Jubilant members of Jamaica's Combined Martial Arts team (from left) captain Jason McKay, Arthur Barrows, Kenneth Edwards and Dwayne Brown beam proudly as Paul Shoucair, general manager, Jamaica Beverages, holds the Busta Continental World Championship Team Fighting trophy at the International sports Karate Association United States Open at the weekend. - contributed

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

JAMAICA's performance at the International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) US Open World Championship is being hailed as one of the best-ever showing by a local martial arts contingent.

Paul Shoucair, general manager, Jamaica Beverages, was among the crowd at the Coronado Springs Resort to watch Jamaica's Combined Martial Arts Team, the Busta Fighters, lift the Continental World Team Championship, on last Friday's opening day of the world's biggest martial arts Open.

The Busta Fighters beat the United States in the final after stopping England in semi-final action to win the first-ever Busta Continental World title.

Tremendous performance

"It still hasn't sunk in yet," said Shoucair, who branded the Combined Martial Arts Team two years ago, sponsoring the unit under his company's Busta soft drink line.

"It was a tremendous performance by not just the Busta Fighters but the whole team," said Shoucair, referring to Jamaica's 28 medal haul at the tournament, which had competitors of different skill levels and varying art forms vying for world titles.

"The response of the crowd was great when the Busta Fighters became champions and Busta Fighters also went on to become world heavyweight and junior black belt champions."

Jamaica's Bruce McFarlane and Nicholas Dussard, both Combined Team members, lifted the heavyweight and junior titles in black belt continuous fighting at the tournament, which featured fighters from all over the world.

McFarlane defeated a German rival, whereas Dussard stopped a South African to lift their titles.

Power breaker Michael Thomas was Jamaica's other senior gold medal winner whereas seven junior coloured belts also came home with gold.

Jordan Trought, Ashieka Dyer, Oshane Murray, Kemar Barr, Channing Warren, Daron Harrison and Kenroy Gordon also bagged gold medals.

This, Shoucair said, was great as the kids will ensure continuity.

"Martial arts in Jamaica have improved and with Jamaica Beverages sponsoring the various schools' Open tournaments and the High School League under way, it will be good for the children coming up.

"I was proud to watch young Jamaican children winning at this tournament. For whatever sport, there has to be a programme from which you can pick the best from each age group."

Jamaica's performance, Shoucair said, should encourage the entire region.

"It was a tremendous achievement not only for Jamaica but the whole Caribbean," he said.

"I was very proud, not just for the Busta Fighters, our brand and company, I was proud to be Jamaican and watching our people, in a non-traditional sport, beating superpowers," he added.

Shoucair said Jamaica not only performed well but also with dignity.

"The manner in which they did it, good sportsmanship and all," Shoucair explained, admitting he had anxious moments.

"My heart skipped a beat one or two times especially when we lost our third bout to make it 2-1 in the Continental Championship but we were all right after that," he said.

Shoucair said plans are already under way for the second championship but it will be bigger and at home next year.

"Negotiations have already started and I do believe the Busta World Championships will be happening in Jamaica and not Orlando next year. Hopefully, we're looking at a lot more teams and it will be an achievement if we can pull it off," said the Jamaica Beverages boss. Meanwhile, the Busta Fighters will be fêted by Jamaica Beverages this Sunday night at a special dinner.

"That night will belong to the team," Shoucair said.

"We believe not enough focus is being paid to the Busta Fighters and this must be, in my opinion, the biggest achievement of any national team in the past 10 years as those, which have done well, are expected to."