Parksville Taekwondo’s Seth Fleming-Alho has returned from the Pacific Northwest Historical European Martial Arts tournament on Whidbey Island in Washington State with a bronze medal for his efforts.
Fleming-Alho, a 16-year-old with a third dan black belt, earned his bronze medal in the long sword competition at the tournament, which took place at the end of August.
With 50 competitors coming from across North America and as far away as Scotland, Fleming-Alho competed in three events, the long sword, single stick and cutting, attending the event with his club, Blood and Iron Martial Arts.
“I was hoping to compete in grappling too,” Fleming-Alho said.
“I had to withdraw from that event though because I broke my toe in training.”
The single stick event is a form of one-handed sword fighting using a rattan stick.
In the cutting event, competitors try to cut rolled tatami mats, being scored on precision and speed.
In the long sword competition, fully armoured fighters earn points when they strike their opponent.
Fleming-Alho reached the second round of the cutting event, the semi-finals of the single stick event and won bronze in the long sword event, becoming the youngest person to receive a medal at the tournament.