Triple Crown and Triple National Champion

by Rowan Van Dyk

Three youths from our community and  students representing Van Dyk’s Karate competed in the Annual NCMA Invitational National Karate Championships in Springfield this past Friday and Saturday.

The NCMA Organization was represented well by national members and competitors that came in from as far as California and some International members were present at the tournament as well.

The National College of Martial Arts is a Organization dedicated to the preservation and continued developement of Traditional Karate-Do and has students and member schools all over the United States and in over 40 other Countries World wide. In in its efforts to continue the above, the NCMA hosts a Invitational Tournament every year. The NCMA is headed by Grand Master Lou Angel and the World Headquarters is based in Joplin.

Jordan Runkle competed in the Youth 7 & Under Division. Jordan place 2nd in Traditional Weapons Forms, 2nd in Open Hand Forms and 2nd in Point Sparring.

Mason Fast competed in the Youth 11 – 12 Division and placed 2nd in Traditional Weapons, 2nd in Open Hand Forms and 4th in Point sparring.

Winning a Triple Crown is rare. Winning a Triple Crown at a National Championship even more so. Then add to that the Youth All Ranks Junior National Grand-Champion Throphy for Kata; one would have to say that someone had a very successful tournament. That is exactly what happened to Hunter Malensek this past Saturday.  Even sweeter still was that 20 years earlier Jesse McCallister, another of Van Dyk’s Karate students, accomplished the exact same feat at the exact same tournament and in the exact same division.

Hunter Malensek competed in the Youth 11-12 Advanced Division and placed 1st in Kata/Forms, 1st in Traditional Weapons and 1st in Point Sparring/Kumite.

In the All Youth – All Rank Grand Championship Round, Hunter competed against 19 other competitors ranging from Novice to Junior Black Belt. Hunter received a 5 out of 5 judges decision for the win.

A Big Thank You goes out to Grand Master Lou Angel for extending us the Invitation and allowing us to compete at this years NCMA Nationals and to all of the NCMA Staff who made the tournament possible. It was a great event.

Team VDK has done very well in the past year and with the wins this Saturday our students have brought home 13 National Titles, 2 Team USA Selections and countless other hardware.

We would like to thank the El Dorado Springs and surrounding communities for their continued support.

KARATE WINNERS – Pictured from left: Jordan Runkle, Hunter Malensek and Mason Fast.

Instructor Rowan Van Dyk in back.

FROM THE GRAND MASTER – Grand Master Lou Angel awarding Hunter Malensek his National Grand Champion Trophy