As 2011 comes to a close we are thankful for the wonderful year the USBA/WBA has had, and the support of our directors, members, and promoters. This year we expanded, improved, and started in some new directions:

- 2011 had the the most breaking competitions to date

- We added new quality venues

- We were able to offer better awards at our “breaking only” events

- Numerous World records and competition records were set

- We introduced the “Studio Breaking Program”, providing studio owners with a comprehensive breaking curriculum

- We created the “SCDA” (single competitor division averaging), with the help of Jonathan Field of Canada, to give competitors a new way to set breaking goals

- We started the “Top Team Competition”, with the help of Adam Grogin of New York, offering a team concept to competitions throughout the year

With 2012 just around the corner we are continuing our commitment to making the USBA/WBA the best it can be, both from a competitive and educational standpoint. Here are just some of the things that you will see in the coming year:

- A brand new updated website with a members only section

- “Regional Circuits”, providing more opportunities for competitors to be recognized and seeded at the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships

- Additional levels for the Studio Breaking Program

- USBA/WBA Awards Banquet/Competition in 2013

We would like to thank our advisors, directors, members and supporters. Your dedication to breaking has made the USBA/WBA possible and has fueled it’s growth over the years. We are confident that the USBA/WBA will continue to be the first name in Martial Arts Breaking!

End of the Year Ratings:

We are still finishing up results from the USBA TKO Breaking Championships. All point totals and Competitors of the Year for 2011 should be announced shortly.

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival:

We have been a part of The Arnold Martial Arts Festival in Ohio since 2006, but unfortunately it does not look like we will be part of the event this year. We are still in the process of trying to rectify some internal issues with the promoters of the Arnold, but at this point it is not looking as if things will be settled in time. At this point The USBA/WBA WILL NOT be part of the Arnold. If something changes in the next couple of weeks we will let everyone know.

New Rating Start and End Dates:

For the past several years we have been considering changing the start and end dates of yearly rating to better coincide with the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open. The current ratings year runs from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Starting this year we will change theses dates. The start date for point accumulation will begin each year at the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open and end with the last event before this event. To make this change we will be extending the 2012 ratings year from 1/1/2012 to the last event before the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships in 2013, approximately 18 months. This will allow competitors to accumulate points without a lapse.

Our goal is to set-up a USBA/WBA Competition/Banquet in the Fall of 2013 to recognize the Competitors of the Year for the 2012-2013 extended ratings period, as well as a USBA/WBA Breaking Hall of Fame to honor those who have been influential in the promotion of breaking or have excelled in competition. Details will be forthcoming.

We look forward to an exciting new year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Ralph Bergamo and Drew Serrano

Founders of the United States and World Breaking Associations

www.usbawba.com

10/2011- The USBA Florida Dragon Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- 10/29/2011

***The USBA Florida Dragon Breaking Championships at the Florida Dragon Championships- Orlando, FL- October 29, 2011.

The USBA Florida Dragon Breaking Championships will be held on October 29 at the Florida Dragon Championships, Olympia High School, 4301 S. Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL. This event will be promoted by USBA/WBA Local Director Nick Zambri. The Florida Dragon Championships offers competition in forms, sparring, self-defense and breaking. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

For event info- http://www.usbawba.com/2011_FLBreaking-Oct/2011_FLBreaking_Oct_info.htm

For registration and materials- http://www.usbawba.com/2011_FLBreaking-Oct/2011_FLBreaking_Oct_registration.htm

For breaking divisions- http://www.usbawba.com/2011_FLBreaking-Oct/Divisions-Florida-10-2011.pdf

For breaking rules- http://www.usbawba.com/2011_FLBreaking-Oct/Rules-Florida-10-2011-2.pdf

For other divisions and rules- http://www.usbawba.com/2011_FLBreaking-Oct/FDC_Add_Rules_Divisions.pdf

Other

Remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership. Be sure to return your competitor sheet at qualifying events to receive the rebate. If you have not received your rebate for a qualifying event please contact Drew Serrano at dserrano@usbawba.com

If you are a member please be sure to check your renewal date so that you will not miss out on our ratings program, cash prizes for members only, and materials rebates. You can renew online at http://www.usbawba.com/HowToJoin_membership.htm .

10/2011- The USBA Nutmeg State National Breaking Championships- Hamden, CT- 10/16/2011

The USBA Nutmeg State Nationals are 2 weeks away. The Nutmeg State Nationals is a great tournament, well-run and well-organized, with competition in forms, fighting, and breaking. The breaking is wood only with divisions for all ages, ranks, and genders.

In addition there are a number of special events:

~ Adult Grand Champion Breaker- Wins Grand Champion Belt and $150

~ Junior Power Breaking Grand Champion- Wins special Grand Champion Award

~ Total boards broken cash prizes- Men's Light-$150, Men's Heavy-$150, and Women's Combined-$150

For complete division list and rule summary go to http://www.bashtasmartialarts.com/Tournament_2011/Divisions-NutmegState2011.pdf.

*** REGISTER TODAY: http://www.bashtasmartialarts.com/tournament_details.htm

9/2011- The USBA DFW Karate Breaking Championships- Fort Worth, TX- 10/8/2011

The USBA DFW Karate Breaking Championships at the 12th Annual DFW Karate Championships is this coming weekend in Fort Worth, TX. The DFW Karate Championships has competition in forms, fighting, and breaking. The event is also sanctioned by A.O.K. The breaking will be run by USBA/WBA Regional Director Larry Fields.

There are breaking divisions for all ages, ranks, and genders in both wood and concrete.

For complete division list and rule summary go to http://www.usbawba.com/2011-TX-DFW/Divisions_DFW-TX_2011.pdf.

*** REGISTER TODAY: http://www.usbawba.com/2011-TX-DFW/DFWKC2011Flyer.pdf

Contact Larry Fields at 325-672-7022 for more info.

7/2011- Congratulations to USBA/WBA Texas Regional Director Larry Fields on setting a New World Record!

We would like to congratulate USBA/WBA Regional Director Larry Fields of Abilene, TX on setting a new USBA/WBA World Record last weekend at the US Open.

Mr. Fields successfully broke 13 Baseball Bats with his elbow in 10 seconds. This is a new World record and will be posted on the "World Records" page in the coming weeks. Be sure to congratulate Mr. Fields and Mr. Garrison when you have the chance.

7/2011- Congratulations to USBA/WBA Member Dayne Garrison on setting a New World Record!

We would like to congratulate USBA/WBA Member Dayne Garrison of Tampa, FL on setting a new USBA/WBA World Record at the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships last weekend at the US Open.

Mr. Garrison successfully broke 79 Concrete Patio Blocks in under one minute with a stomp. There was a great crowd around the World Record attempt cheering Mr. Garrison on. His attempt is part of a video featuring various clips from the event put together by member Michael Mannino. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAMsRcBv2b0&feature=youtube_gdata.

We would also like to recognize member Steve Fisher for tying Texas Regional Director Larry Fields’ USBA/WBA World Record by breaking 11 baseball bats with his shins in 10 seconds, and Chip Townsend for setting an ISKA Record by speed breaking 7 bats in 10 seconds with his shins. Both of these records are ISKA Records, but were witnessed by the USBA/WBA.

6/2011- USBA North East National Breaking Championships July 8-9, 2011

A reminder that the USBA North East National Breaking Championships will be this weekend, July 9, in Albany, NY. It will be part of the North East Open promoted by USBA/WBA NY Regional Director Adam Grogin. This is a great event! A friendly atmosphere with top notch organization. There are competitions in a variety of disciplines- Forms, Fighting, Weapons Forms, Self Defense, and Breaking. There will be a Gala Dinner as part of this year’s event on Friday, July 8. It will feature video from previous years, guest speakers, and live demonstrations, including a breaking demonstration by GM Ralph Bergamo, SM Drew Serrano, and GM Elton Trower. For more info on the event go to http://www.northeastopen.com/sitehome.htm . Hope to see you there!

3/2011- USBA/WBA Studio Breaking Program and Upcoming Events...

The USBA GMA Open Breaking Championships- Wilkes-Barre, PA- 4/30/2011

We will once again be part of the GMA Open in Wilkes-Barre, PA this year after a four year break. The GMA Open is a 3 day event, April 29-May 1, featuring a full range of competition in Karate, Grappling, and MMA Fights. The USBA breaking will be held on Saturday April 30. There are also divisions in NBL breaking, which is run by separate guidelines than the USBA/WBA, on Friday night for Black Belts only.

To register for USBA Breaking go to www.gmaopen.usbawba.com . To register for all other events go to the tournament website at www.gmaopen.com .

This is a USBA/WBA State Level event, USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward their ratings: 1st- 2.5, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5.

The breaking divisions will include First Time Breakers, Creative Multi-Directional Wood, Power Concrete Elbow and Foot, Speed Board, and Power Wood Spaced and Non-Spaced. The Non-Spaced divisions are for Black Belt Adults only and will include hand, elbow, and stomp. No points are awarded for the Non-Spaced divisions.

There will be a overall Grand Champion belt awarded to the Black Belt competitor who gains the most points over the course of the event. This is only available to USBA/WBA members. This is how it will work:

For each of the named categories (Creative Wood, Power Concrete Elbow, Power Concrete Foot, Spaced Power Wood Hand, Spaced Power Wood Elbow, and Non-Spaced Power Wood Hand) competitors will be awarded points that will determine the Grand Champion. Competitors must enter at least 3 categories to qualify. Points will be awarded as follows: 16 points for 1^st, 11 points for 2^nd, 7 points for 3^rd. In the event of a tie, tied competitors will have a 3 station creative break-off.

Again the Grand Champion Belt is available to adult Black Belt competitors that are USBA/WBA members only. There is a $25 fee to be included in the Grand Champion run and is payable at the event. We will need at least 5 competitors to enter for it to run. Contact Drew Serrano at dserrano@usbawba.com for questions.

For more information go to www.gmaopen.usbawba.com. Registration is now open!

The USBA KDJR Breaking Invitational- Brooklyn, NY- 5/22/2011

In conjunction with the Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu Karate Federation, we will be hosting the USBA KDJR Breaking Invitational. The breaking portion of the event is open to all members and competitors. The rest of the event is by invitation only. There will be competition in Kata and Kumite.

This is a USBA/WBA State Level event, USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward their ratings: 1st- 2.5, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5.

The breaking divisions will include First Time Breakers, Creative Multi-Directional Wood, Speed Board, and Power Wood Hand, Elbow, and Foot.

Special guest- Actor Jeff Wincott, a Grandmaster in the Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu Karate Federation.

Event information and USBA/WBA registration can be found at www.kdjrinvitational.com . USBA/WBA registration will open shortly.

The Launch of Single Competitor Division Averaging!

Beginning in March 2011, the USBA/WBA will be instituting a new procedure, Single Competitor Division Averaging (SCDA), for divisions with only one competitor. This procedure will set minimum goals that competitors must attain in order to be awarded 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place points. This is a work in process and the actual numbers may be adjusted slightly in the future as event results dictate.

The SCDA procedure will provide a set number to compete against in the case of a single competitor division. The SCDA chart considers a number of factors including: Competition Records, a sampling of events over the last 5 years, and recommendations from the most experienced breakers on the circuit.

The SCDA will not affect the distribution of awards or trophies at this time. It will only affect the awarding of points for USBA/WBA standings. Here is a brief summary of the procedure:

- USBA/WBA Member Competitors should refer to the SCDA: If you are in a division in which you are the only competitor, the points you are awarded will be directly linked to the SCDA. There are 3 categories listed: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. These columns refer to the minimum amount/measurement needed to be awarded the corresponding point value. 1st place is 80% of the “Base #” column, 2nd place is 60%, 3rd place is 40%. The USBA/WBA member competitor in a single competitor division must attain the number in each column to receive the corresponding point value for that place at that event. If the competitor fails to attain the 3rd place number they will receive 1/2 of the corresponding 3rd place points for that event.

- Tying the SCDA Number: If a USBA/WBA member competitor in a single competitor division ties the number on the SCDA they will be awarded 1st place points.

- Updates: The most current SCDA will be posted at www.usbawba.com under the “Current Ratings” section. Any updates to the SCDA will be promptly posted as adjustments are made. USBA/WBA members will also receive an updated SCDA at any event in which the SCDA has changed since the last event. There will always be a current SCDA available for reference at each USBA/WBA Sanctioned event.

We would like to thank USBA/WBA Jonathan Field of Ontario, Canada, for all of his help and hard work on this program and the SCDA. To view the current SCDA go to http://www.usbawba.com/Ratings_SCDA/SCDA-3-2011.pdf .

The Launch of The USBA/WBA Studio Breaking Program

As many of you know the USBA/WBA is currently the leader in Martial Arts Breaking. We are now taking the next step in bringing breaking to the mainstream: Education. At the Arnold Martial Arts Festival we unveiled our latest program to expand breaking and offer studio owners an easy way to incorporate breaking into their studio offerings. If you are a Studio Owner and are looking for a New and Exciting program for your student base, the USBA/WBA Studio Breaking Program may be just the thing. The program includes step-by-step class outlines to make teaching breaking easy and safe for your students.

The USBA/WBA Studio Breaking Program teaches students who are interested in breaking, safe and proper technique, and can prepare them for competition. It also provides studio owners with a new program to offer to students, providing an additional revenue stream. The program can be utilized as a stand alone class, similar to any special class offered to students, or incorporated into your regular curriculum. Each level addresses specific areas that will build the overall technique and confidence of the student. In addition, as a student successfully completes each level they receive a certificate from the USBA/WBA acknowledging their accomplishment.

For more information on this new program e-mail us at studiocert@usbawba.com. For a limited time we are offering Level 1 of the program for FREE. Take it and try it in your studio. We are confident that you will find the program a great addition to your studio!

