Gulf Breeze hosts Gulf Coast Martial Arts Championships
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Competitors from along the Gulf Coast made the trip to the Gulf Breeze Recreation Center on Saturday, March 29 to participate in the Gulf Coast Martial Arts Championships.

Martial arts schools from across the eastern half of the United States were represented at the Gulf Coast Martial Arts Championships (GCMAC) Saturday at the Rec. Center.

More then 150 competitors from Fla., Miss., Ga., Ala. and Ohio made the trip to Gulf Breeze to showcase their skills and share ideas at the tournament.

Many people have only experienced competitive martial arts through the well-known movie, The Karate Kid, but the GCMAC was a very different competition. Unlike the animosity displayed by the different schools in The Karate Kid, the GCMAC promotes friendly competition.

Joe and Terri Poff, owners of Poff's Tae Kwon Do in Gulf Breeze, organized and hosted the tournament.

"Everyone comes together to learn and share ideas, no one is saying this school is better than that," Terri said. "We have been doing this for 19 years, and it [GCMAC] reflects the spirit of martial arts."

Photo Courtesy of David Standridge Dr. Dennis Fitch (center) is awarded his 10th Degree Black Belt.

The events, which are separated into divisions based on age, sex and experience, included musicals, forms, weapons and sparring.

Four local schools - Falbo's Family Karate, Poff's Tae Kwon Do, Mr. and Mrs. Hook's and Shaolin Chuan Fa - were competing in the tournament.

Dr. Dennis Fitch, Shaolin Chuan Fa, was an honored guest at the event. Fitch, a Gulf Breeze resident, has been a martial arts instructor for over 40 years, and is currently teaching his school at Chips gym. During a special presentation, Fitch became a 10th Degree Black Belt, which is actually represented by a red belt.

Fitch said that he has enjoyed his involvement in martial arts because of the great personal growth that it promotes.

"It's (martial arts) great for selfesteem and personal discipline," Fitch said. "Nobody tells you what to do, when to do it or how you do it. You do it on your own.

"You find out who you are and no one can take that away. It's great for anybody of any age, and its really nice that all of the local schools share their ideas."

Jimmy Falbo of Falbo's Family Karate said, "It's great that the Poffs put this thing on so we can have a local tournament."