performance of the 12-member Bermuda Jiu Jitsu Club that brought home two trophies, eight gold, three silver and three bronze medals when they returned home on Sunday from the Sheppard Open Tae Kwon Do Championships in Halifax, Canada.

The Bermuda team rolled, punched and kicked their way past competitors from many different martial arts including Hapkido and Uechi Ryu as well as Tae Kwon Do.

Jason Trott, tiny Taurean Manders and Arnold Allen were among the most sucessful male members of the Bermuda team while Danielle X, Chaydora Caines and Bettina Wales were the most successful women.

Trott, fighting in his first tournament since joining the club, came first in the 16-and-under green belt sparring. He then entered the men's lightweight green belt sparring and was unlucky to lose by sudden death in the final to come second overall.

Bettina Wales did not let an ankle injury she received during a practice session stop her from placing first in girls' 16-and-under Kata (forms). Wales showed a maturity beyond her 14 years, when she gracefully performed another kata to break a tie to win the division.

Danielle X continued the trend and brought the crowd to a screaming frenzy to win the women's open Kata competition.

Chaydora Caines, placed third in junior green belt kata and first in junior girls sparring.

Manders took top honours in boys PeeWee sparring while Arnold Allen, who is also Chief Instructor of the Bermuda Jiu Jitsu-Karate Club led the way winning the men's over-35 Black Belt sparring and kata competition and placing third in the men's open Black Belt Kata.

Anthony Payne rumbled his way over his opponents to come second in men's white and yellow belt sparring. John Burchall placed second in men's Brown Belt sparring while Kevin Bean placed third.

The Bermuda team brought the crowd to its feet in the self-defence portion of the competition as they displayed many of the grappling, locking and striking techniques that would be used in a street fight.

Sensei Raymond Sheppard of Sheppard's Tae Kwon Do and the host of the tournament, said he was impressed by the high standard of skill shown by the Bermuda team.

"I am really happy and thankful that the Bermuda team was able to come for the tournament,'' he said afterward. "I hope we can reciprocate next time.

"There is a market for Jiu Jitsu in Canada, I know I am one person who wants to learn more about this art.'' All interested Jiu Jitsu practitioners are asked to call either John Burchall 292-7366 (home) or Sensei Arnold Allen 299-0496 (work) or 292-4740 (home) about setting up a Bermuda Jiu Jitsu Federation that would monitor, promote and encourage the growth of the art in Bermuda.