Instructors and trophy winners at a recent Bucksport tournament included Grandmaster Bill Graves, Sensei Robert Giles, Sensei Taylor Curtis, Sensei Jeff Huexma and Sensei Lucy Newbigin from the Caribou Dodo of the Graves Self-Defense Association in the back row. In the front row are Hiroki Huexma, Jacob Wickstrom and Ayumi Huexma. (Courtesy of Bill Graves)
Students from the Presque Isle, Mars Hill and Caribou chapters of the Graves Self-Defense Association recently traveled to Bucksport to participate in Tracy's annual spring karate and jiu-jitsu tournament.
Male and female Jiu Jitsu practitioners ranging in age from 6 to 64 competed in point sparring and two-person jiu jitsu teams. Over 170 competitors participated in dozens of divisions based on gender, age and belt level.
Belt levels range from beginner white and yellow belts, to intermediate blue, green and purple belts, to advanced brown and black belts. Some belt colors have multiple levels, indicated by belt stripes, and can be earned through testing over months or years.
Matching by belt level and age ensures that single-elimination grappling matches are fair and competitive. Eight 14-square-foot rings will be in operation simultaneously, each with one main referee and four corner judges. All advanced-level black belts will oversee the grappling and throwing matches.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
From Caribou Dojo, father Jeff Huexma, daughter Ayumi and son Hiroki took home awards at the Green 4, Green 3 and Green 2 levels, respectively.
Ayumi overpowered her opponents in all four bouts with her amazing kicking combinations to take home the championship trophy. Green 3 belt Jacob Wickstrom, also from Caribou, also won the championship trophy after several sparring rounds.
Three young beginner green belts from the Mars Hill branch each took home trophies in their different sparring divisions: Jensen Larrabee took first place in the boys peewee division, Riley Booth took third place in girls mini-peewee and Jax Bradberry took second place in boys peewee sparring.
Sensei Taylor Curtis and Sensei Robert Giles teach at both the Presque Isle and Caribou dojos, and their duo jiu jitsu performance outshone eight other black belt pairs to take first place in the event.
Sensei Curtis won first place in the Black Belt Martial Arts division and Sensei Giles came in third in the Sparring division, making both Sensei double winners.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
Sensei Jay Peavy of Mars Hill and Sensei Buzzy Qualey of Island Falls, head instructors for Graves Ketsugo's Milford branch, took six green belts and one brown belt to the tournament. The group was very successful, bringing home a total of 12 trophies, with five competitors winning both Kumite and Jiu-Jitsu.
Father and daughter duo Travis Folsom and Lainey Folsom won first place, two second places and third place in the wrestling and throwing events, respectively.
Graves Martial Arts classes are held year-round and provide self-defense training for men, women and youth. For more information, visit Graves Self-Defense Institute on Facebook or call the Mars Hill, Presque Isle, Caribou or Milford Recreation Centers.
