JAMAICA's top black belts, led by United States Open world junior champion, Nicholas Dussard, as well as North American and Caribbean heavyweight champion, Kenneth Edwards, are down to compete in the Tae Kwon Do Goodwill Games in Connecticut this Saturday.

Jamaica's contingent is completed by power breaker Michael Thomas, who won a gold and two bronze at the U.S. Open in July, Jason McKay, who recently took silver at the Caribbean and NA Championships, as well as the lone female, 14-year-old Tashauna Grannum.

The Campion College student will be aiming at her first international medal as a black belt following failed efforts at the International Tae Kwon Do Federation's (ITF) World Championship in Quebec, Canada, in June and the U.S. World Champs a month later.

Dangerous threat

Grannum, who entered the black belt division earlier this year, has been training with the Jamaica Combined Martial Arts Team, led by McKay.

"The two world championships came up just about as she entered the division," said McKay, who also manages Grannum.

"She was entered in those championships mainly for experience," he said. "If she is on top of her game and catches the weight, she will be a dangerous threat to all opponents with the experience now behind her," he added.

McKay himself has been enjoying a good season, captaining the combined team to victory at the North American and Caribbean Championships as well as their first world title at the U.S Open, which was followed by a successful .defence of the team's Tri-Asian title in China.

The seasoned veteran has also picked up three individual medals, winning silver at the U.S. Open, Tri-Asian Champs and North American Caribbean Champs.

However, he is being bothered by a toe injury.

"My toe is giving me some problems but I believe I will be able to compete with it. I am hoping to get around it," he said.

Meanwhile, Dussard, who won at the U.S. Open as a junior, will be stepping up to the senior ranks in his first international.

However, the confident teenager has sound experience against seniors under his belt, having beaten the likes of Arthur Barrows and Bruce McFarlane at the local Seido Open in June.

Edwards, who finally won his first individual ITF title at the North American and Caribbean Championship, will be out to finish the season in style and after enduring early exits at the Pan-Am Games and ITF World Champs.