Discounted World Record Sanctioning!

There are 2 different types of records the USBA/WBA keeps track of: Competition Records and World Records. The main difference between the 2 is that Competition Records are set during the regular course of competition by USBA/WBA members at USBA/WBA Sanctioned Events, and are limited to the divisions offered at any specific event. World Records are special events unto themselves.

A World Record Attempt can be an attempt to break a current World Record, or to set the bar for an entirely new record. The attempter of a new record may come up with any number of factors that will act as the guidelines for future attempts to break that record. Some examples can be material, set-up, time constraints, and technique used. The USBA/WBA must approve the guidelines presented and will work with interested individuals in establishing appropriate guidelines.

In addition, World Records are provided more promotion on the USBA/WBA site, and successful attempts are accompanied by an official certificate and award documenting the record.

If you are interested in attempting to break or set a new World Record, 2011 will be the year to do it! We will be offering discounted World Record Sanction Fees for USBA/WBA members. If you are interested please contact Drew at dserrano@usbawba.com to start the process. For a list of current World Records go to: http://www.usbawba.com/World_rec_current.htm .

Join us on Facebook

Facebook has made it easier than ever to keep our members up-to-date on the latest events and news. If you are not on Facebook, what are you waiting for? It is free you know. Sign up and then join the USBA/WBA Facebook page- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=314367595115#!/group.php?gid=314367595115 .

Is your membership current?

Keeping your USBA/WBA membership current is important to be sure you receive points toward your ratings, membership only discounts, member only cash prize opportunities, and more. We try to contact members before their renewal date, but we could use your help. Please check your Membership Certificate and notice the expiration date. If your membership is due for renewal you can renew online at- http://www.usbawba.com/HowToJoin_membership.htm . Please contact us if you have any questions.

2/2011- USBA/WBA Studio Breaking Program to be launched at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival...

If you are a Studio Owner and are looking for a New and Exciting program for your student base, the United States and World Breaking Association (USBA/WBA) has something for you! We are offering our Level 1 Studio Breaking Certification for FREE at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival. This is a brand new program for 2011 and we are anxious to get the word out. The first 30 studio owners who respond to us at studiocert@usbawba.com will be invited to take part in the Level 1 Certification at NO COST, and will receive support material complete with step-by-step class outlines.

The USBA/WBA is the leading Martial Arts Breaking Organization in the World. We have members from around the World and sanction breaking at some of the top Martial Arts venues around, including the Arnold Martial Arts Festival and the US Open. Since 1999, the USBA/WBA has worked to standardize breaking, educate Martial Artists and the public, organize quality events, document records, and provide promotional opportunities for our members and studio owners. USBA/WBA Founders Ralph Bergamo and Drew Serrano have been featured on the Discovery Channel, ESPN2, David Letterman, and Jay Leno.

This FREE Level 1 Certification, including a 6 class step-by-step outline for instructors, will be held March 4, 2011, from 9-10pm. Those that respond to studiocert@usbawba.com will receive the exact location at the Arnold. Again, we can only accommodate the first 30 Studio Owners, so RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!

2/2011- The Texas Karate Heatwave and The Arnold Martial Arts Festival.

The Texas Karate Heatwave Breaking Championships- Duncanville, TX- February 26, 2011

We will be holding the first USBA/WBA event of the year in Duncanville, TX on February 26, 2011. It will be part of the Texas Karate Heatwave Martial Arts Tournament.

Currently there is only mail-in and telephone registration, but online registration should be open soon. The tournament site is http://www.texasfamilykarate.com/index.html. For divisions and registration form go to http://www.texasfamilykarate.com/img/2011TKHFlyer.pdf .

There is competition in Forms, Sparring, Weapons, Team Forms, and of course USBA Breaking! This is a USBA/WBA State Level event, USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward their ratings: 1st- 2.5, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5.

The breaking divisions will include First Time Breakers, Power Wood Hand and Foot, and Power Concrete Elbow and Foot.

For more information got to http://www.texasfamilykarate.com/index.html .

The USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival- Columbus, OH- March 5, 2011

We will be returning the The Arnold Martial Arts Festival once again for the USBA US Breaking Championships. This is a great event to come, compete, and see all the latest in the Martial Arts and Fitness Industries. There are also many UFC Fighters, fitness stars and legends, and the top names in Martial Arts on hand.

There is competition in almost every discipline of Martial Art! USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward their ratings: 1st- 4, 2nd- 3, 3rd- 2.5.

Discounted registration for the USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival is ends Feb 18. Register today.
~ For registration go to: https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/73438
~ For general information and materials ordering go to: www.arnoldma.usbawba.com

Discounted World Record Sanctioning!

In addition, World Records are provided more promotion on the USBA/WBA site, and successful attempts are accompanied by an official certificate and award documenting the record.

Join us on Facebook

Is your membership current?

The Board Breaker- Breaking Machine

The Board Breaker is the ultimate board holder, it's ready to practice when you are! Are you tired of getting your fingers smashed when your partner misses their break? Then you need The Board Breaker! Check out USBA/WBA Regional Director Larry Fields demonstrating the multiple uses of this great apparatus- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsVN6wsdT3Q . For complete info go to www.TheBoardBreaker.com . If you order let them know you saw it at USBA/WBA!

12/2010- Happy Holidays, 2010 Competitors of the Year, What is in the works for 2011.

Wishing all of our members and associates a Very Happy Holiday Season!

Competitors of the Year- 2010

As the 2010 tournament year comes to a close we would like to thank everyone who has supported the USBA/WBA, and has been a part of the great competitions this past year. We would like to announce the 2010 Competitors of the Year:

Male Competitor of the Year- John Zurisk- Indiana, USA

Female Competitor of the Year- Nancy Foster-Mills- Washington, USA

Junior Male Competitor of the Year- Joseph Stewart- Pennsylvania, USA

Junior Female Competitor of the Year- Skylar Pagliuca- New York, USA

Congratulations to these top competitors! Be sure to congratulate them when you have a chance.

What is in the works for 2011?

We have been very busy trying to pin down promoters to set-up our 2011 tournament schedule. We realize that many of you like to plan your year as soon as possible. Please know that we start promoting events as soon as we have a written confirmation of the event. Sometimes it takes a little longer than we would like to get this confirmation, but that is just the nature of some events.

With that being said, here is a partial list of events that are either being considered or confirmed:

~ February 11-12, 2011- The Lone Star Open- Austin, TX, USA- Confirmed

~ March 3-6, 2011- The Arnold Martial Arts Festival- Columbus, OH, USA- Confirmed

~ April 1-3, 2011- MMA and Sports Extravaganza- Philadelphia, PA, USA- Tentative

~ May (date TBA)- PA State Breaking Championships- Blakely, PA- USA- Confirmed

~ June 3-5, 2011- Music City Martial Arts Festival- Nashville, TN, USA- Confirmed

~ June 11, 2011- North American Breaking Championships- Fairfield, CT, USA- Confirmed

~ June 24-26, 2011- Disney Martial Arts Festival- Anaheim, CA, USA- Tentative

~ July 1-2, 2011- US Open World Martial Arts Championships- Orlando, FL, USA- Confirmed

~ July 8-9, 2011- The North East Open Tournament and Showcase- Albany, NY, USA- Confirmed

~ August 26-28, 2011- MMA and Sports Extravaganza- New York, NY, USA- Tentative

~ October 16, 2011- Nutmeg State Nationals- Hamden, CT, USA- Tentative

~ October 28-29, 2011- World Wide Martial Arts Festival- Kissimmee, FL, USA- Tentative

And there are more for which we are still working out the specifics. It looks like it will be an exciting year with a whole bunch of new venues and experiences!

Studio Breaking Program

We are hard at work on a new studio breaking program that will offer students a chance to learn the "in's and out's" of breaking, both for practice and competition in USBA/WBA events. It will also provide studio owners with a new and exciting program to add to their current offerings. The program will take students from the very basics of breaking, all the way through the intricacies of putting together a winning creative breaking routine. Step-by-step, with pictures and class outlines to make it easy for the instructor to follow along. We are hoping to launch the program before March, so if you are a studio owner e-mail us if you are interested and you will be part of our initial offering, which will be discounted for members. Students will receive a USBA/WBA certificate upon the completion of each level.

Do you have a Breaking Team?

USBA/WBA Regional Director Adam Grogin is spearheading a new idea for USBA/WBA Sanctioned events- BREAKING TEAMS! In general, competitors may form teams to compete and earn points to be named the Breaking Team of the Year (similar to Competitor of the Year). The winning team will receive awards and certificates of achievement from the USBA/WBA. You do not have to be from the same school to be on the same team, so you can form a team no matter how far apart the team members live. And being part of a team will not affect any other part of the USBA/WBA competitive experience for you as an individual.

More info will be available soon. If you think you may have interest in putting together or being part of a team contact Adam at Adam@pil-sungmartialarts.com for details.

Top Breaker Program

Last year we introduced the Top Breaker Program, which recognizes members who have steadily competed at USBA/WBA events over the years. It is a way to show our appreciation for your loyalty and support. We will be continuing the program this year and will soon be adding a page with program info on the USBA/WBA website. Those who reach various levels in the program receive certificates of recognition, a patch (which is in the works), and increased Materials Rebates. There is no cost, if you are a member than you are enrolled.

Do you have videos of you breaking?

If you are a USBA/WBA member get your videos posted at http://www.usbawba.com/Event_videos.htm . Simply post your video to YouTube and send us the link. For members only.

Join us on Facebook.

Is your membership current?

The Board Breaker- Breaking Machine

Once again, have a Joyous Holiday Season! We look forward to seeing everyone in the coming year.

Sincerely Ralph Bergamo, Drew Serrano, and the USBA/WBA Regional Directors

www.usbawba.com

info@usbawba.com

10/2010

2 great USBA/WBA events in October!

The USBA Nutmeg State Breaking Championships at the Nutmeg State Nationals 3, Hamden, CT, USA - 10/17/2010. This event is wood only, and is offering cash prizes for the most boards broken in Men's Light and Heavy (total boards), and Women's Power Board divisions. There will also be a Grand Champion Award for the adult competitor who wins the most points for all events. Go to http://www.usbawba.com/2010Nutmeg_State_Nationals/Nutmeg_2010_materials.htm for details.

10/22-10/23/2010, we will be returning to FL for the USBA Regional Breaking Championships at the Worldwide Martial Arts Festival, Kissimmee, FL. This event will offer all of the standard USBA/WBA divisions. The top 3 Male Black Belt Light and Heavy Weight Concrete Power Breakers from the day competition will compete at the night show for Grand Champion. The top two Female Black Belt Creative Breakers will also be featured in the night show Saturday night. For complete details go to http:// www.wwmaf.usbawba.com

Promoters: Sanction your 2011 event TODAY!

The USBA/WBA will soon be setting the 2011 event schedule. If you are a promoter and would like to bring the USBA/WBA to your event please Contact Us. For Sanctioning information Click Here.

7/2010

PLAN AHEAD: 2 great USBA/WBA events in October!

PLAN AHEAD: Two great events in October. The first will be the USBA Nutmeg State Breaking Championships at the Nutmeg State Nationals 3, Hamden, CT, USA - 10/17/2010. This event is wood only, and is offering cash prizes for the most boards broken in Men's Light and Heavy (total boards), and Women's Power Board divisions. There will also be a Grand Champion Award for the adult competitor who wins the most points for all events (go to http://www.usbawba.com/2010Nutmeg_State_Nationals/Divisions-NutmegState2010.pdf for details. For registration go to http:// www.bashtasmartialarts.com/tournament_details.htm

10/22-10/23/2010, we will be returning to FL for the USBA Regional Breaking Championships at the Worldwide Martial Arts Festival, Kissimmee, FL. This event will offer all of the standard USBA/WBA divisions. The top 3 Male Black Belt Light and Heavy Weight Concrete Power Breakers from the day competition will compete at the night show for Grand Champion. The top two Female Black Belt Creative Breakers will also be featured in the night show Saturday night. For complete details go to http:// www.wwmaf.usbawba.com

7/2010

USBA/WBA Directors and Members clean-up at the ISKA World Breaking Championships!

We are proud to announce that all but one of the US Open ISKA World Breaking Championship winners are USBA/WBA Members! And 21 of the top 28 were also members. Totally amazing! Congratulations and thank you for representing the USBA/WBA in fine fashion. Here are the winners:

Ultimate Breaker- John Zurisk- USBA/WBA Regional Director
Women's Creative- Kiki D'Aniell- USBA/WBA Member
Power Concret Light- Ken Yates- USBA/WBA Regional Director
Power Concrete Heavy- Ron Sullivan- USBA/WBA Official
3 Directional Power Wood Heavy- Ben Parra- USBA/WBA Member
Multi-Stack Speed- Ben Parra- USBA/WBA Member
Men's Creative- Larry Fields- USBA/WBA Regional Director

6/2010

The 2010 USBA New York State Breaking Championships

at the Northeast Open Martial Arts Championships

There is still time to register for this great North Eastern event, hosted by USBA/WBA NY Regional Director Adam Grogin. Now in its fourth year, the North East Open is the most anticipated martial arts competition in the North East! Competitors and spectators travel from throughout the region including all parts of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and as far away as Maine, Ohio and areas farther west.

There is competition in Forms, Weapons Forms, Team Synchronized Forms, Breaking, Extreme Kicks, Demo Team, and Self-Defense. USBA/WBA members earn state level points toward USBA/WBA ratings.

Dozens of the regions highest ranking, most prestigious and most experienced Martial Arts Masters and School Owners have all come together to help make this event such a huge success. Check out their promo video below:

6/2010

Those of you registering for either the US Open, The Northeast Open or the IIMAA Training Conference, we recommend you do so ASAP. Materials for these three events will be ordered within the next week or so. If you do not register and order materials we cannot gaurantee that you will have them that day.

