Dedicated to Kids in the Martial Arts

Maine Skirmish 2002- A Hugh Success!

On Sunday November 10, 2002
Winslow High School
 in Winslow Maine played host to the
2002 Maine Skirmish Grappling Championships!

A grappling tournament is much like judo an Olympic sport. Two competitors wrestle it out on the mat for domination and victory.

Skirmish competition included Sumo, Japan's national sport. Kids competed in this entertaining event early in the day. The rules were simple. The first kid to move their opponent off the playing arena or toss them down won the match. Giant golden trophy cups were awarded to each divisional winner declaring them, "Yokozuna" of the tournament! 

Fighters from all over New England, New York, and parts of Canada competed in the Maine Skirmish, and this is the 7th year the event had taken place in Winslow Maine. The competition was by invitation only. To compete in such an event is considered a great honor in the martial arts.   

An open grappling tournament allows many styles of martial arts to test their skills. However, today most grapplers often cross train with many styles to become better aquatinted with the opposition. Styles represented in the competition included but was not limited to, Jujutsu, judo, submission fighting, Russian sambo, wrestling, and pankration.

Adult competition in the Skirmish revolved around submission fighting. A submission may include a choke or strangulation technique, an arm bar, or a leg lock. Each individual submission is intended to make one's opponent surrender without injury. If no submission is reached during a match the person who dominated the other with better throwing and pins won the match. 

Main events during the day included the 4 championship title fights, men's light, middle and heavyweight championship, and the exciting women's title fight. Each winner received a genuine a genuine leather championship title belt. Competitors really take this event serious as we saw some of the best ground fighters come from near and far for a chance to be considered the best at their sport! 

An absolute division was scheduled at the end of the day. This event was called "The King of the Skirmish." All advanced divisional players gather in one division for the right to be crowned King of the competition. A gorgeous large silver cup was awarded to the best grappler of the day. 

"Grappling is a very demanding sport," say tournament director Mike Huard of Huard's Martial Arts. His school sponsored the big event! "We saw some very gifted athletes at this years competition." 

For results information regarding the Maine Skirmish 2002 call Huard's Martial Arts at (207) 873-0407, or email maineskirmish@hotmail.com. 

The Maine Skirmish website is http://www.angelfire.com/me2/skirmish/index.html

Special thanks to 
Huard's Jujutsu & Karate of Maine 
a content contributor to KarateAngels.com