Black Rock Martial Arts had members compete at the annual Western Canadian Martial Arts Championships and came home with a bag full of medals.
The Parksville club sent 11 martial artists, aged from 13 to 20 years old, with some of them competing for the very first time. They were entered in the sparring competition where most had three to five fights to get into the medal round.
“Most of the team was competing in their very first competition and all did so well,” said head instructor Marco Viedas, a mixed-martial arts competitor, who teaches taekwondo, kickboxing and also health and fitness.
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Some of the Black Rock members had to overcome three to five fights as well as compete either up a weight class or fought an opponent with much more experience. Viedas said they did n0t disappoint as they collected three gold medals, five silvers and three bronzes.
The 16-year-old Dallan Ostaffy had a highlight reel head kick that dropped his opponent on the way to winning the gold medal.
The other medal winners: Jared Dudley, 13, gold; Ayden Anderson, 20, gold; Jesse Kreller, 17, silver; David Simons, 20, silver; Thunya Dudley, 15, silver; Xavier Annan, 14, silver; Chase Sjogren, 13, silver; Julius Mann, 14, bronze; and Beau Gilmour, 14, bronze.
Cameron Kleven, 19, competed in a heavier weightclass. He won his first fight and had very close second fight. He just missed making it to the medal podium.
Black Rock Martial Arts was just formed in 2020. It’s owned and operated by Viedas. Those interested in learning more about the club and its programs, email Viedas at blackrockmartialarts@gmail.com.