Upcoming events- http://www.usbawba.com/Sanct_comp.htm

Also, a reminder that you DO NOT have to be a USBA/WBA member to compete at USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. There are benefits to being a member, such as seeding, end of the year awards, materials rebates and more.

6/2010

Here is a list of the upcoming USBA/WBA Sanctioned events for July and August. It will be a busy couple of months! There are truly some great events and top of the line venues. Take the time to visit the various event sites and make your plans to attend and compete. We look forward to seeing you all over the next 2 months!

A note to all breaking competitors: You DO NOT need to be a USBA/WBA member to compete at a USBA/WBA Sanctioned event. Membership provides benefits, see http://www.usbawba.com/Membership_benefits.htm for details.

July

***USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 9-10, 2010

The USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships will be held July 9, 2010 at Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, part of the US Open World Martial Arts Championships.There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points: 1st place- 5, 2nd place- 4, 3rd place- 3. Remember, there are 2 separate breaking competitions at the US Open. The first is the ISKA World Breaking Championships, which is televised on ESPN2 and has been one of the premier breaking events for years. The ISKA event is by invitation only and for Black Belts only. The second is the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships which is run as all of the other USBA/WBA events and is open to all competitors. Winners of select USBA/WBA divisions will be seeded for the ISKA World Breaking Championships the following day.

For all event information and registration go to http://www.usopen-karate.com/.

***The USBA New York State Breaking Championships- Albany, NY- July 10, 2010.

The USBA New York State Breaking Championships will be held Saturday, July 10, 2010 at the Albany Marriott, Albany, NY, part of the Northeast Open Martial Arts Tournament.This is our 4th year working with Master Adam Grogin of Albany, NY, who is also the USBA/WBA Regional Director for New York. The previous three year’s events were some of the best organized and well run events on the USBA/WBA circuit. The Northeast Open offers competition in a variety of disciplines including forms, weapons, and self-defense. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

For event information, please go to- http://www.northeastopen.com/. For those of you in the Northeastern US, this is a great event to be part of.

***The WBA/IIMAA International Power Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 16-18, 2010.

This event will be part of the IIMAA Training Conference, www.iimaaconference.net , hosted by USBA/WBA Co-founder Drew Serrano. This will be a limited division breaking event for adults only, male and female, 50 competitors per division. Because it is a limited event no points will be awarded. There will be cash awards of $1200 for each of 4 divisions: Men's light and heavy, and Women's light and heavy. Male competitors will be breaking concrete, female competitors will be breaking wood. Competitors will be required to break in 2 categories- upper body and lower body. The total from both divisions will determine the winner. Qualifiers will be held Friday night with the top 10 competitors from each division competing for the championship on Saturday morning. The IIMAA Training Conference will also feature seminars and certifications by some of the top names in Martial Arts, and other unique competitions.

Please go to http://www.iimaaconference.net/ChampCompetitions_mainpage.htm for all the details.

If registering use organization code usbawba1 to receive discounts for the event. Discounts will only be honored for current members and will be cross-checked.

***RECENTLY ADDED- USBA/US Capitol Classic Regional Breaking Championships, National Harbor, MD, USA - July 30-31,2010

This will be our first year at the well-established US Capitol Classics. This event is promoted by Dennis Brown. We are proud to be a part of this exceptional World-Class event. The Capitol Classics offer competitions in a variety of disciplines including: Kung Fu/Wushu, Open Forms, Open Weapons, Fighting, Tricking, Sport JuJitsu, and of course Breaking. There is over $50,000 in awards and a Night of Champions show. There will be $1500 awarded in select Black Belt Breaking Divisions (TBA) and a special Night Show Break-Off. USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward ratings: 1st- 3, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5.

For information and registration go to www.uscapitolclassics.usbawba.com . We encourage ALL BREAKERS to come out and show support for our first year at this World-Class event!

August

***The USBA Michigan State National Breaking Championships- Battle Creek, MI- August 6-8, 2010

This event will be part of the 8th Triennial World Hap Ki Do Champions, http://www.ihfusa.com/ . This is the first time the Hap Ki Do Championships have taken place outside of South Korea. The USBA/WBA is honored to be part of this International event. There are numerous divisions in Self Defense, Kicking, Falling, Free-Sparring, Forms and of course Breaking! Breaking competitors are invited to test their breaking skills in the following categories:Creative Wood - Creative Open - Power Concrete - Power Wood - Speed Board Breaking - High Jump Board Breaking. USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 3 points, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5.

For info and registration go to: www.ihfusa.usbawba.com . This event will be attended by competitors from around the World. Show your support and test your skill!

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

Other

Remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership.

Thank you for making the USBA/WBA the leading name in Competitive Breaking!

4/2010

The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships is 4 weeks away! Registration is now open.

May

***The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships- Blakely, PA- May 15, 2010

This will be the second year for this event. This is a Breaking Only event. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials-1. There are divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, Speed and High Jump, for all ages, ranks, and genders. This was a great event last year and we are looking forward to 2010!

New Divisions: Two specialty adult wood breaking divisions have been added for this event: Non-Spaced Power Wood Hand and Non-Spaced Power Wood Elbow. As the name implies, no spacers are allowed in this division, just board on top of board. These divisions are for Black Belt Men and Women, 18 yrs or older. No points will be awarded to USBA/WBA members for these divisions, but new Competition Records will be counted.

Cash Prizes: USBA/WBA members will be eligible for cash prizes for the following:

Most Combined Boards Broken in the following 3 divisions: Power Wood Hand (spaced), Power Wood Elbow (spaced), and Power Wood Foot- Lighweight Men- $100, Heavyweight Men- $100, Female- $50

Most Combined Blocks Broken in the following 3 divisions: Power Concrete Hand, Power Concrete Elbow, and Power Concrete Foot- Lightweight Men- $100, Heavyweight Men- $100, Female- $50

How will it work? You do not have to enter all divisions to be eligible, but your chances will be better. The total boards or blocks from the above mentioned divisions will be combined for a grand total. Whomever has the greatest number wins the prize!

IMPORTANT: You must be a USBA/WBA member in good standing by May 10, 2010 to be eligible for cash prizes!

Materials Rebate: All USBA/WBA members who order $10 or more in materials will receive a $10 materials rebate after the event.

Event Website: www.PABreaking.com

Registration and Materials: http://www.usbawba.com/PA_State_2010/PAState_2010_registration.htm

***The USBA/Tumbleweed Breaking Championships at the Tumbleweed Karate Championships- Abilene, TX- May 21-22, 2010

This is a brand new event just added to the USBA/WBA Sanctioned event list. USBA/WBA Texas Regional Director Larry Fields will host this event. There are over 100 divisions in Forms, Sparring, Grappling and of course Breaking. All ages, ranks, and genders are welcome to compete. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials-1.

Registration will open the week of April 19.

Join the USBA/WBA Facebook Group

We have finally set up an official USBA/WBA Group on Facebook. We will use Facebook as another way to reach members and keep you up to date. The group also allows you to post your pictures, videos, discussions, etc., so it will be a great way for everyone to interact and share info. To join the group go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2373072738&gid=314367595115#!/group.php?gid=314367595115 and sign up! You have to be a member of facebook.

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

Other

Remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership.

Thank you for making the USBA/WBA the leading name in Competitive Breaking!

2/2010

A note to all breaking competitors: You DO NOT need to be a USBA/WBA member to compete at a USBA/WBA Sanctioned event. Membership provides benefits, see http://www.usbawba.com/Membership_benefits.htm for details.

The Arnold is 2 weeks away! There is still time to register, but don't delay. We need a count to be sure we have enough materials for everyone.

***The Arnold Sports Festival- Columbus, OH

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 6, 2010. This is the USBA/WBA's 7th year at the Arnold. It is a great venue with so much to see and be a part of. There are many other Martial Arts competitions, demonstrations, and the Fitness Expo.

We will be officially recognizing the 2009 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year at this event. They are:

John Zurisk- Male Competitor of the Year

Nancy Foster-Mills- Female Competitor of the Year

Joseph Stewart- Junior Male Competitor of the Year

Skylar Pagliuca- Junior Female Competitor of the Year

There are over 66 available breaking divisions in Creative, Power, Speed, and High Jump breaking. There will also be a Tiny Tott and First Time Breakers division this year. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 4 points, 2nd- 3, 3rd- 2.5, Officials- 2.

We will also be unveiling a new USBA/WBA program for members. "The Elite Breaker Program" will provide more benefits to those members who have consistently competed at USBA/WBA events in the past and those who plan on doing so in the future. The program is a way to recognize the efforts of competitors and show the USBA/WBA's appreciation.

Event website: http://www.usbawba.com/Arnold2010/Arnold2010_info.htm

Registration and Materials: http://www.usbawba.com/Arnold2010/Arnold2010_registration.htm

The following events are also confirmed:

May

***The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships- Blakely, PA- May 15, 2010

Event Website: www.PABreaking.com , Will be updated soon

June

***USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships- Fairfield, CT- June 5, 2010

This will be the 4th year for The USBA/WBA & ISKA North American Breaking Championships to be held June 5, 2010, at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT. This is a Breaking Only event. There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, Speed and High Jump. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points: 1st place- 4, 2nd place- 3, 3rd place- 2.5. This is also an ISKA qualifier for the ISKA World Breaking Championships featured on ESPN2 held at the US Open.

Event Website: www.NABreaking.com , Will be updated soon

July

***USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 9-10, 2010

The USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships will be held July 9, 2010 at Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, part of the US Open World Martial Arts Championships. For all event information and registration go to http://www.usopen-karate.com/. There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points: 1st place- 5, 2nd place- 4, 3rd place- 3. Remember, there are 2 separate breaking competitions at the US Open. The first is the ISKA World Breaking Championships, which is televised on ESPN2 and has been one of the premier breaking events for years. The ISKA event is by invitation only and for Black Belts only. The second is the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships which is run as all of the other USBA/WBA events and is open to all competitors. Winners of select USBA/WBA divisions will be seeded for the ISKA World Breaking Championships the following day.

***The USBA New York State Breaking Championships- Albany, NY- July 10, 2010.

The USBA New York State Breaking Championships will be held Saturday, July 10, 2010 at the Albany Marriott, Albany, NY, part of the Northeast Open Martial Arts Tournament. For event information, please go to- http://www.northeastopen.com/. This is our 4th year working with Master Adam Grogin of Albany, NY, who is also the USBA/WBA Regional Director for New York. The previous three year’s events were some of the best organized and well run events on the USBA/WBA circuit. The Northeast Open offers competition in a variety of disciplines including forms, weapons, and self-defense. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

For those of you in the Northeastern US, this is a great event to be part of.

***The WBA/IIMAA International Power Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 16-18, 2010.

This event will be part of the IIMAA Training Conference, www.iimaaconference.net , hosted by USBA/WBA Co-founder Drew Serrano. This will be a limited division breaking event for adults only, male and female, 50 competitors per division. Because it is a limited event no points will be awarded. There will be cash awards of $1200 for each of 4 divisions: Men's light and heavy, and Women's light and heavy. Male competitors will be breaking concrete, female competitors will be breaking wood. Competitors will be required to break in 2 categories- upper body and lower body. The total from both divisions will determine the winner. Qualifiers will be held Friday night with the top 10 competitors from each division competing for the championship on Saturday morning. The IIMAA Training Conference will also feature seminars and certifications by some of the top names in Martial Arts, and other unique competitions. Please go to www.iimaaconference.net for all the details.

If registering use organization code usbawba1 to receive discounts for the event. Discounts will only be honored for current members and will be cross-checked.

August

***The USBA Michigan State National Breaking Championships- Battle Creek, MI- August 6-8, 2010- Tentative

This event will be part of the 8th Triennial World Hap Ki Do Champions, http://www.ihfusa.com/ . This is the first time the Hap Ki Do Championships have taken place outside of South Korea. The USBA/WBA is in the process of finalizing plans for this groundbreaking event. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, Speed and some specialty divisions as well. USBA/WBA members will earn the following points: 1st place- 3 points, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5.

We should have firm details soon.

More events to follow... Be sure to pass this e-mail on to fellow competitors and Martial Artists.

Join the USBA/WBA Facebook Group

Other

Remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership.

Thank you for making the USBA/WBA the leading name in Competitive Breaking!

1/2010

The 2009 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year

After a year filled with great competitions, the USBA/WBA would like to congratulate the 2009 Competitors of the Year:

John Zurisk- Male Competitor of the Year

Nancy Foster-Mills- Female Competitor of the Year

Joseph Stewart- Junior Male Competitor of the Year

Skylar Pagliuca- Junior Female Competitor of the Year

The above competitors accrued the most points over the course of the year (point totals can be viewed under "Current Ratings" at www.usbawba.com) and showed the true "Competitive Spirit" of the Martial Arts. These individuals will be officially recognized at the USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 6, 2010, in Columbus, OH. Please take the time to congratulate them in the coming months.

Updates

>Still time to register for the Lonestar Open, the first USBA/WBA event of 2010

***The Lonestar Open- Austin, TX

The Lonestar Open will be held January 29-30, 2010 at The Renaissance Hotel, Austin, Texas. There are 58 divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward year end ratings: 1st place- 2.5, 2nd place- 2, 3rd place- 1.5. The event also includes competition in forms, fighting and weapons. This will be a great event to kick of 2010!

Event Website: http://www.lonestaropen.com/index.html

Registration and materials: http://www.usbawba.com/Lonestar2010/Lonestar2010_info.htm

>The USBA/WBA is confirmed for the Arnold Sports Festival, March 5-7, 2010. Registration will open by January 14, 2010...

