36th annual Ocean State Grand Nationals set for this weekend

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 4/5/16

Year in, year out the Ocean State Grand National Karate Championship brings the best karate challengers from around the world to Warwick.

And this year will be no different, with the 36th Annual …

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36th annual Ocean State Grand Nationals set for this weekend

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Year in, year out the Ocean State Grand National Karate Championship brings the best karate challengers from around the world to Warwick.

And this year will be no different, with the 36th Annual Ocean State Grand Nationals set for Friday through Sunday at Warwick’s Crowne Plaza.

As it is every year, the championship will be brought to you by Don Rodrigues Karate Academy of Warwick.

The turnout for this year’s tournament is expected to be tremendous. Rodrigues noted that he believes that at least 35 states in the United States will be represented amid the field of competitors. Additionally, the tournament will draw fighters from a plethora of nations – Hungary, South Africa, Guatemala, Venezuela, Italy, Germany, Canada, Croatia, Russia, Austria, Peru, England, Poland and Mexico.

It’s safe to say that the best of the best will be there.

“Each year, we bring in the best karate competitors in the world,” Rodrigues said. “Nothing is different this year. We have a couple of world champions from Budapest, Hungary, coming in. We have many countries represented, and even countries who pop up that we don’t even know about. We’re expecting a great tournament this year, we’ve got a lot of good people coming.”

In terms of sequence of events for each day, on Friday, the under belts will compete and put on a night show in the evening. Saturday, on the other hand, will feature the black belts. Rodrigues will hold the black belt championships during the day for each division, followed by a big tournament at night, in which the best of the best will compete for cash prizes and trophies up to seven feet high.

“Saturday is the night when you’ll see the best competitors in the world competing,” Rodrigues said.

Saturday night will also feature a celebrity appearance. In past years, Rodrigues has brought in celebrities such as Chuck Norris to entertain the crowd. This year, martial artist Cynthia Rothrock will be in attendance. Rothrock has appeared in films such as Undefeatable, Above the Law and China O’Brien.

Kevin Thompson will also be a featured guest on Saturday night. Thompson competed on Rodrigues’ John Paul Mitchell team a few years back, before being diagnosed with ALS. In recent years, Rodrigues and those attending the Ocean State Grand Nationals have raised enough money to assist in buying a handicapped-accessible van for Thompson. Rodrigues is planning on raffling off items this weekend, as well, with those proceeds going towards Thompson’s care expenses.

Additionally, Rodrigues will be implementing a Kevin Thompson Award this year, which will be presented to the MVP of each school represented.

It should be a great weekend of competition and entertainment. For more information regarding the tournament, visit www.oceanstategrandnational.net or call Don Rodrigues Karate Academy at 401-737-2809.

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