Local karate team wins international tournament
Courtesy photo Team Universal Kenpo Kung Fu Association (UKKA) — a combined team from Sandpoint and Spirit Lake — brought home numerous trophies and medals from the Compete Karate Tournament in Ontario, Calif., Feb. 23-25. In the front row from left are Jessika Winland, Michael Jenkins and Jesse Winland; and back row from left, Master Mike Siegfried, Allilah Dykes, Alannah Winland, Taylor Jenkins, Audry Jenkins and Grand Master Larry Morgan.
The Compete Karate Tournament is the largest karate tournament held on the West Coast of the United States.
It attracts more than 1,000 competitors from all over the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Team Universal Kenpo Kung Fu Association (UKKA) — a combined team from Sandpoint and Spirit Lake — won eight first-place trophies, five second-place Trophies, six third-place trophies, six fourth-place trophies, one fifth-place medal, one sixth-place medal and two seventh-place medals during the three-day tournament held in Ontario, Calif., on Feb. 23-25. Awards are given to the top 10 competitors in each division.
Team UKKA is comprised of Master Instructor Mike “Ziggy” Siegfried (60) of Spirit Lake, Allilah Dykes (17) of Spirit Lake, Alannah Winland (14) of Spirit Lake, Tylor Jenkins (12) of Sandpoint, Jesse Winland (10) of Spirit Lake, Jessika Winland (9) of Spirit Lake, Audrey Jenkins (8) of Sandpoint, and Michael Jenkins (7) of Sandpoint. It was the only team representing Idaho at the tournament.
“Our Idaho team competed against larger international teams with more experienced competitors and won in multiple divisions," Siegfried said. "They represented themselves, their families, and the state of Idaho by performing with skill, poise under pressure, dignity and respect. I could not be prouder of them.”
Team UKKA is sponsored by the Verbal Judo Institute, Inc., a verbal de-escalation training company based in New York. Team UKKA hopes to represent the state of Idaho in additional tournaments this year.
To support Team UKKA as a sponsor, contact Master Siegfried at Idahoukka@gmail.com. You can also support them by watching their journey on YouTube and subscribing at http://www.youtube.com/@idahoukka