>Discounted general admission and training vouchers for the IIMAA Training Conference now through January 31, 2010

***The WBA/IIMAA International Power Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 16-18, 2010.

This event will be part of the IIMAA Training Conference, www.iimaaconference.net , hosted by USBA/WBA Co-founder Drew Serrano. This will be a limited division breaking event for adults only, male and female, 50 competitors per division. Because it is a limited event no points will be awarded. There will be cash awards of $1200 for each of 4 divisions: Men's light and heavy, and Women's light and heavy. Male competitors will be breaking concrete, female competitors will be breaking wood. Competitors will be required to break in 2 categories- upper body and lower body. The total from both divisions will determine the winner. Qualifiers will be held Friday night with the top 10 competitors from each division competing for the championship on Saturday morning. The IIMAA Training Conference will also feature seminars and certifications by some of the top names in Martial Arts, and other unique competitions. Please go to www.iimaaconference.net for all the details.

If registering use organization code usbawba1 to receive discounts for the event. Discounts will only be honored for current members and will be cross-checked.

More events to follow... Be sure to pass this e-mail on to fellow competitors and Martial Artists.

Breaking Supplies

****Official USBA/WBA Breaking Boards

The USBA/WBA uses standard breaking boards at all USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. These boards can be purchased through the USBA/WBA, go to http://www.usbawba.com/USBA-WBA_boards.htm . If you are a competitor, practice with the same boards that you will be using in competition. USBA/WBA members and promoters receive wholesale pricing!

Advertise with the USBA/WBA

Do you have a product or service that could be beneficial to Martial Artists and/or Martial Arts Studios? Looking for a way to reach customers in the Martial Arts Industry? Consider advertising with the USBA/WBA. We will promote your product or service not only on our website, but through periodic e-mail blasts and live events. We have a variety of packages starting at just $50 per month which include clickable banners ads, photos and video. If you are ready to reach more Martial Artists contact us at info@usbawba.com for more info.

Other

We will be upgrading our e-mail process soon, so you will see a new look in 2010.

Also, remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership.

Thank you for making the USBA/WBA the leading name in Competitive Breaking!

12/2009

The USBA/WBA would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy Holiday Season.

Updates

>Still time to register for the Lonestar Open, the first USBA/WBA event of 2010

***The Lonestar Open- Austin, TX

Event Website: http://www.lonestaropen.com/index.html

Registration and materials: http://www.usbawba.com/Lonestar2010/Lonestar2010_info.htm

>The USBA/WBA is confirmed for the Arnold Sports Festival, March 5-7, 2010. More info to follow...

>Discounted general admission and training vouchers for the IIMAA Training Conference now through January 31, 2010

***The WBA/IIMAA International Power Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 16-18, 2010.

This event will be part of the IIMAA Training Conference, www.iimaaconference.net , hosted by USBA/WBA Co-founder Drew Serrano. This will be a limited division breaking event for adults only, male and female, 50 competitors per division. Because it is a limited event no points will be awarded. There will be cash awards of $1200 for each of 4 divisions: Men's light and heavy, and Women's light and heavy. Male competitors will be breaking concrete, female competitors will be breaking wood. Competitors will be required to break in 2 categories- upper body and lower body. The total from both divisions will determine the winner. Qualifiers will be held Friday night with the top 10 competitors from each division competing for the championship on Saturday morning. The IIMAA Training Conference will also feature seminars and certifications by some of the top names in Martial Arts, and other unique competitions. Please go to www.iimaaconference.net for all the details.

If registering use organization code usbawba1 to receive discounts for the event. Discounts will only be honored for current members and will be cross-checked.

More events to follow... Be sure to pass this e-mail on to fellow competitors and Martial Artists.

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

For more info go to: http://www.usbawba.com/Breaking_Supplies.htm

****Official USBA/WBA Breaking Boards

The USBA/WBA uses standard breking boards at all USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. These boards can be purchased through the USBA/WBA, go to http://www.usbawba.com/USBA-WBA_boards.htm . If you are a competitor, practice with the same boards that you will be using in competition. USBA/WBA members and promoters receive wholesale pricing!

Advertise with the USBA/WBA

Do you have a product that could be beneficial to Martial Artists and/or Martial Arts Studios? Looking for a way to get your event out to more competitors? Consider advertising with the USBA/WBA. We will promote your product or event not only on our website, but through periodic e-mail blasts and live events. We have a variety of packages which include clickable banners ads, photos and video. If you are ready to reach more Martial Artists contact us at info@usbawba.com for more info.

Other

We will be upgrading our e-mail process soon, so you will see a new look in 2010.

Also, remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership.

Thank you for making the USBA/WBA the leading name in Competitive Breaking!

12/2009

The USBA/WBA hopes that your Holiday Season kicked off with friends, family, and good food. We would like to thank all that competed at the USBA/UTA Pennsylvania Breaking Championships. It was a great event! If you have not received your membership packet and signed up at the end of September until today please accept our apologies for the delay in receiving your packet. We had a back log and are in the process of catching up. You should receive your packet within the next week or so.

We have been working hard on expanding the USBA/WBA circuit for 2010. Below are some confirmed and tentative dates to keep in mind for the coming year:

2010 Event Schedule

January 2010

***The Lonestar Open- Austin, TX

Event Website: http://www.lonestaropen.com/index.html

Registration and materials: http://www.usbawba.com/Lonestar2010/Lonestar2010_info.htm

March

***The Arnold Sports Festival- Columbus, OH- Tentative

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 5-7, 2010. Registration is not open yet, but should be by the beginning of December upon confirmation from the promoters. This is the USBA/WBA's 7th year at the Arnold. It is a great venue with so much to see and be a part of. There are many other Martial Arts competitions, demonstrations, and the Fitness Expo.

Last year there were 66 available breaking divisions in Creative, Power, Speed, and High Jump breaking. This will be the same for 2010. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 4 points, 2nd- 3, 3rd- 2.5, Officials- 2. We will also be recognizing the 2009 Competitors of the Year at this event.

Event website: http://arnoldsportsfestival.com/home/sports-and-events/martial-arts-festival.html

April

***The USBA/Visionstar Expo Series Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- April 16-17, 2010- Tentative

The USBA/WBA is in the process of finalizing plans for a 3 event deal with Visionstar Event Productions, http://www.visionstarinc.com , which will include events in Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX; and Hartford, CT. This event will be the first, April 16-17, 2010. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, and possibly Speed. USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 3 points, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5. These events will be similar to the Arnold Sports Festival with a Fitness Expo and other events taking place all weekend long.

We should have firm details by December 2009.

May

***The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships- Blakely, PA- Date to be announced

This event was held in April 2009 and has been moved to May. This is a Breaking Only event. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials-1. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, Speed and High Jump, for all ages, ranks, and genders. This was a great event last year and we are looking forward to 2010!

Event Website: www.PABreaking.com , Will be updated in December 2010

June

***USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships- Farifield, CT- Date to be announced

This will be the 4th year for The USBA/WBA & ISKA North American Breaking Championships to be held in June 2010, date to be announced, at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT. There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, Speed and High Jump. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward year end ratings: 1st place- 4, 2nd place- 3, 3rd place- 2.5. This is also an ISKA qualifier for the ISKA World Breaking Championships featured on ESPN2 held at the US Open.

Event Website: www.NABreaking.com , Will be updated in December 2010

July

***USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 2-3, 2010

The USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships will be held July 2-3, 2010 at Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, part of the US Open World Martial Arts Championships. For all event information and registration go to http://www.usopen-karate.com/. There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward year end ratings: 1st place- 5, 2nd place- 4, 3rd place- 3. Remember, there are 2 separate breaking competitions at the US Open. The first is the ISKA World Breaking Championships, which is televised on ESPN2 and has been one of the premier breaking events for years. The ISKA event is by invitation only and for Black Belts only. The second is the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships which is run as all of the other USBA/WBA events and is open to all competitors. Winners of select USBA/WBA divisions will be seeded for the ISKA World Breaking Championships the following day.

***The USBA New York State Breaking Championships- Albany, NY- July 10, 2010.

The USBA New York State Breaking Championships will be held Saturday, July 10, 2010 at the Albany Marriott, Albany, NY, part of the Northeast Open Martial Arts Tournament. For event information, please go to- http://www.northeastopen.com/. This is our 4th year working with Master Adam Grogin of Albany, NY, who is also the USBA/WBA Regional Director for New York. The previous three year’s events were some of the best organized and well run events on the USBA/WBA circuit. The Northeast Open offers competition in a variety of disciplines including forms, weapons, and self-defense. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

For those of you in the Northeastern US, this is a great event to be part of.

***The WBA/IIMAA International Power Breaking Championships- Orlando, FL- July 16-18, 2010.

This event will be part of the IIMAA Training Conference, www.iimaaconference.net , hosted by USBA/WBA Co-founder Drew Serrano. This will be a limited division breaking event for adults only, male and female, 50 competitors per division. Because it is a limited event no points will be awarded. There will be cash awards of $1200 for each of 4 divisions: Men's light and heavy, and Women's light and heavy. Male competitors will be breaking concrete, female competitors will be breaking wood. Competitors will be required to break in 2 categories- upper body and lower body. The total from both divisions will determine the winner. Qualifiers will be held Friday night with the top 10 competitors from each division competing for the championship on Saturday morning. The IIMAA Training Conference will also feature seminars and certifications by some of the top names in Martial Arts, and other unique competitions. Please go to www.iimaaconference.net for all the details.

If registering and a member of the USBA/WBA please contact us for the discount organization code to receive discounts for the event. Discounts will only be honored for current members and will be cross-checked.

***The USBA/Visionstar Expo Series Breaking Championships- Hartford, CT- July 23-24, 2010- Tentative

The USBA/WBA is in the process of finalizing plans for a 3 event deal with Visionstar Event Productions, http://www.visionstarinc.com , which will include events in Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX; and Hartford, CT. This event will be the second in the series, July 23-24, 2010. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, and possibly Speed. USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 3 points, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5. These events will be similar to the Arnold Sports Festival with a Fitness Expo and other events taking place all weekend long.

We should have firm details by December 2009.

August

***The USBA Michigan State National Breaking Championships- Battle Creek, MI- August 6-8, 2010- Tentative

This event will be part of the 8th Trienniel World Hap Ki Do Champions, http://www.ihfusa.com/ . This is the first time the Hap Ki Do Championships have taken place outside of South Korea. The USBA/WBA is in the process of finalizing plans for this groundbreaking event. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, Speed and some specialty divisions as well. USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 3 points, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5.

We should have firm details by December 2009.

***The USBA/Visionstar Expo Series Breaking Championships- Dallas, TX- August 13-14, 2010- Tentative

The USBA/WBA is in the process of finalizing plans for a 3 event deal with Visionstar Event Productions, http://www.visionstarinc.com , which will include events in Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX; and Hartford, CT. This event will be the third in the series, August 13-14, 2010. There will be divisions in Creative Wood, Creative Open, Power Concrete and Wood, and possibly Speed. USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 3 points, 2nd- 2.5, 3rd- 2, Officials- 1.5. These events will be similar to the Arnold Sports Festival with a Fitness Expo and other events taking place all weekend long.

We should have firm details by December 2009.

More events to follow... Be sure to pass this e-mail on to fellow competitors and Martial Artists.

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

For more info go to: http://www.usbawba.com/Breaking_Supplies.htm

****Official USBA/WBA Breaking Boards

Advertise with the USBA/WBA

Other

We will be upgrading our e-mail process soon, so you will see a new look in 2010.

Also, remember that USBA/WBA members receive a $10 materials rebate at most USBA/WBA Sanctioned events. This alone will pay for your membership.

Thank you for making the USBA/WBA the leading name in Competitive Breaking!

9/2009

The USBA/UTA Pennsylavania Breaking Championships- Dalton, PA- 11/7/2009

The next USBA/WBA event will be held Saturday, November 7, 2009. It will be hosted by the UTA Karate at UTA Karate Dalton, Dalton, PA. There will be over 50 available divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female, in Creative Wood and Open, Power Concrete, and Power Wood. There will also be a "First Time Breakers" division for competitors who have never competed in breaking, but would like to try. This will be a "State Level" event, USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward their ratings: 1st- 2.5, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5. $40 for the first division, $10 each additional. Online registration is now open.

Event Website: www.utabreaking.usbawba.com

Registration and materials: http://www.usbawba.com/UTA_Breaking/UTABreaking_2009_registration.htm

New event to be added January 2010- Texas, USA

With the great success of the Lonestar Open (Austin, TX) last month, promoter Greg Beaver has already made a tentative agreement to host another USBA/WBA event January 29-30, 2010. We look forward to a growing USBA/WBA presence in Texas and the surrounding area, as well as a growing relationship with Mr. Beaver. More info on this event will follow in the coming weeks.

USBA/WBA Co-founder Bergamo and Female COY Nancy Foster-Mills clean up at "The Breaking Championships"

The Breaking Championships (a USBA/WBA Partner Event) was held in Kennewick, WA August 21-22. Promoter Wesley Lewallen did an outstanding job of providing a quality venue for competitors. The event featured divisions in Creative, Power Concrete, Power Wood, and High Jump, as well as a special "Elite Breaker" award for both male and female competitors. The Elite Breaker award was determined by a point system that accumalated throughout the various categories, based on a competitors wins. The Elite Breaker received a special one-of-a-kind award, as well as a cash prize.

USBA/WBA Co-founder Ralph Bergamo won the men's category and USBA/WBA 2008 Female Competitor of the Year Nancy Foster-Mills won the female category by accumalating the most points throughout the competition. Please be sure to congratulate them on their big wins!

