Omar Rose - File

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Jamaica's oldest and most prestigious martial arts tour-nament, the Busta Seido Jamaica Open, celebrates its 30th anni-versary tomorrow at the UTech Auditorium.

Sponsored by NCB Insurance and Jamaica Beverages Limited, the Seido Open is the third leg of the Busta Black Belt League Championship.

Each of the more than 500 participants expected will receive a commemorative medal, but the clash for the league's silverware will be hot with Busta Black Belt leaders, Arthur Barrows and Omar Rose, bracing for the debut of Seido's top man, Bruce McFarlane.

Jun Shihan Tony Robinson said there will also be an international flavour to the 30th Open with overseas martial artists expected.

"There will be United States-based fighters coming in such as Paul Williams, an overseas-based Jamaican, who is a three-time Grand Champion and who fights worldwide," he said.

Jun Shihan Robinson also expects fighters out of the United Kingdom, but was quick to point to the local trio of McFarlane, Rose and Barrows as being the draw cards.

"I expect more than 500 participants including coloured belts, from pee wees to seniors, and of course female black belts but McFarlane, Barrows and Rose are the guys to watch especially Rose in the middleweight, to see him fight is like a dream."

Robinson said he was overwhelmed with the level of sponsorship.

"Sponsors have been very hard to get and this year NCB Insurance has come on board with Jamaica Beverages," he pointed out.

"We really appreciate their involvement," he added. "I think success brings success and after seeing us go to South Africa in 2004 to sweep that tournament, in all divisions, people have started to take notice.

"The following year we went to London and did the same. Between those years, the Combined Martial Arts Team was touring the world and beating everybody," said Jun Shihan Robinson, who is already looking to a trip to Japan in November.