North Idaho karate team wins at international tournament

The North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Compete Karate Tournament is one of the largest karate tournaments held on the West Coast. 

The three-day tournament with several hundred competitors was held on Feb. 21-23 at the Ontario (Calif.) Convention Center.  

Team Idaho Universal Kenpo Kung Fu Association (UKKA) — a combined Spirit Lake and Priest River karate team — won 12 first-place trophies, six second place trophies and five third-place trophies at the tournament. Team UKKA was the only team representing Idaho in the competition.  

Team UKKA is comprised of Coaches Grandmaster Larry Morgan, Sparring Coach Michael Jenkins Sr. and competitors Senior Master Mike “Ziggy Siegfried (60), Alannah Winland (15), Allilah Dykes (18), Saydie Green (15), Jesse Winland (11), Jessika Winland (10),Taylor Jenkins (13), Audrey Jenkins (9) and Michael Jenkins Jr. (8).  

“The team came together and excelled in multiple divisions," Morgan said. "This year was the highest level of competition we have seen in quite some time. Our team had to challenge themselves and rise to the occasion and they did that decisively. We were especially surprised when our youngest team member Michael Jenkins Jr. (8) competed for a championship on the big stage. We are very proud of the team and how they represented themselves, our communities and the state.”  

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 Wahington. Team UKKA is often the only team representing Idaho in local and regional karate competitions. If you are interested in supporting 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