Laban martial arts and fitness studio took eight competitors to Winnipeg this past weekend to compete in their first-ever open tournament, hosted by Sikaran-Arnis of Canada, which invited all forms of martial arts to compete in patterns, weapons demonstrations, stick fighting and light contact point sparring.

Nikolas Boychuk placed first in sparring, first in pattern and was the grand champion in beginner's pattern. Carl Elliot placed second in sparring, while Danielle Van De Kerckhove placed second in patterns and third in sparring. Alec Moody was third in sparring, while Jordon Hall and Devon Carlson each placed fourth in sparring. Zachary Cordell finished fifth in stick fighting.

Laban instructor Chris Byrne received a surprise on his arrival when Grand Master Dante Alambra of Sikaran-Arnis Canada told him that he had to fight in this competition to assess his ability and technique as a sikaran student. Byrne left the sikaran school over 20 years ago just one level shy of his black belt to pursue full-contact fighting in the World Taekwondo Federation with Ironfist Taekwondo and KS Cho.

After a very exciting and close match with a well-trained competitor in his early 20s, Byrne fell only one point short of winning the grand championship in sparring. Alambra then honoured him with a long-awaited black belt in sikaran, Byrne’s first-ever martial art.

"Not bad for a guy that is busy training others and not himself," said Mitch Nicolas, Byrne's partner, who placed second in sparring at the competition.

Laban has been invited to three more tournaments in the upcoming months in Winnipeg, Kenora and Calgary. Byrne and the fundraising committee have yet to decide where they will be going next.