Local martial artists dominate at world championships

Four students and three instructors from the Loveless Academy participated in the World Organization of Martial Arts Athletes World Martial Games XII, held Aug. 19 to 21 in Cardiff, Wales. The championship consisted of close to 700 competitors from 23 countries.

The seven-member team led by Master Mike Loveless brought home an astounding 25 individual medals, including of 15 gold, eight silver and two bronze. They also took top honors with a gold medals and a grand championship in a six-member team event. 

Two Loveless Academy students dominated their divisions, beating out the best of the best, and combined for three individual grand champion prizes.

Loveless Academy instructor Tanja Gottschalck earned two grand champion prizes, one each for women’s black belt forms and one for weapons.

Ramstein High School sophomore Collin Lyon dominated in hardstyle and weapons forms earning two gold medals. He also won the grand champion trophy in the 14 to 17 year old brown/red belt division forms and weapons, beating out competitors from Wales, the Channel Islands and Germany in the finale. 

“These students rock,”  Loveless said. “The hard training and months of repetition of their forms and sparring drills paid off. I am very proud of each and every one of the Loveless Academy members. They are the ones that make our school so well known and searched out. Thanks to them our school is known throughout the world.”

The list of competitors and medals can be found below:
» Mike Loveless: three gold in the masters divisions; two silvers, one in traditional weapons and one in masters point fighting.
» Jurgen Gottschalck: three gold in the male black belt divisions over 45 years old, one gold team.
» Tanja Gottschalck: two gold, one silver and two Grand Champion Awards, one gold team.
» Collin Lyon: two gold and one Grand Champion Award.
» Julia Kruger: one bronze, one silver, one gold team.
» Carina Stein: two gold, one silver, one gold team.
» Christian Muller: one gold, one silver and earned a spot to compete in Grand Championships, one gold team.
» Team Event: overall gold and Grand Champion Award.