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.

REGENA THOMPSON – 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Regena Thompson holds a record 22 NBL World Titles; and, is one of the most respected and accomplished female martial artists in the United States.  We’re not talking about walk-in-the-park titles; as a matter of fact, NBL President Boice Lydell once wrote about Regena that "the record of those she’s topped for world titles reads like a who’s who in sport karate history…it must go uncontested that Thompson surely rates as one of the top five woman fighters of all time and perhaps the number one of the last ten years, give or take".

 

This exceptional athlete was born and raised in Galveston Texas, a small island on the Gulf of Mexico.  She was the third of four children, and as a young girl would spend Saturday mornings with her father watching Bruce Lee movies.  Reflecting back, she states that those movies inspired her to begin training at the age of 7 hoping that one day she would "flip off buildings like Bruce Lee did".  Shortly thereafter she realized there were greater goals to achieve and master, and never looked back.  Today, Regena credits karate as having helped her become a better person, one who has greater self control, is more disciplined, and focused on the positive things in life. 

 

She earned her black belt in 1991; and, her 4th degree black belt in 2007.  After 22 years of training, Ms. Thompson recognizes that a great martial artist is a person that is complete in all aspects of their style, and life.  She credits her fighting success to her mind and approaches each bout like a game of chess.  Her motivation comes from an internal drive to be the best; and, to leave behind a legacy that wouldn’t soon be forgotten.  And, how could it?  She describes herself as a happy, loyal and competitive person who loves not only martial arts, but sports like basketball and football.  As Vince Lombardi once said "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."  Regena has an innate will that has driven her to not only be one of America’s premiere female athletes in the martial arts but also earned her a full basketball scholarship to Cisco Junior College where she graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and a full basketball scholarship to Prairie View A & M University.

 

Regena Thompson like most extraordinary athletes is worthy of the fame, glory, respect and admiration that has come her way.  Her unmatched record is the goal of every young female coming up the ranks today.  Her advice to them is simply this…"always do your best.  If you lose a round or fight, go home, and change the mistake which led to your defeat.  Never let your losses keep you from getting better."  This simplistic approach drove her toward perfection and four of the most premiere teams in sport karate history capitalized on it by making her a team member.  Adding to her long list of noteworthy achievements, she trained and coached a National Karate Team that successfully competed for five (5) years and a few national and world champions.  Her hard driving tenacity has earned her a reputation as being one of the toughest instructors, who brings out the best in her students.

 

When asked about her greatest martial arts achievements Regena recalled her recent October 2007 win at the Diamond Nationals, a tournament of high caliber competition.  It’s one of those moments when decades of dreams and years of serious training can be glorified and exalted, or come crashing to the ground.  Sportmartialarts.com described the finals competition as the "female battle of historic proportions from a women’s division that had some of the highest numbers of participants seen in quite some time".  Regena reigned queen supreme taking home the coveted Diamond Nationals diamond ring as the women’s overall Grand Champion and first place winner in black belt point sparring 18-29F m.  It’s been a busy year for Regena who in 2007 added to her ever-expanding list of accomplishments two additional noteworthy titles:  2007 NBL Super Grand’s Women’s Grand Champion; and, the 2007 Battle of Atlanta Women’s Grand Champion.      

 

She has great admiration for her instructor Ishamael Robles; as well as, Jennifer Robles, Richard Plowden, Cindy Gallio, Jim Riley and her family for helping to mold her into the person she is today and for encouraging her to shoot for the stars.  "I’ve been able to count on these people countless times in my life.  They have always given me the best advice personally and professionally.  They’ve never judged me, just given me honesty and a good punch or kick when needed" Thompson said.  Her friends describe her as funny and crazy with a great sense of humor and a palpable zest for life along with a smile that can light-up a room.

 

At day’s end, we at IMAC USA know that Regena Thompson wouldn’t soon be forgotten.  Great athletes like Regena don’t come along every day and we look forward to sharing her inspiration on a global scale.  And, to Regena we say this…keep up the outstanding work!  Your ambition, enthusiasm and unstoppable pursuit of excellence are not only an inspiration to female martial artists and athletes alike, but to all the citizens of the United States that you will be representing.