Omar Rose ... One of the favourites in the black belt category. - Anthony Minott

By Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

THE second leg of the new Busta Martial Arts League is set for the UTech auditorium this Saturday, May 19, with the staging of the annual McKay Security World Zendo Karate Open.

Jamaica Taekwondo dominated the first leg by sweeping the major titles at the April 27-28 Busta Taekwondo Open at the same venue.

The Zendo Open is expected to attract more than 400 competitors from across the local martial arts landscape.

The contest will range from the prestigious black belt through coloured events ranging from pee-wees to over-35s.

Sosai Lambert Plummer, president of World Zendo Karate, expects a contingent of overseas fighters.

"We have Michael Fisher, a heavyweight black belt, who teaches and resides in Canada, and Ayinde Reid is also expected to come in from Florida," he said.

Plummer said one of the special guests at the tournament will be Shihan Newton James, one of the first practitioners of karate in Jamaica.

"He was on the first Jamaican team to travel to Japan in 1974," he pointed out.

"It was during that tournament that two Jamaicans, Monkad Allen and Errol Lynn, scored the two fastest knockouts in the world at a full contact tournament."

Another guest will be Shiohan Lane, arriving from New York with approximately four to five female black belts, ranging from fourth to fifth degree.

They are expected to participate in the ladies division, mainly middle and heavyweight.

However, the big draw card will, of course, be black belt sparring as Jamaica's top fighters aim to emerge the Busta League black belt champion, chasing prize money of $50,000 for top male and $25,000 for top female combatants.

Once again, favourites Arthur Barrows, Omar Rose and Jermaine Lue are back in action.

In addition, the second leg of the High School championship is expected to be a top attraction as Jamaica College had won the first leg, leaving Kingston College and Calabar gunning to even the score.

The most interesting category is set to be the black belt middleweight as the absence of Kenneth Edwards has left the division wide open.

Jason McKay, chief executive officer of McKay Security, said he was thrilled to have his company associated with the tournament.

"The Zendo Open has always been one of the top three tournaments in the country," he pointed out.