Advertise with the USBA/WBA

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

For more info go to: http://www.usbawba.com/Breaking_Supplies.htm

Upcoming Events

***Upcoming Events

- The USBA/UTA Pennsylvania Breaking Championships, Dalton, PA, USA- 11/7/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

8/2009

USBAWBA Co-founder Ralph Bergamo and 2008 USBA/WBA Female COY Nancy Foster Mills win big at The Breaking Championships in Kennewick, WA

The Breaking Championships, a USBA/WBA Partner Event, was held August 21 and 22 in Kennewick, WA. Promoter Wesley Lewallen, also the 2008 USBA/WBA Male Competitor of the Year, did an excellent job of providing a quality venue for breakers from across the US. USBA/WBA Co-founder Ralph Bergamo and 2008 Female Competitor of the Year Nancy Foster-Mills rose to the top of the pack, each taking the title of "Elite Breaker". They also walked away with a majority of the wins and the cash prizes offered. Congratulations to them and all of the winners at the event!

8/2009

USBAWBA.com has a new "Home" page

The USBA/WBA website has a new look! A section has been added to the "Home" page that provides quick access to USBA/WBA Sanctioned Events and USBA/WBA related products. It also features a "Photo of the Month" section and "Featured Video" section that will be updated every month or so. Check it out at www.USBAWBA.com .

Website Updates

The competitor ratings for the year to date, and the results for the USBA/WBA World Championships and the USBA New York State Breaking Championships have been updated. For ratings go to http://www.usbawba.com/Current_ratings.htm, for tournament results go to http://www.usbawba.com/Sanct_comp.htm .

There is still time to register for The Lonestar Open in Austin, TX. This is sure to be a great event and we are hoping for a good turnout at this first USBA/WBA sanctioned event in Texas.

***The Lonestar Open- Austin, TX

The Lonestar Open will be held August 28-29, 2009 at The Renaissance Hotel, Austin, Texas. There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward year end ratings: 1st place- 2.5, 2nd place- 2, 3rd place- 1.5. The event also includes competition in forms, fighting and weapons.

Event Website: http://www.lonestaropen.com/index.html

Registration and materials: http://www.lonestaropen.com/PDF/WebPageBreaking.pdf

The USBA/WBA is looking for event promoters, big and small...

The USBA/WBA is always looking for quality venues to host USBA/WBA events. Whether you are a promoter of an established tournament, or want to hold a small first-time event in your area, we can work with you to create a quality breaking event. Breaking seminars are also available with some of the top breakers in the World! A seminar will not only generate income for your school or organization, but can set the stage for a future USBA/WBA competition. For more information on hosting a competition or seminar contact the USBA/WBA at info@usbawba.com .

Do you have photos or videos?

As you may know, we post USBA/WBA member videos and photos on USBAWBA.com. If you are a member and have video footage of you breaking, either in competition or other, post it on youtube and send the link to Drew Serrano at dserrano@usbawba.com . We will post your video on the "Event Video" page, http://www.usbawba.com/Event_videos.htm . Share your experiences with fellow competitors and the thousands of visitors to the USBA/WBA website.

If you are a member and have photos from any of the USBA/WBA events, please e-mail them to us as well. We will add them to our event photo galleries on the "Event Photos" Page.

Partner Competitions

***The Breaking Championships- Kennewick, WA

The USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships has been changed to an un-sanctioned USBA/WBA Partner Event now named "The Breaking Championship". The event will be held August 21-22, 2009 in Kennewick, WA. There will be many of the same divisions that are seen at sanctioned USBA/WBA events. Promoter Wesley LeWallen will also be offering prize money in a number of divisions.

Event Website: http://elitebreaker.com/

Partner Event notice: Because this is a Partner Event the following will apply:

- Partner Events may not follow the official USBA/WBA guidelines as required at Sanctioned Competitions.

- Members will not receive points toward their ratings, results will not be posted on the USBA/WBA website, and competition records established at a Partner Event will not be recognized by the USBA/WBA.

- Any USBA/WBA member related discounts, seeding, etc. will not be in effect at Partner Events unless otherwise noted.

We encourage all members and breaking competitors to support this event!

Advertise with the USBA/WBA

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

For more info go to: http://www.usbawba.com/Breaking_Supplies.htm

Upcoming Events

***Upcoming Events

- The Breaking Championships (Partner Event), Kennewick, WA, USA - 8/21-8/22/2009

- The Lonestar Open, Austin, TX, USA- 8/28-8/29/2009

7/2009- USBA/WBA World Championships and USBA NY State Breaking Championships a great success- Next event Austin, TX, USA

Thank you

The USBA/WBA would like to thank all of the competitors, parents, judges, and volunteers who made the USBA/WBA World Championships at the US Open, and the USBA New York State Breaking Championships at the Northeast Open both a great success. It was great to see competitors and members from as far as Australia, Ireland, and South Africa. The USBA/WBA continues to grow and is always looking for new directions to enhance our organization. And it is all thanks to the dedication of the members and volunteers who make the USBA/WBA strong. Thank you!

***The Lonestar Open- Austin, TX

Event Website: http://www.lonestaropen.com/index.html

Registration and materials: http://www.lonestaropen.com/PDF/WebPageBreaking.pdf

New Regional Director appointed

The USBA/WBA would like to welcome Master Adam Grogin of Albany, NY as a Regional Director for New York. Master Grogin is the promoter of the Northeast Open Martial Arts Tournament held in Albany, NY for the last three years. He runs a successful Martial Arts school in Albany, Pil-Sung Martial Arts. Last weekend, during his event, USBA/WBA Co-Founders Ralph Bergamo and Drew Serrano appointed Adam during the finale of his night show in a surprise presentation.

Master Grogin has been an avid supporter of the USBA/WBA over the past several years, attending and helping at almost every event. His daughter Skylar is the 2008 Junior Female Competitor of the Year. We feel that Adam's organizational and promotional skills will be an asset to the USBA/WBA and will help it to move forward in new directions.

Please congratulate Adam on his appointment when you see him next.

US Open to be aired on ESPN2

Portions of the 2009 US Open will be aired this Sunday, July 19, at 1:30pm. Featured will be ISKA World Championship Forms, Weapons, Synchronized Forms, Demo Teams, Breaking, and Self-Defense from the Daytime Breaking Venue and the Spectacular Night of Champions!

USBA/WBA Co-Founder and Regional Directors win ISKA World Championships

Following the USBA/WBA divisions on Friday at the US Open the ISKA holds it's own Breaking World Championships which is filmed for airing on ESPN2. We would like to congratulate the following USBA/WBA Directors:

USBA/WBA Co-Founder Drew Serrano- ISKA World Champion in Combat Board Breaking

USBA/WBA Regional Director Larry Fields- ISKA World Champion Power Wood KIck- Heavyweight and Creative Breaking, and Ultimate Breaking Champion

USBA/WBA Regional Director Kenneth Yates- ISKA World Champion Power Concrete- Lightweight

Also, congratulations and thank you to all USBA/WBA members who represented the USBA/WBA in the ISKA Breaking event.

Do you have photos or videos?

If you are a member and have photos from any of the USBA/WBA events, please e-mail them to us as well. We will add them, to our event photo galleries on the "Event Photos" Page.

Partner Competitions

***The Breaking Championships- Kennewick, WA

Event Website: http://elitebreaker.com/

Partner Event notice: Because this is a Partner Event the following will apply:

- Partner Events may not follow the official USBA/WBA guidelines as required at Sanctioned Competitions.

- Any USBA/WBA member related discounts, seeding, etc. will not be in effect at Partner Events unless otherwise noted.

We encourage all members and breaking competitors to support this event!

Breaking Supplies

****The Board Breaker- Board breaking machine

For more info go to: http://www.usbawba.com/Breaking_Supplies.htm

Upcoming Events

- The Breaking Championships (Partner Event), Kennewick, WA, USA - 8/21-8/22/2009

- The Lonestar Open, Austin, TX, USA- 8/28-8/29/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

6/2009- USBA/WBA World Championships- UPDATE

We would like to thank you for registering for the USBA/WBA World Championships at the US Open in Orlando, FL this Friday, July 3rd. It is setting up to be an exciting year and the largest competition thus far. With competitors from across the US, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean the competition is sure to be top notch.

Below are some event specifics and important information that will make your participation at this year's event run smoothly. Because of the amount of competitors it will be very important that you are on time the morning of July 3rd.

GETTING INTO VERACRUZ EXHIBIT HALL FRIDAY MORNING:

The hall opens for general registration and admission at 9am. Since we will be starting our operations at 7am you will be coming before the crowds. There should be someone at the doors to let you in. If you have a problem please call either Drew Serrano at 203-410-9222 or Ralph Bergamo at 203-410-1417.

WHAT TO BRING:

Be sure to bring copies of your registration forms and materials request forms just in case there is any discrepancy. This is a good practice for any event you attend.

USBA/WBA AREA:

The USBA/WBA will be located at the back of the hall, usually to the right. Each Power Breaking competitor, Wood and Concrete, will have their own section taped off with 3-4 stands and a name sheet (save your sheet). Once you acquire your materials you should start to set-up your first Power Break. If you have room, and there are enough spacers, set up your second break as well. You must have your first power break set-up by 9am. The order of Power Breaking will be:

Power Wood Hand

Power Wood Elbow

Kids Power Wood Foot

Power Concrete Hand

Power Concrete Elbow

Power Concrete Foot

START TIMES (for USBA/WBA World Championships Friday, July 3rd):

7:15am: Distribution of materials for all Power Breaking Competitors, Wood and Concrete

8:00am: Distribution of materials for all Creative, Speed, High Jump

9:00am: General meeting, group photo, rules

9-9:30am: Scheduled start time. First division will be Creative Multi-Direction Wood Breaking

GENERAL ORDER OF EVENTS:

All Under 17 Creative divisions will go off first.

Next will be all Adult Creative divisions. While Adult Creative is running, Under 17 Power Wood Hand and Elbow will run.

All remaining divisions will be run as the competitor flow allows.

Good luck to all competitors. Have a safe trip to Florida and we'll see you all Friday!

6/2009- New Event added: ***The Lonestar Open- Austin, TX

Event Website: http://www.lonestaropen.com/index.html

Registration and materials: http://www.lonestaropen.com/PDF/WebPageBreaking.pdf

6/2009- Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships video available

Whether you competed at the Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships or not you can see all the action. John Zadzura of Pennsylvania caught many of the competitors on video and has put them together on DVD.

To purchase the DVD e-mail John at johnp72192@yahoo.com or call him at 570-280-6308. Let him know that you are from the USBA/WBA.

5/2009- Member News

***The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships results will be posted this week as well as updated ratings.

***USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships- Register now and save!!!

The USBA/WBA & ISKA North American Breaking Championships will be held June 6, 2009 at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT. For all event information and registration go to www.NABreaking.com . There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward year end ratings: 1st place- 4, 2nd place- 3, 3rd place- 2.5.

Event Website: www.NABreaking.com

New Divisions: 4 new children wood breaking divisions have been added for this event- Power Wood Foot (Stomp). The divisions are set-up similar to Power Wood Hand and Elbow. Only downward strikes are allowed. Spacers will be used.

There have also been a number of female divisions added. See the division list for complete breakdown.

ISKA Qualifiers: There will be 6 ISKA qualifying divisions allowing breakers to qualify for the ISKA World Championships in Florida (televised on ESPN2 each year). The divisions are Creative Open- Male and Female, Power Concrete and Power Wood Foot- Light and Heavy. Winners receive an official ISKA Championship Belt (There must be 4 registered competitors per division for the division to run).

Cash Prizes: Possible...to be announced!

Materials Rebate: All USBA/WBA members who order $10 or more in materials will receive a $10 rebate at the event.

***USBA/WBA Co-founder GM Ralph Bergamo to instruct Breaking Workshop in Albany, NY- June 7, 2009

Master Adam Grogin of Pil-Sung Martial Arts will be hosting a breaking workshop by USBA/WBA Co-founder Grand Master Ralph Bergamo on Sunday, June 7th 2009 - 1:00-3:00pm. USBA/WBA Co-founders GM Bergamo and Master Drew Serrano were featured in this month's issue of TKD Times along side Hee Il Cho as the best breakers in the world! GM Bergamo has been on the Letterman and Leno shows multiple times as well as the Premier episode of Time Warp on Discover Channel!

Kids and adults welcome, he will be helping improve breaking techniques, etc. Price includes 16 boards, you can also bring more of your own or buy more!

Date and Time: June 7, 2009- 1-3pm

Price: $65 per person, includes 16 boards

Register: Contact Master Adam Grogin- 518-458-1011, e-mail: MasterGrogin@Pil-SungMartialArts.com

Website: www.Pil-SungMartialArts.com

***USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships- Registration Open- Order your materials online

The USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships will be held July 3-4, 2009 at Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, part of the US Open World Martial Arts Championships. For all event information and registration go to http://www.usopen-karate.com/index.cfm. There are divisions for all ages and ranks, both male and female. All USBA/WBA members will receive the following points toward year end ratings: 1st place- 5, 2nd place- 4, 3rd place- 3. Remember, there are 2 separate breaking competitions at the US Open. The first is the ISKA World Breaking Championships, which is televised on ESPN2 and has been one of the premier breaking events for years. The ISKA event is by invitation only and for Black Belts only. The second is the USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships which is run as all of the other USBA/WBA events and is open to all competitors.

Event Website: http://www.usopen-karate.com/index.cfm

There have also been a number of female divisions added. See the attached division list for complete breakdown.

ISKA Seeds: Winners of select USBA/WBA Black Belt divisions will be seeded for the Saturday ISKA breaking event and given a chance to be on ESPN2. The winner of Male Black Belt Creative Open- CO4, and the male light and heavy weight competitors who break the most in Power Concrete Hand or Elbow will be seeded on Saturday.

Online materials ordering available: To order your materials for all USBA/WBA divisions go to: http://www.usbawba.com/USOpen_files/USOpen_2009_materials.htm

Starting time will be 10am: All Power Breakers are to arrive at the breaking rings no later than 7:30am to pick up their materials and an area will be set aside for all power breaking materials to be staged. All other competitors are to arrive at the breaking rings no later than 8:30am to pick up their materials.

