Local karate team wins Pacific Northwest tournament
Courtesy photo Team Idaho Universal Kenpo Kung Fu Association, a combined Spirit Lake, Sandpoint and Priest River karate team, competed in the Mighty River Classic on Nov. 2 at the Portland Expo Center. From front to back are Mike “Ziggy” Siegfried, Alannah Winland, Jessika Winland, Michael Jenkins, Audrey Jenkins, Taylor Jenkins, Jesse Winland, Allilah Dykes and Saydie Green.
Team Idaho Universal Kenpo Kung Fu Association — a combined Spirit Lake, Sandpoint and Priest River karate team — won five first-place, three second and two third-place trophies at the Mighty River Classic at the Portland Expo Center on Nov. 2.
The Mighty River Classic is one of the largest karate tournaments in the Pacific Northwest.
Master Mike “Ziggy Siegfried (60) (the team’s lead instructor) won first place in creative weapons and second place in traditional weapons. Alannah Winland (14) was third place in forms. Allilah Dykes (18) was first in sparring. Saydie Green (14) was first in traditional weapons and second place in sparring. Jess Winland (11) was first in forms and in traditional weapons and Jessika Winland (9) was second in traditional weapons and forms.
“It was a very good tournament with tough competition," Siegfried said. "Many of the top three finishers were separated by only a tenth of a point. Our team represented their families, themselves and the State of Idaho with skill and respect, which are the hallmarks of proper martial arts training. I am very proud of how we performed individually and how we worked together as a team.”
Team UKKA is sponsored by the Verbal Judo Institute, Inc., a verbal de-escalation training company based in New York and Golden Rule Brake an automotive repair company based in Idaho and Washington. If you are interested in supporting Team UKKA as a sponsor, you can contact Siegfried at Idahoukka@gmail.com.