This past weekend a team from Bae’s Martial Arts in Thompson went to Winnipeg to compete in the Manitoba Sport Martial Arts Championships, which is the qualifier for the Word Kickboxing/Karate Council provincial tryouts. The team was lead by their instructor and third-degree black belt, Chris Wojciechowski, and consisted of Chris Mehner, Jack Stoker, Taylor Wojciechowski, Christopher Wojciechowski, Brooklyn Wojciechowski , Riley Locke and Landen Locke.

The Thompson martial artists competed in a wide range of events including traditional forms, weapon forms, musical forms and sparring. The six competitors were able to round up 21 medals, each earning an opportunity to represent Manitoba in the national competition being held in Montreal this May. The Thompson students did so well that they filled four of the six slots to compete for the Junior Under Black Belt Grand Championship in forms. Every competitor did an outstanding job representing themselves, their families and this community. At the end of it all the grand championship did come home to Thompson. Seven-year-old Brooklyn was able to capture the hearts of the audience, receiving a standing ovation upon completing her Musical Form and ultimately impressed the judges enough to receive the high score.