Watford Open 2012 Results
Genesis Martial Arts took a 13 strong fight team to the Watford Open on Sunday 29th January 2012 at the Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre.
Unleashed Fight Team members Brad Reeson, Shannon Barlow, Kieran Johnson and Archie Thompson led 9 Squad Members all of who are keen to secure themselves a place on the Unleashed Fight Team. Fighters included Lil Dragons Waleed Akram and Zain Iqbal, who were at their first competition as was newcomer Greg Tiba. Semi contact fighters Armid Akram and Jake Bartlett were joined by light contact fighters Soroush Mahdavi and Stuart Nicholson andMike Wellington and George Bentley who competed in both semi contact and Light Contact.
Unleashed Fight Team Coaches decided that it was time Fight Team Fighters Shannon Barlow and Brad Reeson were taken out of their comfort zones for a challenge! So Brad was entered into his normal category the boys brown and black belts section over 160cm and the Mens under 70kg brown and black belt section. Shannon was also entered into her normal category the girls intermediate under 160cm and the girl’s brown and black belt section under 160cm.
Coached by Genesis student Raj Chiropal currently on loan to TEK Nottingham whilst at university Brad is learning that to win in his sections he needs to be cerebral technical and talented. Brad acquitted himself well on the day against some of the UK’s more established fighters including Tom Gould and Shriya Malhotra. Brad was disappointed in his performance but as the most complete fighter on the Team will undoubtedly be placing regularly after he can commit to training at the Genesis Gym once he has completed his GCSE’s.
Shannon like Brad is also learning that the old Bull in a China Shop routine is not enough to win competitions and is tempering her fighting with focus, technique and by listening to her coaches. Shannon listened and performed well winning the intermediate section and coming third in the brown and black belt section, losing out to the uber talented Shannon Ryan who used slick movement to avoid Ms Barlow’s lead leg whilst countering her Blitz to edge her 1 to 4!
WKA World Champion and Fight Team member Archie Thompson returned to action from a knee injury, which has kept him out for months to compete in the boys brown and black sections under 160 cm in light Contact and Semi Contact. Archie took second place in his favorite light contact category but was unable to place in semi contact.
Armid Akram one again gave away 20kgs weighing just 55kgs for the intermediate under 75kg semi contact section, winning the section with his countering lead hand back fist and side kick.
Soroush Mahdavi took a leaf out of Shannon and Brads book by adapting his usual full bore attack with a stick and move strategy, which ultimately won him the intermediate light contact over 75kg category.
Lil Dragon Waleed Akram took 4th place in the boys under 130cm category losing a hard fought battle in over time by one point. Seeking a win in his first competition and the smallest of Genesis Fighters competing Waleed was disappointed he didn’t win but the competition spurred him on for future success.
George Bentley competing in just his third competition made it through to the third round in the boys intermediate under 160cm section losing a third place fight off but was unfortunately injured in his first round in the light contact section and unable to continue.
Fight Team member Kieran Jonson was unable to build on the successes of 2011 having a tough start to 2012 along with Mike Wellington as they were both unable to proceed past the first round in their respective categories. Although Jake Bartlett was positive about his performance in the boys brown and black belt section as this was the first time he had progressed past the first round in competition.
Fight team members Louise Birkett and Craig Johnson were unable to attend on the day due to Louise being ill and Craig having work commitments. Although Craig’s absence didn’t seem to bother Mike Wellington or Stuart Nicholson who entered a huge intermediate under 70kgs light contact section. Stuart did a great job in reaching the third round.
The Genesis Unleashed Fight Team and Squad will be looking to continually improve individually whilst growing the Genesis brand, which is now just 1 year old throughout 2012. Next stop for the entire team being the Cimac Superleague on the 25th March in Windsor.
Genesis-ma.com would like to give a special thanks to Dave and Becky Ryan for running a great competition on our door step and all the parents for there continued support and understanding.
Genesis Unleashed Fight Team and Fighting Squad Members the next Squad Training session is 6.30 till 8.30 at the www.genesis-gym.com.
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