Divisions will run in the general following order: Creative Divisions, Under 17 Speed, Under 17 Power Wood, Under 17 High Jump, Adult Speed, Adult Power Wood, Adult High Jump, Power Concrete. We will be unable to hold any rings if the competitor is not ready when called. Please be ready.

Materials Rebate: All USBA/WBA members who order $10 or more in materials will receive a $10 rebate at the event.

***The USBA New York State Breaking Championships- Registration Open- Online registration available for Breaking divisions.

The USBA New York State Breaking Championships will be held Saturday, July 11, 2009 at the Albany Marriott, Albany, NY, part of the Northeast Open Martial Arts Tournament. For event information, registration, materials, and spectator tickets please go to- http://www.northeastopen.com/home.htm. This is our third year working with Master Adam Grogin of Albany, NY. The previous two year’s events were some of the best organized and well run events on the USBA/WBA circuit. The Northeast Open offers competition in a variety of disciplines including forms, weapons, and self-defense. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

For those of you in the Northeastern US, this is a great event to be part of.

Event Website: http://www.northeastopen.com/home.htm

Online registration for Breaking Divisions only: http://www.usbawba.com/NY_State09_pages/NYState_2009_registration.htm

Materials Rebate: All USBA/WBA members who order $10 or more in materials will receive a $10 rebate at the event.

***The Breaking Championships- Kennewick, WA

Event Website: elitebreaker.com

Partner Event notice: Because this is a Partner Event the following will apply:

- Partner Events may not follow the official USBA/WBA guidelines as required at Sanctioned Competitions.

- Any USBA/WBA member related discounts, seeding, etc. will not be in effect at Partner Events unless otherwise noted.

We encourage all members and breaking competitors to support this event!

noted

****USBA/WBA Website updates

We have updated the USBA/WBA website with the following:

Gary Reho's World Record video is this month's featured video: http://www.usbawba.com/index.htm

Junior Male Competition Records- http://www.usbawba.com/Comp_rec_JrMale.htm

Junior Female Competition Records- http://www.usbawba.com/Comp_rec_JrFem.htm

New Photos have been added- http://www.usbawba.com/Event_photos.htm

2008 Competitors of the Year- http://www.usbawba.com/COY2008.htm

***Upcoming Events

We continue to add events to the USBA/WBA circuit as they become finalized. Currently the following events are confirmed:

- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA - 6/6/2008

- USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open, Orlando, FL, USA - 7/3-7/4/2009

- USBA New York State Breaking Championships at the Northeast Open, Albany, NY, USA - 7/11/2009

- USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships, Kennewick, WA, USA - 8/21-8/22/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

4/2009- Gary Reho sets new USBA/WBA World Record- 126 boards in 10 seconds

We would like to congratulate USBA/WBA Member Gary Reho. On Wed, April 15, 2009, Gary broke 126- 10X12X1" boards in 10 seconds, with time to spare, setting a new USBA/WBA World Record. The record was set in front of an audience of hundreds who came out to witness a breaking demonstration and the World Record. Gary dedicated the record to Lisa Moray, collecting pledges and donations for each board broken that will go to the Lisa Moray Scholarship Fund. Lisa Moray was a Sacred Heart student who passed away as a result of being a passenger in a car accident.

Pictures and video will be posted on the USBA/WBA website soon. Be sure to congratulate Gary on this great achievement!

On another note, if you haven't heard of Susan Boyle please click the link below. This has nothing to do with breaking, or maybe it does. It is just a great video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

3/2009- USBA/WBA Founders featured in Tae Kwon Do Times

The main focus of the May 2009 issue of Tae Kwon Do Times was Martial Arts Breaking, and Ralph Bergamo and Drew Serrano were asked for their input on the subject. Along with Grandmaster Hee IL Cho, the two originators of the USBA/WBA are considered true experts in the World of Breaking. Ralph and Drew were interviewed by the magazine to give their views and experiences concerning breaking. Click the following links to view the story...

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

3/2009- USBA/WBA Promoter receives Ambassador Award

Master Adam Grogin, promoter of the Northeast Open and USBA NY State Breaking Championships, was the recipient of the Albany, New York Ambassador Award for his part in bringing diversity and recognition to the Albany region. We congratulate Master Grogin on his accomplishment and encourage others to follow his lead in community activity and leadership! For the complete story go to http://northeastopen.com/award.htm .

3/2009- New York State Breaking Championships

We have just confirmed the return of the New York State Breaking Championships at the Northeast Open in Albany, NY- July 11, 2009. The Northeast Open is in it's 3rd year and the USBA/WBA has been there since the beginning. This event has been touted by competitors and school owners as one of the best run events they have ever seen. Adam Grogin and his group do a great job at keeping everything running smoothly. The Northeast Open offers divisions in forms, weapons, self-defense and of course breaking. More information will be forthcoming. Check out last year's website at http://www.northeastopen.com/home.htm .

***The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships- Registration Now Open!

Registration for the USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships is now open. For event information, registration, materials, and spectator tickets please go to- www.pabreaking.com . This is a Breaking Only event. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

NEW DIVISIONS: There are 2 new divisions that will be introduced on a trial basis at this event. They are Non-Spaced Power Wood Hand and Non-Spaced Power Wood Elbow. The name says it all, no spacers allowed!

MATERIALS REBATE: All USBA/WBA members who order $10 or more in materials will receive a $10 rebate at the event.

CASH PRIZES: USBA/WBA members will be eligible for cash prizes for the following:

Most Combined Boards Broken in the following 3 divisions: Power Wood Hand (spaced), Power Wood Elbow (spaced), and Power Wood Foot- Lighweight Men- $100, Heavyweight Men- $100, Female- $50

Most Combined Blocks Broken in the following 3 divisions: Power Concrete Hand, Power Concrete Elbow, and Power Concrete Foot- Lightweight Men- $100, Heavyweight Men- $100, Female- $50

IMPORTANT: You must be a USBA/WBA member in good standing by April 10, 2009 to be eligible for cash prizes!

***The Arnold Sports Festival:

IMPORTANT: If you are bringing any creative materials, stands or other props you must bring them in through the regular entrance of the event. DO NOT BRING ITEMS TO THE LOADING DOCK! You will be charged if you bring items to the loading dock, this is the Arnold policy not ours. Please bring all items through the general entrance. If you have any questions please contact us.

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 7, 2009, is 2 days away. This is the USBA/WBA's 6th year at the Arnold. It is a great venue with so much to see and be a part of. There are many other Martial Arts competitions, demonstrations, and the Fitness Expo. Online registration is closed. For more information click the following link http://usbawba.com/Arnold_2009_registration.htm or go to "Competitions" under "Sanctioned Events" or click the "Register for USBA/WBA Events" box on the home page.

UPDATE: MATERIALS REBATE: All USBA/WBA members who ordered $10 or more in materials will receive a $10 rebate at the event.

There are 66 available breaking divisions in Creative, Power, Speed, and High Jump breaking. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 4 points, 2nd- 3, 3rd- 2.5, Officials- 2. Please contact the USBA/WBA with any questions regarding this event. We encourage all members to attend this event.

We will be recognizing the 2008 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year at the Arnold. They are:

Wesley Lewallen- Male Competitor of the Year

Nancy Foster-Mills- Female Competitor of the Year

Joseph Stewart- Junior Male Competitor of the Year

Skylar Pagliuca- Junior Female Competitor of the Year

***New Benefit For Members

As a USBA/WBA member you will receive at least a $10 materials rebate if you spend $10 or more on materials. This rebate will be available at almost every USBA/WBA event and will start this weekend at the US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival. If you are a regular competitor, the rebate alone will offset the cost of your USBA/WBA membership! Just one more reason to join the Largest Breaking Association in the World!

***Other Upcoming Events

We continue to add events to the USBA/WBA circuit as they become finalized. Currently the following events are confirmed:

- USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships at Spectrum Health and Racquet, Blakely, PA, USA - 4/18/2009

- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA-6/6/2008

- USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open, Orlando, FL, USA - 7/3-7/4/2009

- USBA New York State Breaking Championships at the Northeast Open, Albany, NY, USA - 7/11/2009

- USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships, Kennewick, WA, USA - 8/21-8/22/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

2/2009- Arnold update

Pre-registration pricing for the USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival has been extended until February 27. Also, all material orders must be in by Monday, 2/23/2009. If you don't have your materials order in we cannot guarantee that we will have extra materials for you to purchase.

IMPORTANT: If you are bringing any creative materials, stands or other props you must bring them in through the regular entrance of the event. DO NOT BRING ITEMS TO THE LOADING DOCK! You will be charged if you bring items to the loading dock, this is the Arnold policy not ours. Please bring all items through the general entrance. If you have any questions please contact us.

The USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships

Registration for the USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships will open Monday, 2/23/2009. The same registration process as the Arnold will be available. You will also be able to purchase spectator tickets as well. This is a Breaking Only event. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 2.5 points, 2nd- 2, 3rd- 1.5, Officials- 1.

NEW DIVISIONS: There are 2 new divisions that will be introduced on a trial basis at this event. They are Non-Spaced Power Wood Hand and Non-Spaced Power Wood Elbow. The name says it all, no spacers allowed!

The Arnold Sports Festival

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 7, 2009, is 2 weeks away. This is the USBA/WBA's 6th year at the Arnold. It is a great venue with so much to see and be a part of. There are many other Martial Arts competitions, demonstrations, and the Fitness Expo. For more information and to register click the following link http://usbawba.com/Arnold_2009_registration.htm or go to "Competitions" under "Sanctioned Events" or click the "Register for USBA/WBA Events" box on the home page.

There are 2 ways to register: Online or By Mail. To expedite the process and make sure we have all the correct information we would prefer if you registered online using the form and secure payment through "PayPal".

We will be recognizing the 2008 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year at the Arnold. They are:

Wesley Lewallen- Male Competitor of the Year

Nancy Foster-Mills- Female Competitor of the Year

Joseph Stewart- Junior Male Competitor of the Year

Skylar Pagliuca- Junior Female Competitor of the Year

Other Upcoming Events

We continue to add events to the USBA/WBA circuit as the become finalized. Currently the following events are confirmed:

- USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival, Columbus, OH, USA - 3/6-3/8/2009

- USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships at Spectrum Health and Racquet, Blakely, PA, USA - 4/18/2009

- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA - 6/6/2008

- USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open, Orlando, FL, USA - 7/3-7/4/2009

- USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships, Kennewick, WA, USA - 8/21-8/22/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

2/2009- USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships

The first USBA/WBA event on the US West Coast will be held in Washington State, August 21-22, 2009. 2008 Male Competitor of the Year Wesley Lewallen is the promoter of the USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships. Although this is the first year for this event, there are some big plans including prize money for BB men and women and a "Breaking Grand Champion" division.

Complete information will follow soon.

The Arnold Sports Festival

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 7, 2009, is 3 weeks away. Early registration prices end February 20. This is the USBA/WBA's 6th year at the Arnold. It is a great venue with so much to see and be a part of. There are many other Martial Arts competitions, demonstrations, and the Fitness Expo. For more information and to register click the following link http://usbawba.com/Arnold_2009_registration.htm or go to "Competitions" under "Sanctioned Events" or click the "Register for USBA/WBA Events" box on the home page.

We will be recognizing the 2008 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year at the Arnold. They are:

Wesley Lewallen- Male Competitor of the Year

Nancy Foster-Mills- Female Competitor of the Year

Joseph Stewart- Junior Male Competitor of the Year

Skylar Pagliuca- Junior Female Competitor of the Year

Other Upcoming Events

We continue to add events to the USBA/WBA circuit as the become finalized. Currently the following events are confirmed:

- USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival, Columbus, OH, USA - 3/6-3/8/2009

- USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships at Spectrum Health and Racquet, Blakely, PA, USA - 4/18/2009

- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA - 6/6/2008

- USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open, Orlando, FL, USA - 7/3-7/4/2009

- USBA Northwest National Breaking Championships, Kennewick, WA, USA - 8/21-8/22/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

2/2009- Arnold is 4 weeks away!

Dear members and associates,

The Arnold Sports Festival

The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival, March 7, 2009, is 4 weeks away. Early registration prices end February 20. This is the USBA/WBA's 6th year at the Arnold. It is a great venue with so much to see and be a part of. There are many other Martial Arts competitions, demonstrations, and the Fitness Expo. For more information and to register click the following link http://usbawba.com/Arnold_2009_registration.htm or go to "Competitions" under "Sanctioned Events" or click the "Register for USBA/WBA Events" box on the home page.

We will be recognizing the 2008 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year at the Arnold. They are:

Wesley Lewallen- Male Competitor of the Year

Nancy Foster-Mills- Female Competitor of the Year

Joseph Stewart- Junior Male Competitor of the Year

Skylar Pagliuca- Junior Female Competitor of the Year

Other Upcoming Events

We continue to add events to the USBA/WBA circuit as the become finalized. Currently the following events are confirmed:

- USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival, Columbus, OH - 3/6-3/8/2009

- USBA Pennsylvania State Breaking Championships at Spectrum Health and Racquet, Blakely, PA - 4/18/2009

- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT - 6/6/2008

- USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at the US Open, Orlando, FL - 7/3-7/4/2009

Information regarding these events and others will be available soon. Check the USBA/WBA website under "Sanctioned Events" for updated information.

Hope to see you all at the Arnold!

1/2009-Registration for the USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold now open!

Registration for the USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Sports Festival is now open. Please click the following link http://usbawba.com/Arnold_2009_registration.htm or go to "Competitions" under "Sanctioned Events".

