Athletes from Orillia’s Black Lotus Kickboxing Academy of Martial Arts shone at recent competitions.
“We had seven first-time competitors at the Frosted Friends Tournament and they all did amazing,” said Black Lotus owner/master instructor Nic Langman.
The tournament marked the debut of a new tag-team format that Langman and Black Lotus co-owner Jessica McCutcheon witnessed first-hand in South Africa at an international competition last year.
“The tag-team competition is light contact and involves three athletes on each team,” said Langman, noting each athlete can have a maximum time of 30 seconds against their opponent. “For any reason at all, one of the athletes can tag one of their teammates and they will take their place in the match. It makes for a fun, fast-paced but highly controlled environment for first-time competitors.”
Each of the Black Lotus teams came home with medals while several athletes also excelled in their one-on-one light kick bouts.
First-time competitor Jacobe Black and Derek McMaster each won gold in their individual bouts, while Jade Simcoe earned a silver medal. The trio won a gold medal in the tag team competition.
First time competitors Owen Lorenzi and Micah Kitchen helped their tag team earn a silver medal.
A trio of first-time women competitors, all moms, teamed up to win the silver medal in the tag-team competition. The team included Lorie Compton, Skye Davenport and Laura Walters. Compton and Davenport also won gold medals in their individual bouts.
Kaydan Davenport won an individual silver and also participated on two tag teams, winning both a gold and a silver medal.
Tyson Reed, 6, was the youngest competitor at the entire tournament. “He’s our little all-star,” said Langman. “He fought with a heart of gold and showed a ton of potential; this is a kid to watch.”
Reed won a silver in a hard-fought bout against a participant who is four years older than him.
A trio of Black Lotus athletes competed in the Ontario Winter Games this past weekend. Kaydan Davenport captured a silver in a hard-fought full contact bout. Liam Weaver brought home a silver “fighting with as much heart as he shows while training in the academy.” Nevin Hawke brought home a bronze medal.
“We are incredibly proud of our athletes for taking the jump into competition,” said Langman. “Our members have the hearts of lions and train like beasts. So many of them are so young and the potential is exciting.”
If anyone wants to give kickboxing a try, the first class is always free at Black Lotus. “We have beginner classes each day of the week and will soon be offering classes for people as young as three,” said Langman.
