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A Few Bumps...
A LOT Of Success!
For those who have attended the IKF World Classic in the past, you may know there have always been some internal bumps along the way. However, from the outside looking in, the the only thing two things those attending actually saw were some late starts and late nights. Although expected, the IKF didn't take the two late starts lightly. "The first unexpected bump was that the IKF Point Kickboxing (PKB) was more of a success than planned." Said IKF President Steve Fossum. "We thought we would start the bouts around 9 and be done by 11. However, with all the 'at event' registrations, this part of the tournament was an unexpected as well as exciting success." The extended PKB Tournament delayed the start of the regular tournament out of courtesy to several trainers who had fighters participating in the PKB. In addition, several regular IKF Officials were assisting with the expanded PKB Tournament.
This was in addition to what the majority of the attendees did not see. computer issues through the night kept IKF President Steve Fossum, Head of Officials Dan Stell and several staff up the entire night. This meat they had not slept since around 7:AM Friday morning. The computer issues delayed the posting of the fight brackets to about 9:AM Saturday morning, but this was just the beginning of a long weekend...
IKF PKB was an exhibition sport at the 2007 IKF World Classic but this year it was a fully scheduled event. "I can't be more excited for the PKB at this years event." Said IKF PKB President and two time professional kickboxing World Champion Johnny "Superfoot" Davis. "If this was any indication of the future for PKB we need to look into getting more space reserved for the future."
The success of this part of the tournament this year has indeed forced the IKF to start thinking about how much more room they will need in 2009 at the The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort. At this years event the IKF utilized over 37,000 square feet of space for the event. The main portion of the Grand Ballroom (Around 12,000 sq. ft.) housed the main event area with the two rings, spectators and merchandise vendor booths. (This is something else that grew a lot and could easily double if nit triple in 2009). Directly attached next to the main event area was the two main fighter dressing room and warm-up areas. This was another space of over 6,000 sq. ft. in size. The PKB venue was next door with again, over 6,000 sq. ft. Adding to this was another semi private fighter warm-up area that was another 12,000 sq. ft. in size. Fighters had plenty of room to spread their wings.
Having fighter room was great, however at about 11:AM on Saturday, the IKF was officially informed by the Marriott staff that the main venue room was now at, and we will quote, "Standing room only". Yes everyone, this was the first time the IKF Tournament had a "Crowd!" This was again, another unexpected "Bump" in the tournament that was quickly fixed by the excellent Marriott Staff by adding in more chairs.
Once the main tournament started on Saturday, which was just after 12 noon, the prelim bouts were loaded with tons of exciting action. However, the next unexpected bump came from a previous successful decision. Earlier in the registration stages the IKF decided to expand their fighter brackets past 8 fighters. Great for the many brackets that filled far past 8, but bad for the unexpected timing of the Saturday portion of the event. With quite a few fights to go in their Saturday schedule, the IKF choose to air on the side of safety and stopped the competition around 10:PM with the plan to pick-up Saturdays schedule first thing in the morning. It was a decision that was applauded by nearly everyone and those who questioned it Saturday night made a point to thank the IKF Staff and inform them that they were thankful for the rest.
With the excitement of a planned earlier start time on Sunday to accommodate the extra bouts, it was that never ending attempt to please everyone that jinxed Sunday's schedule as well. In total, 19 fighters had asked for changes in their fight schedule so that they could make their scheduled plane flights. Eleven of those were made as the event was trying to start and the remainder kept coming throughout the day. The changes caused internal problems mainly unnoticed to those in attendance, but frustrating for the IKF Staff which was forced to move entire divisions to accommodate one fighter. In doing so, they needed to attain approval from every fighter and trainer in the division of the requested change... Still, the IKF Officials kept moving forward to still try and "Please everyone", and by the time Championship Sunday ended around 8:PM, it was clear that had pretty much accomplished that duty... Again!
In the end, of the 243 fighters (Not counting the IKF PKB) still scheduled to show up at the event, 229 did. Of them, two did not make weight and one transferred to the IKF PKB. The final number of 227 did not break the 240 record set in 2005 at the Wyndham Palace in Orlando Florida but it clearly made a statement with a strong second to the 220 from 2004, again, at the Wyndham Palace in Orlando Florida.
Along with the 229 fighters, 110 additional trainers, staff and officials made up the 339 attendees to the special IKF Welcome Banquet dinner on Friday night. "This was something we received a lot of thanks for and turned out a lot better than expected for us all." Said Fossum. "It was suppose to only be something special for our 10 year anniversary but we are now considering it as an included part of the tournament from here forward."
As many know, Don "The Dragon" Wilson was the Tournament's Special Guest. However he and Johnny Davis were not the only superstars in the house over the weekend. Legendary World Champion Mike Bell was in attendance as well as two other legends in the sport of Kickboxing and Martial Arts. Both Joe Lewis and Bill Wallace dropped in to be a part of the action on Saturday and see the amateur fighters from around the world, "Walk the Walk!" Lewis had such a great time he was back on Sunday supporting the sport. It was simply the place to be for Kickboxing!
In all, 43 IKF World Classic Champions were crowned this past weekend. That number seems less because the division brackets were expanded in regards to weight and there were less "Two fighter" brackets as in the past. This was a SOLID event that saw thousands of dollars in awards go home around the world. Over and over again there was a phrase the IKF Staff heard from those in attendance, "Past the hype talking and the politics, the bottom line is, Nothing else comes close to the quality of the IKF World Classic!" This "IS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR AMATEUR KICKBOXING!"
RESULTS?
Right now the IKF Staff is traveling up the East Coast to a conference in Vermont and will not be back in the IKF Offices until late next week. Because of this there will be a little delay in posting the Official Tournament Results.
PLAN AHEAD...
However, instead of waiting for them, you may want to start planning ahead for the 2009 IKF World Classic which will be held on July 24th, 25th and 26th at the The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort. For those planning WAAAAY ahead, we look forward to seeing you on August 6th, 7th and 8th, 2010, once again at at the The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.
Drop the Gauntlet!
& Bring It ON!
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