You can now order your materials online as well. Go to http://usbawba.com/Arnold_2009_materials.htm and follow the instructions.

Please contact Drew Serrano, dserrano@usbawba.com , if you have any questions or problems registering or ordering.

Thank you for your patience. Hope to see you all at the Arnold!

12/2008-USBA/WBA Regional Director Grandmaster Elton Trower featured in news

Grandmaster Elton Trower Grandmaster Elton Trower, USBA/WBA Regional Director for Virginia, was recently featured on www.DelmarVANow.com . The website covers news in Virginia. They wrote a great article and produced an excellent video featuring GM Trower. Check out both at http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20081220/NEWS01/812200315/1002 .

10/2008-USBA/WBA Founders to be featured on the Discovery Channel

Watch the show above

10/2008- Grandmaster Ralph Bergamo of Prospect, CT and Master Drew Serrano of Waterbury, CT to be featured on Discovery Channel October 15...When the producers of the new Discovery Channel series "Time Warp" were looking for the top Martial Arts Masters in the World to be part of their premier episode, they turned to World Martial Arts Champions Ralph Bergamo and Drew Serrano.

Over the Summer, the duo were contacted by the producers of this brand new series to display one of their unique Martial Arts' abilities, BREAKING! The segment was shot in Boston, MA. Both Drew and Ralph are known around the World for their expertise in generating tremendous power in their strikes and focusing their inner energy, "CHI", enabling them to do what most think is impossible. They are also the founders of the United States and World Breaking Association, the largest Martial Arts Breaking association in the World!

Drew was the main focus of the episode that will first air on October 15, 2008 at 8pm (EST); the segment will also air 10/16 and 10/19. Surrounded by high-speed camera equipment, the show captures every reaction of Drew's body as it crushes concrete and withstands a closet pole to the stomach. Ralph is captured exploding a coconut with his bare hand. The footage, the first of its kind, is truly unbelievable! See for yourself what happens in slow motion.

Ralph Bergamo is the owner of Team Bergamo, Bergamo’s Martial Arts of Naugatuck, Cheshire Martial Arts, and Bergamo’s Personal Training and Wellness Center, located in Cheshire, CT. Cheshire Martial Arts offers regular Martial Arts classes weekly, as well as monthly seminars. The Personal Training and Wellness Center is a semi-private training facility focused on individual results. The Center also works with sports teams to help bring out their full potential.

Drew Serrano is the owner of East Coast Training Systems (ECTS), a company specializing in on-location training in the areas of Martial Arts, Self-Defense, and Fitness. ECTS offers regular Martial Arts classes at Charland Institute of Karate and Fitness in Watertown, and at Gym Nation in Waterbury, CT. Strike-Fit™, an original ECTS fitness program, is offered at Gym Nation, Waterbury YMCA, and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.

Photo 1- Ralph Bergamo, Time Warp host Jeff Lieberman, and Drew Serrano

3/2008- Breaking Video from Pacific Kicks

Check out Pacific Kicks Breaking Team, Washington State. Video courtesy of Nancy Foster-Mills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRgRl1-dyNs

2/2008- USBA/WBA News

USBA/WBA News- 2/2008

USBA/WBA Seminar- Albany, NY- Saturday, March 15, 2008
The USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival February 29- March 2, 2008- Columbus, OH- http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com/
2008 Upcoming Events

USBA/WBA Seminar at Pil-Sung Martial Arts- Albany, NY: Pil-Sung Martial Arts in Albany, NY, will be hosting a Breaking Seminar presented by USBA/WBA Co-Founder Ralph Bergamo and Regional Director Eric Sousa on Saturday, March 15, 2008. The seminar will cover competitive breaking for tournaments, types of strikes, multiple stations, preparation and training. All participants will be breaking boards. $40 per person. 2 sessions: 1-3pm for Children, 3-5pm for Adults. To register call Master Adam Grogin at 518-458-1011. For more information visit the Pil-Sung Martial Arts website at http://www.pil-sungmartialarts.com/home.htm
The USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival February 29- March 2, 2008- Columbus, OH: The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival is fast approaching. This will be the USBA/WBA's 4th year at the event! The updated divisions and rules are posted. We are working on materials acquisition and will have standard patios, boards, and stands available. The materials request form is attached.
IMPORTANT: As many of you know we encourage promoters to post a "Materials Request" form as part of every tournament that is USBA/WBA sanctioned. This form is an important part of bringing better organization to each event and keeping material cost down. The majority of competitors have utilized this process and have guarantied that their materials will be present the day of the event. As the USBA/WBA grows, we urge competitors to utilize this form and adhere to the deadlines posted. The availability of materials for those who do not pre-order will become less frequent, therefore materials will be distributed first to those who have pre-ordered.

The Arnold Martial Arts Festival is always a worthwhile event to attend with non-stop action in a multitude of disciplines. Competitors should also visit the Arnold Fitness Expo and the various competitions and demonstrations that will be going on throughout the weekend. The 2008 Arnold Sports Festival will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Arnold Classic as well as the year of the Olympic Games. They will also present competitions in 37 sports and events that involve 17,000 athletes, three competitive sites, and 12 Olympic sports. Please visit the event website at http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com.
There are 65 available breaking divisions in Creative, Power, Speed, and High Jump breaking. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 4 points, 2nd- 3, 3rd- 2.5, Officials- 2. Pre-registration is now open. Please contact the USBA/WBA with any questions regarding this event. We encourage all competitors to attend this event.
2008 upcoming events: These events are confirmed so mark your calander, more info on each event will follow.
- The USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships- June 7, 2008- CT- Confirmed - Info to follow
- The USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships at The US Open- July 4-5, 2008- Orlando, FL- http://www.usopen-karate.com/welcome.asp?default.asp&2 - Confirmed - Info to follow
- The USBA New York State Breaking Championships at The Northeast Open- July 11-12, 2008-http://www.northeastopen.com/ - Confirmed - Info to follow
- The USBA US East Coast Breaking Championships at The Twin Towers Classic- September 5-6, 2008- NY, NY- http://www.twintowerskarate.com/index.htm - Confirmed - UPDATE: This event will be a combined USBA/WBA and ISKA event. Prize money is being considered for some of the USBA/WBA divisions
- The USBA/WBA New England Regional Breaking Championships (formerly The Mohegan Sun National Karate Championships)- October 12 2008- Uncasville, CT - http://www.koba-ryu.com/index.asp?i=1 - Confirmed - UPDATE: This event is now a MMA and Breaking only event. Breaking will be held during the day in the Mohegan Sun Arena.

As the months progress we will keep you updated on any additional events. If you are promoter and wish to host a USBA/WBA Sanctioned event please contact Drew Serrano at DS_USBA-WBA@comcast.net or Ralph Bergamo at kuntao4@aol.com .

Thank you for your continued support of the USBA/WBA,

11/2007- USBA/WBA News

USBA/WBA News

Congratulations to the 2007 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year
The USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival February 29- March 2, 2008- Columbus, OH- http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com
2008 possible upcoming events
2007 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year: With the end of the 2007 tournament year we are proud to announce the 2007 USBA/WBA Competitors of the Year. They are:
- Robert Raniolo- 2007 Male Competitor of the Year
- Karen Smith- 2007 Female Competitor of the Year
- Mario Bufalini, Jr.- 2007 Junior Male Competitor of the Year
- Olivia Bufalini- 2007 Junior Female Competitor of the Year

The above competitors have earned the highest point totals for the 2007 calendar year. Please congratulate them on their accomplishment. They will be officially recognized at The USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival in February.

The USBA US Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival February 29- March 2, 2008- Columbus, OH: The USBA United States Breaking Championships at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival is fast approaching. This will be the USBA/WBA's 4th year at the event! The updated divisions and rules are posted. We are working on materials acquisition and will have standard patios, boards, and stands available.
IMPORTANT: As many of you know we encourage promoters to post a "Materials Request" form as part of every tournament that is USBA/WBA sanctioned. This form is an important part of bringing better organization to each event and keeping material cost down. The majority of competitors have utilized this process and have guarantied that their materials will be present the day of the event. As the USBA/WBA grows, we urge competitors to utilize this form and adhere to the deadlines posted. The availability of materials for those who do not pre-order will become less frequent, therefore materials will be distributed first to those who have pre-ordered.

The Arnold Martial Arts Festival is always a worthwhile event to attend with non-stop action in a multitude of disciplines. Competitors should also visit the Arnold Fitness Expo and the various competitions and demonstrations that will be going on throughout the weekend. Please visit the event website at http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com/

There are 65 available breaking divisions in Creative, Power, Speed, and High Jump breaking. All USBA/WBA members will earn the following points toward year-end ratings: 1st place- 4 points, 2nd- 3, 3rd- 2.5, Officials- 2. Pre-registration is now open. Please contact the USBA/WBA with any questions regarding this event. We encourage all competitors to attend this event.

2008 tentative upcoming events: We are constantly working to expand the USBA/WBA circuit, but dealings with the promoters sometimes delay us posting the specifics of these events on the site. We are currently in the process of working on setting up the following events:
- The North American Breaking Championships- June 2008- CT- Date TBA
- The US Open- July 4-5, 2008- Orlando, FL- http://www.usopen-karate.com/welcome.asp?default.asp&2 - Confirmed
- The Northeast Open- July 11-12, 2008- http://www.northeastopen.com/ - Confirmed
- The Twin Towers Classic- September 5-6, 2008- NY, NY- http://www.twintowerskarate.com/index.htm - Confirmed
- The Mohegan Sun National Karate Championships- September 2008- Uncasville, CT- Date TBA- http://www.koba-ryu.com/index.asp?i=1
As the months progress we will keep you updated on any additional events. If you are promoter and wish to host a USBA/WBA Sanctioned event please contact Drew Serrano at DS_USBA-WBA@comcast.net or Ralph Bergamo at kuntao4@aol.com .

7/2007- The USBA/WBA World Championships from Regional Director Raphael Velez

On July 7, 2007, many of the greatest breakers in the world traveled to the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, right in the heart of Walt Disney World. The Coronado is a luxurious resort of truly wondrous size and splendor, and boasts what is surely one of the finest tournament facilities to be found anywhere in the World. It was here that these breakers from across the globe would compete at the USBA/WBA World Championships, part of the World’s most prestigious Martial Art’s competition, the US Open and ISKA World Martial Arts Championships.

The USBA/WBA World Breaking Championships are open to all ages, ranks, and genders (the ISKA Breaking Divisions held on Saturday require pre-approval by the ISKA Breaking Director Chris Lee and are for Black Belts only). For Black Belts, Friday’s USBA/WBA Divisions offer a chance to be seeded in the Saturday ISKA divisions televised around the World on ESPN2. The USBA/WBA, founded by Masters Ralph Bergamo and Drew Serrano, continues to work closely with the ISKA.

The USBA/WBA World Championships started at around 10:30am, Friday, July 6, 2007, with many breakers from around the globe competing in the over 66 available USBA/WBA divisions.As always, every time I come to this event you can feel the intensity in the air. The event started with the 12 and under competing in Creative Wood Divisions. It was obvious that these young kids were well-prepared, executing breaks beyond what you would think they were capable of. For the first time, and I am sure many of the judges felt the same, we saw many young competitors in the breaking division. These young competitors are breaking into a sport that used to be dominated by Martial Artists 30 and over.

This spectacular event ended with many kids and adults taking home trophies ranging up to six feet tall! I had a good laugh when I saw a kid, no more than 4 feet tall, carrying his six foot trophy back to his corner where his family was waiting. I would also like to give recognition to all of the adults that competed, as well as their families. They were very patient and really showed how the sport has grown.

I would like to commend the Black Belt judges, the timers and scorekeepers, and family members, who kept all of the rings running smoothly. Last but not least, I want to thank Master Bergamo and Master Serrano for their support, honor, dignity, and strength they have given to this sport!

Master Raphael L. Velez

Northeast United States Regional Director

United States Breaking Association/World Breaking Association

7/2007- Letter to editor of BB Magazine concerning "Breaking" misrepresentation

To: Letters, Black Belt Communications

Ref: February 2006 article, “Myths and Misconceptions- 5 More Tall Tales of the Martial Arts Debunked
Subject: Breaking misconception misrepresented

I am a long time reader of Black Belt magazine and have had varied opinions of articles published, both positive and negative. Many articles present the views and opinions of the author, and for this reason I have never been compelled to write in support of or against any article. Everyone is entitled to their own viewpoint, even if it is not popular or supportable by facts.

The February 2006 issue of Black Belt featured an article titled “Myths and Misconceptions- 5 More Tall Tales of the Martial Arts Debunked”. It starts off simple enough with the myth of pushing the nose bone into the brain. The author Jonathan Mayberry, who I am personally not familiar with, seems to support his conclusion with medical fact, common knowledge, and combative theories. His conclusion holds true in light of the facts presented.

The second supposed myth is that “Breaking Is an Important Test of Skill”. It seems he is making an argument against the importance and difficulty involved in breaking. I am sure Master Mayberry is a great Martial Artist, he holds an eighth-degree Black Belt in Jujutsu and a fifth in Hapkido, and an accomplished author, he lays claim to over 700 articles and several books, but I believe his take on breaking is a little off.

I am not sure of his breaking credentials or his training in the “Art of Breaking”, but I do believe that if you write an article that claims to debunk myths, you should either be an expert or consult someone who is. This article is presented in a way that the “Myths” debunked are not the opinion of the author, but a fact.

I am the cofounder of the United States Breaking Association and World Breaking Association, an association focusing on Competitive Breaking and the “Art of Breaking”. I am also a coach for “Team Bergamo”, the premier competitive breaking team in the World today, featured on ESPN2, the Discovery Channel, and a variety of other media outlets. I have been a practitioner of breaking for over 20 years and have numerous Championships under my belt. I would like to give Master Mayberry some insight into the actual World of breaking, what is involved, and how it really is an important test of skill.

