(2013 Super Grands stage)

2 2014 SUPER GRANDS Twenty-fifth year reunion

WINNING THE WORLD TITLE Super Grands – in Buffalo – The Niagara Frontier, where it all began 25 years ago. Winning the authentic* sport world title...that’s what the NBL Super Grands World Games became all about. International players will once again converge to battle for the coveted titles at the twenty-fifth anniversary games. With its history as the most prestigious sport karate event in the world, Super Grands World Games 25 will again attract the best sport karate contenders to compete for the 120 officially recognized blackbelt world titles for juniors, adults and seniors. The final two players of each of the 120 world title divisions will battle it out on stage in their respective Grand Finale evening show. The 120 winners achieve instant recognition, symbolized by the awarding of specially designed world championship rings and NBL world title gold embroidered black belts. And again this year, six overall World Grandchampionships will be held during the Awards Presentation Super Show awarding $5,000 prize money and special one of a kind NBL red metalic embroidered black belts for each grandchampion. But that’s not all! In a simultaneous tournament, the Sport Karate Amateur Internationals will also award the amateur titles to the world’s best players in both blackbelt and under blackbelt ranks in the 160 international title division categories. The Super Grands has a history of incredible and unpredictable competition and has transformed many an unknown player into instant superstar. Most of today’s champions and the giants of the past twenty years have won Super Grands world titles or placed in the World Games. Is it your turn? Super Grands World Games – where the official World’s Sport Karate champions are crowned!

* authentic: Of first-hand authority, original. Real, actual, ‘genuine.’ (opposed to imaginary, pretended.) – Oxford English Dictionary 2014 SUPER GRANDS 3 SUPER GRANDS I - Niagara Falls, New York, USA -1990 • The Metro All-Stars Team coached by Hector Santiago wins the • The Super Grand starts its historical journey at the Niagara Falls Team of the Year Award. Convention Center and awards the first of what becomes the iconic • The Guate-Kenpo school under Erick Schumann of Guatemala world champion NBL black belt. wins their first School of the Year Award. • Joey Uyeda of 29 Palms, California, USA becomes the first overall junior forms world champion. SUPER GRANDS IV - New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - 1993 • Christine Bannon-Rodrigues of Warwick, Rhode Island, USA • With Burbon Street only a stones throw away, the Super Grands is becomes the first overall adult forms world champion and earns the held at the Clarion Hotel on historic Canal Street in New Orleans where most world titles with a total of 4. each world champion is presented with what becomes the envy of every • Richard sport karate player each year, the Barefield of San iconic NBL World Championship Jose, California, gold ring. USA becomes the • Jimmy Pham of San Jose, first overall men’s California, USA wins the overall jun- point sparring ior contemporary forms world title. world champion. • Ramir Mosqueda of San Jose, • Linda Denley California, USA wins the overall of Houston, Texas, photo by Heather Crump adult contemporary forms world title. USA becomes the • Ray Wizard of Los Angeles, first overall California, USA wins the overall women’s point men’s point sparring world title. sparring world • The junior boys’ Karate USA champion. Team of San Francisco, California, • The John Paul USA under coach Levy Ignacio Mitchell Team become the first and only team to suc- coached by Don cessfully win a team sparring title Rodrigues wins the three years in a row and against all Team of the Year odds their three separate sparring Award. teams place first, second and third. • Ben Kiker’s • Team Full Contact coached by United Karate of Alyxzander Bear wi