Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

( L - R ) Kenneth Edwards, Nicholas Dussard - file

KENNETH Edwards and teenager Nicholas Dussard, Jamaica's top international martial arts stars, took the New York area by storm last weekend, winning three gold and one silver medal at World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF) Olympic-style tournaments.

The Jamaicans, who predominantly practise International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF) techniques as members of the Jamaica Combined Martial arts team and Tae Kwon Do Jamaica, spent a week in the tri-state area, under the tutelage of former United States team captain, Alvin Bernard, fine-tuning their skills.

Edwards and Dussard first competed in the New York State Open on Saturday where they both won gold medals in their respective divisions.

On Sunday, they travelled to the much bigger New Jersey State Open with Dussard, the junior United States Open points sparring black belt champion, picking up a second gold and Edwards pocketing a silver, which, coach Bernard said, was a close decision.

"The New Jersey State Open was even bigger than New York," said the 30-year martial arts veteran.

"They both got gold in New York, but Nicholas got another in New Jersey where Kenneth took second, going up against a Korean guy. There was a bit of politics there with the scoring but the Americans were very impressed with the Jamaicans' level, competing in Olympic-style fighting," he added.

Bernard, who has fought WTF Olympic-style Tae Kwon Do for 20 years, believes the Jamaicans are bright prospects for Beijing 2008.

"I think they both have excellent chances," he said. "They went up against world-rated athletes and did very well at the style," he pointed out.

Bernard said Grandmaster Ji Ho Choi, president of New Jersey Tae Kwon Do, was also impressed with the Jamaicans.

"They were all impressed with the power of our techniques and speed," said Edwards. All our opponents were in awe and Grandmaster Choi personally commended Dussard and I," he said.

"These tournaments are recognised by the WTF and the best US Olympian fighters compete in them to gain rankings for their trials," he pointed out.

Tae Kwon Do Olympic qualifying is set for the first week of December in Colombia for Beijing 2008.

Conrad Jenkins, a local coach, also lauded the duo.

"They performed very well and were outstanding," he said. "They dominated the tournaments," he added.

Both fighters travelled under the sponsorship of Busta-McKay Security, organised by the Combined Martial Arts Team and returned to the island on Monday.