First, his claim that “breaks anyone can do prove almost nothing” is simply not true. Breaking, used during testing in some styles, is an important step toward individual progression. It not only builds self-confidence by pushing the student to overcome a natural fear associated with hitting boards or other objects, but also requires the student to execute whatever technique used with proper form and force. Even a seemingly simple break, such as one board, requires proper focus and technique to break. I have seen Adult Black Belts miss 1-inch board breaks.

To say that anyone can break a board is not totally true; there are a lot of variables involved. Most importantly, to do a break properly in the eyes of an experienced breaker is entirely different than simply breaking something. It is similar to styles that require the execution of forms as a rank requirement. Anyone can do a Form or Kata, only a properly trained student can execute it properly. So, in fact, all breaks do prove something depending on the person breaking and the person observing.

Master Mayberry’s second statement, “a lot of breaking is faked, or at least fudged, for the sake of entertainment” is simply offensive to those of us who are true practitioners of the art, and is generally misleading to the general public. This type of generalized statement is the exact thing we at the USBA/WBA are working to change. Every area of society is susceptible to those that cheat the system and deceive the public. Martial Arts and Breaking are no different, but this is not the “norm” as Master Mayberry’s statement would insinuate. There are deceptive instructors out there who make claims that are simply not true to gain students or make others think they are something they are not. Should we also condemn all of Martial Arts by saying, “Martial Arts training is fake and its instructors are deceptive”? Of course not!

Ninety-nine percent of the breakers I have met and seen in competition are among the most honorable and respectable individuals in all of Martial Arts. Believe me, these great practitioners would find a “faked break” against all they believe in. I cannot say enough about the “Martial” way that a Breaking practitioner or competitor projects, but it can definitely be seen at any USBA/WBA event.

Master Mayberry also makes the claim that spacers are a way of “fudging” a break. The theory behind spacers is not that simple. In certain instances spacers can help to increase the amount broken, but it does not make the break any less difficult because in most cases a spaced amount is larger than an un-spaced amount of material. To say that 10 spaced boards is easy because the top board breaks the next one and so on is just not true. The force and mechanics behind the strike has to be focused through the last board in order to execute a successful break.

The size of the spacers and the material being spaced has to also be taken into account. In some instances a larger space between the materials makes for a harder break. As the space increases, the shock of the initial strike is not transferred as efficiently. This means that the duration of the force behind the strike has to be longer in order to break all the materials in a stack.

I would agree that un-spaced materials, in general, are harder to break than spaced materials. For the purpose of Power Breaking competitions, spacers are used so that a definitive winner can more easily be determined. It allows for more variation in amounts that are broken.

Another area that was not taken into account is material other than the standard boards or concrete blocks. The technique, focus and mechanics behind shin kicking a baseball bat, smashing a coconut with a bare hand, poking a hole through a full can of soda with a finger, having materials broken over parts of the body, and numerous other breaking feats which can be witnessed at many competitions can not be faked, and take years to perfect.

Lastly, Master Mayberry never mentioned the most important part of successful breaking, the focus of “Ki” or “Chi”. Some believe in this inner energy and some do not. I can only offer my belief that it is real and necessary, as many Breaking practitioners at the highest levels are well aware. The focus of inner energy protects the body and helps to project a strike through an object. I have often been told by spectators that they could feel the energy radiate from a practitioner during a series of breaks. I believe that proper training in the Art of Breaking teaches a practitioner to focus this inner energy. This energy can then be used in other aspects of Martial Arts training and in life outside the dojo.

In summary, I hope that future authors of articles submitted to your magazine take into account all your readers, both experienced and inexperienced in the Martial Arts. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but it should be presented as such. Articles with partial and wrong information presented as fact can damage all we have worked for in the Martial Arts community as a whole. There are experts in every area, and if an author wants to maintain the honor and respect that we as Martial Artists profess it is important that subject matter is explored before presented as fact.

Master Drew Serrano

Co-founder of the USBA/WBA

Waterbury, CT

7/2007- USBA/WBA Regional Director and Competitor of the Year featured in article

He harnesses mystical energy to perform 'amazing' feats

Elton Trower has studied with the Shaolin monks and is a member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Elton Trower has studied with the Shaolin monks and is a member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame. STEPHEN M. KATZ PHOTOS | THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 3, 2007

In search of Eastern Enlightenment of the most mystical kind, we head as far east as one can travel - in Virginia. Across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and up Route 13 we go, seeking a Grandmaster who calls himself a monk and whom others have called a magician.

The pilgrimage takes us past farm fields and fireworks stands, through one-stoplight settlements to Melfa, a speck of a town where the Grandmaster holds forth in his dojo.

You might have seen him on the Discovery Channel or ESPN, performing martial arts feats that have rendered commentators nearly speechless.

"I can't even wrap my brain around how he does it," said Mike Sawyer, co-owner of the International Sport Karate Association. "It's amazing."

Grandmaster Elton Trower welcomes you to his dojo and smiles. It is not magic, he says. The things he does can be explained. The power he harnesses flows from within. We've all got it, he will tell you, if we only believe.

Trower stands about 5-foot-4 and weighs 185 pounds, with arms like steel cables, hands like talons and fingers blunted to near-identical length by decades of striking through wood and concrete. He appears to be about 60, but ask him his age and he'll tell you that when people are asked that question in Japan, they'll change the subject.

So he changes it.

Within minutes, he has told you that he is widely known in Japan, where he studied with the Shaolin monks, that he's in the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame; that he is a master of the moves known as the Iron Palm, The Poison Fingers and the "Dim Mak" - or Death Touch.

World creative breaking champion Karen Smith and her teacher Grandmaster Elton Trower demonstrate one of the breaks typical to her routine at the Karate Warriors Dojo/Gym in Melfa on Wednesday.

He can stop your heart with a tap, he says. Knowing that, it makes you a little nervous when Trower takes your hand and offers to demonstrate a technique. Not to worry; he's merely massaging your heart, liver and kidneys - through your palm.

"Your hand is going to get very sensitive," he says. And it does, or at least you think it does. But is that just because you want to believe it will?

Trower, who quotes the Shaolins and the Bible with equal facility, cites Proverbs: "Whatever a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

Trower is testament to that philosophy. Born in Jamaica and raised in Cape Charles, he took up martial arts 35 years ago. He runs a studio, his "Temple of Shaolin Chi Power," where he teaches Shorin-Ryu Karate, Tai Chi and meditation therapy. He supplements his income by pouring concrete driveways.

He has competed all over the world. On Saturday, he and his star pupil, Karen Smith, a 45-year-old nurse at Shore Memorial Hospital, will vie for world titles at the ISKA World Breaking Championships in Orlando, Fla.

Smith, who took up martial arts just five years ago, won the world title last year. Trower finished second, partly because the judges didn't know quite what to make of his unique breaks.

"He does stuff the other guys can't do," Sawyer said. "And he does stuff the other guys won't even try."

Trower holds his index finger an inch from a soda can and drives it cleanly through the aluminum, without rearing back and without denting the can. He breaks a board with a fingertip strike from less than an inch away.

That missing men's room door in Trower's dojo? He removed it from its hinges, took it to Florida and thrust his fingers clean through it during a competition.

Physics 101 tells us force is mass times acceleration. Trower's gift is that he's able to accelerate, 0 to 60 mph, in a very short distance. It's something martial arts legend Bruce Lee was also able to do.

"Everybody has this energy," Trower said. "They just don't know how to produce it."

Trower is a believer in the power of chi, the Chinese word for the life force or energy, that he believes is in all living things. By harnessing that power, he's able to perform breaks few others in the world can do.

The concept of focused energy is familiar to anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of martial arts. It's why even grandmothers can break boards. Trower has taken it to extreme levels, rarely attained.

"It's not nearly as mystical as it sounds," Sawyer said. "It involves contracting all your muscular strength and tension and focusing it on one point in your body.

"Your body becomes like a piece of rigid steel. You become the irresistible force against the immovable object. Over time, you get where your mind can coordinate all these physical movements at once. But you really have to believe you can do it."

The belief part is where Trower excels. It has been built in three decades of training. Some of the training is physical - toughening his hands to the point where his fingers can go through a door or his feet to the point where Smith can smash cinder blocks on his toes - but most of it is mental.

Karen Smith teaches martial arts to Tevion Morake, 8, (left) and Daiqwain Walker, 9, at Elton Trower's Karate Warriors Dojo/Gym in Melfa.

The mental side is what Smith is working on now. She has begun doing some chi breaks of her own. Last week, she and Trower were planning the breaks they will do in Orlando, looking for something unique to catch the eyes of the judges. She plans to stand on a bed of nails while Trower breaks concrete slabs against her abdomen. She'll also put her forearm between two slabs, which Trower will break with a sledgehammer.

She'll also let Trower break two boards over her head - first in front, then in back. She offered to demonstrate last week, stepping barefoot onto the bed of nails.

For someone about to be whacked in the head with a board, Smith looked remarkably calm as Trower wound up. He swung like Barry Bonds aiming for the fences and the board cleaved cleanly across Smith's skull.

Smith stepped down, unhurt.

"If you think it's going to hurt you," Trower said, "it's going to hurt you."

If you refuse to believe you can be hurt by a mere board, if you believe the mind is all powerful and can be honed to the point where your body can withstand anything, if your powers of focus and discipline and concentration are near-otherworldly, through many years you become Grandmaster Elton Trower, dispenser of wisdom, trainer of movie stars - Wesley Snipes is a student - and the Eastern Shore's own force of nature.

"I go through Coke cans. I go through doors. I go through anything," Trower says.

Who are we to tell him otherwise?

6/2007- USBA New York State Breaking Championships, post event

USBA New York State Breaking Championships

Hosted by the North East Open

On July 6^th, Mr. Alan Stekloff of Bergamo’s Martial Arts, Ct, and I traveled to the Marriot Hotel in AlbanyNew York. There we would represent the United States Breaking Association at the Northeast Open promoted by Master Adam Grogin on July 7^th.

As soon as we arrived we knew that this would be a great event. We were a day early and Master Grogin and his students and volunteers were already busy setting up for the event. When we told Master Grogin of the tasks that we needed to accomplish prior to the event starting, he informed us that he had already had the tasks completed!!! Nothing makes an event run smoother than prior planning and Master Grogin is one of the best at this that I have ever seen!!

We began the event on July 7^th with the 12 and under creative wood divisions and it was evident that even the little guys had been prepared well. We immediately saw intensity and creativity that would carry these young competitors a long way in the world of breaking. Kudos to all of their Instructors!! As the day went on we saw many talented martial artists step up to the plate and accomplish things that they had never tried before and the contagiousness was evident.

The day ended with the adult power concrete being watched by every eye in the large ballroom. This competition revealed some serious up and coming competitors in the breaking world. We watched hand strikes through four and five patio blocks and an elbow through six. As this was there first time doing this type of breaking, we were greatly impressed. Many of the competitors could not conceal there excitement and had many questions about breaking leaving us to believe they are in it for good!

Congratulations to Master Grogin on a great event, we can’t wait to come back next year!!!

Eric Sousa

Northeast United States Regional Director

United States Breaking Association/World Breaking Association

6/2007- WBA Alberta Canada Breaking Championships, post event

WBA Alberta Breaking Championships at the Canadian National Tang Soo Do Championships.

On June 9^th and 10^th I had the honor of being in CalgaryAlberta as the regional director for Canada. Representing the World Breaking Association at the annual Canadian National Tang Soo Do Championships and the Western Canadian Breaking Championships.

The event was held at the Quality hotel just outside of Beautiful downtown Calgary. Day 1 proved to be an exciting day as I saw competitors from not only Tang Soo discipline but also the local Kung Fu schools as well. With competitors aging from 5 to 50 this event was not only a very well run event but also a challenging event as all of the competitors were there to shine in what ever event they were in.

Sunday June 9, 2007 was the day of mass destruction in Calgary as I watched as all the competitors placed there material in every corner of the banquet hall.

The day saw 20 divisions run very smoothly and had an impressive line up of breakers. For the first tournament held as a sanctioned event thru promoter MasterCarlTate I must congratulate him on his efforts and knowledge in this area.

The breaking Championships saw 25 competitors line up to smash there way thru concrete, Wood and bricks to impress not only myself but the patrons watching the event.

The day started off with the Creative divisions that prove that the Martial Artists of CalgaryCanada have very creative minds when it comes to breaking. I witnessed everything from speed breaks to simultaneous breaks that brought the degree of difficulty to a new level. One break was done while the competitor was standing on his head. While others showed off the talents of 360 degree kicks to secure a place in the seedlings.

In the open creative division I saw some new ideas along with some entertaining ideas as well. From ripping a set of Yellow Pages in half to breaking Concrete will having a raw egg in the palm.

The other Division that MasterTate held was the Little Tigers. This was a crowd pleaser all around as we saw young men and young Ladies smash thru boards with as much if not more emotion than the adult divisions. My hats off to the little tigers that gave it there all and came out and attempted to break boards. This speaks volumes, as they are the future of not only breaking, but the Martial Arts.

As a promoter MasterCarlTate is a very organized and humble man that has dedicated his life to the promotion of the Martial Arts. It is not hard to see the type of instructor he is thru his students as every one of the students I met and dealt with were very polite and also very well trained. If master Tate’s tournament is any indication of the calibre of breaking that will be coming out of Canada then I would say that we are on the right track with the vision that the World Breaking Association has in Global competition. As the Regional Director for Canada I look forward to working with MasterTate and his very talented students again in the near future.

Congratulations MasterTate on a job well done and a tournament that was run as smooth as any tournament I have been at in the 30 years that I have studied Martial Arts.

Master Doug Job

Regional Director

World Breaking Association