twin Towers Classic
27. Traditional Weapons- Diamond Nationals
28. Traditional Forms- Diamond Nationals
29. Creative Forms- Diamond Nationals
30. Traditional Forms- Pan American Internationals
31. Creative Forms- Pan American Internationals
2005 NASKA FIRST PLACE FINISHES (Underbelt) (43):
1. Weapons– Compete Karate Championships
2. Musical Weapons-Ocean State Karate Championships
3. Musical Forms– Ocean State Karate Championships
4. Weapons-Ocean State Karate Championships
5. Forms-Ocean State Karate Championships
6. Musical Weapons– Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
7. Musical Forms- Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
8. Weapons- Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
9. Traditional Forms- Charlie Lee World Series of Martial Arts
10. Musical Weapons– New England Open
11. Musical Forms– New England Open
12. Traditional Forms– New England Open
13. Musical Forms- Bluegrass Nationals
14. Open Weapons- Bluegrass Nationals
15. Open Forms- Bluegrass Nationals
16. Extreme Forms– U.S. Open Karate Championships
17. Musical Forms- U.S. Open Karate Championships
18. Creative Weapons- U.S. Open Karate Championships
19. Creative Forms- U.S. Open Karate Championships
20. Traditional Forms- U.S. Open Karate Championships
21. Creative Weapons– D.C. Capitol Classics
22. Creative Forms- D.C. Capitol Classics
23. Musical Weapons– Twin Towers Karate Championships
24. Musical Forms- Twin Towers Karate Championships
25. Open Weapons- Twin Towers Karate Championships
26. Open Forms- Twin Towers Karate Championships
27. Extreme Weapons– Joe Corley’s Battle of Atlanta
28. Extreme Forms- Joe Corley’s Battle of Atlanta
29. Creative Weapons- Joe Corley’s Battle of Atlanta
30. Forms- Joe Corley’s Battle of Atlanta
31. Traditional Weapons- Joe Corley’s Battle of Atlanta
32. Extreme Weapons– Diamond Nationals Karate Championships
33. Extreme Forms- Diamond Nationals Karate Championships
34. Musical Weapons- Diamond Nationals Karate Championships
35. Weapons- Diamond Nationals Karate Championships
36. Musical Weapons– AKA Grand Nationals
37. Musical Forms- AKA Grand Nationals
38. Extreme Forms- AKA Grand Nationals
39. Creative Forms- AKA Grand Nationals
40. Extreme Weapons- AKA Grand Nationals
41. Extreme Weapons- Pan American Internationals
42. Creative Forms- Pan American Internationals
43. Traditional Forms- Pan American Internationals
The International Martial Arts College, USA carefully selected these top athletes from throughout the United States. Our criteria for selection considered not only their athletic abilities, but even more importantly there ability to represent the United States of America as upstanding goodwill ambassadors at this extraordinary international event. Each of these competitors reflects the core values of IMAC, USA which embodies integrity, humility, courtesy, honesty and a respect for others without regard for gender, age, social and/or economic background. We at IMAC, USA celebrate the joy found in honest effort and the value of setting a good example to the youth and future of our country. As martial artists we understand that our sport is a way to develop oneself physically and mentally, as well as developing positive character traits such as self-discipline, politeness, loyalty and honor. We pride ourselves as being of humble mind and gentle spirit and follow a strict ethical and moral code. As representatives of our country, we realize that we share a civic responsibility to reflect a positive and well tempered manner on each of our fellow citizens that we collectively represent. |
