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Event Offers Lots Of Kicks

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Nine-year-old kickboxer Kasey Biller stared down her opponent, a black heavy bag nearly twice her size.

"Wait for the bell," instructed her sensei, Ed Dominguez. "I want you to give me movement in between your combinations."

"Yes sir," she shouted.

As the bell rang, Biller transformed into a little tornado of kicks and punches.

American Dragon Dojo at 4327 Gunn Highway hosts classes for adults and children in karate-style self defense and kickboxing.

Biller and two other students are busy preparing for a kickboxing tournament on Friday.

The dojo, along with Joe Lewis Fighting Systems and the Mike Allen American Karate System, will sponsor the kickboxing event at Tampa Bay Health and Fitness at 4913 W. Waters Ave.

Part of the Tampa Bay Jr. Kick Boxing League's Friday Night Fights series, the tournament targets kids aged 7 to 17.

The Golden-Gloves style sparring contest features a 10-point system. American Kickboxing Rules apply.

Dominguez, owner of American Dragon Dojo, said the tournament helps get kids into kickboxing. "Football has Pop Warner; baseball has Little League. Just about every major sport has some way for children to develop their skills at an early age," he said.

"What we find is most of the kids don't really have an avenue to try out kickboxing," he continued. "You have point fighting tournaments, like in the 'Karate Kid' movies, or full-contact tournaments, but not this."

Unlike stop-and-start martial arts competitions, kickboxing, with its three, two-minute rounds per match, requires stamina.

The young kids wear head gear, boxing gloves and chest protectors.

His students come from tae kwon do and karate backgrounds; some are new to martial arts entirely.

At a recent Thursday night class, four students practiced kicking, punching and sparing drills.

With 10 fights under his belt, 8 year old Andrew Gardner of Keystone has become a veteran at American Dragon Dojo over the past 18 months. He'll compete in Friday's tournament.

"He's really quick and tall for his age," Dominguez said. "We'll probably have to match him up with some older kids."

The tournament groups fighters by age, weight and skill level.

Siblings Jake and Kasey Biller came to American Dragon Dojo this year and hope to compete in their first kickboxing tournament Friday.

"They've got really good techniques," Dominguez said. "The concern is whether they can keep it up for three rounds."

An alternative to tag/point competitions, the tournament promotes the Joe Lewis fighting system.

A sixth-degree black belt, Dominguez trained under Lewis, a former heavyweight champion kickboxer and originator of the sport.

American Dragon Dojo is an official Joe Lewis training center. In addition to kickboxing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, it offers self-defense classes for children and adults on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Classes at the dojo cost $80 per month for unlimited sessions.

Dominguez said close to 20 kids are signed up for the tournament. He stressed that all area martial arts schools and their students are welcome to compete.

"This isn't all about American Dragon Dojo," he said. "We're just hosting the event. Our goal is to get as many kids into it as we can."

Tournament registration and weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Competitors pay a $30 entry fee. Admission to the event costs $3.

Dominguez said adults will be allowed to compete after the children's competition ends.

A third and final Friday Night Fights tournament for 2008 will take place Aug. 29.

For information or to sign up for the tournament, call (813) 249-2235 or visit www .americandragondojo.com.

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or at shammill@tampatrib.com.

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