Jamaica's delegation to the 'Battle at the Boardwalk' held at the Atlantic City Convention Centre in New Jersey recently. From left at back are head of delegation Peter Lue, chief judge Keith Edwards, Kenneth Edwards, Dwayne Brown, Sean Cummings, Nicholas Dussard, Omar Rose and Frank Otto. Kneeling at front are Ryan Rampiar, Arthur Barrows, Bruce McFarlane captain, Jason McKay and coach Claude Chin. - CONTRIBUTED
JAMAICA'S BUSTA Fighters, newly-crowned Caribbean martial arts champions, have been confirmed as the guest team at the Tri-Asian Championships, set for August 20 in Tokyo, Japan.
Hosts Japan, the Philippines and Jamaica, who recently claimed the first hold on the new Busta Shield for Caribbean Martial arts supremacy, will contest the championships.
Jamaica, who have been unbeaten for the past two years, will be the first Caribbean team to challenge the Asian powerhouses.
Although considered major underdogs, Jamaica captain Jason McKay believes the Busta Fighters can spring an upset.
Jamaica's team should be chosen from McKay, Kenneth Edwards, Dwayne Brown, Arthur Barrows, Bruce McFarlane, world junior bronze medallist Nicholas Dussard, Omar Rose, Jermaine Lue, Sean Cummings and Frank Otto, who recently won gold at the Mexican Open Free Fighting Championships.
Although not confirmed, sources indicate young Alrick Oneness, who competed as a senior at the recent Jamaica Tae Kwon Do Open, is also up for selection.
Otto's nomination was being questioned after being unceremoniously disqualified at the National Open but redeemed himself in Mexico.
Jamaica's invitation is being considered a major step for Caribbean and Pan Am martial arts, although it is seen as an almost impossible task by many.
McKay has consistently identified North Korea and Poland as the only two teams, which, he believes, are capable of beating Jamaica.
International experts have labelled Jamaica as a Pan-Am sensation and believe the Asian challenge has come too soon, saying the team should have sought more European experience.
However, McKay has scoffed at the suggestion.
"We've been to Europe and Poland was unavailable," he said. "There's nobody else worth the expense of travelling to and if the Europeans wants to fight us, they can come."
Jamaica travelled to Europe twice last year. Their match-up in Spain ended in a disputed decision and a victory was claimed against England.
The team's trump card in the Caribbean Busta Championships has been Nicholas Dussard, who gave Jamaica the lead in all his bouts.
With Dussard being a top world-rank junior up to September next year, McKay believes the time is right to take on the Asians.
"We need to do as much as we can while having our strongest team and not put it off until the advantage lies with other people," he stressed.
Edwards is also at his best and the quartet of captain McKay, Barrows, McFarlane and Brown continue to give consistent performances.
Newcomers Cummings, Rose, Otto and Lue have also been holding their own and will ensure stiff competition for selection on the nine-man team.
