For Immediate Release - February 25, 2019
The event drew top competitors throughout the country and into the United States. Bringing 9 Canadian Titles back to Guelph.
The team is coached by the Nathan and Sophie Skoufis, the area’s most well-known instructors and multiple time world champions and owners of Guelph Family Martial Arts.
Head Instructor and Team Coach Nathan Skoufis said “It is a difficult competition that draws many of the top competitors throughout the country. It is an event I first competed at in 2007, which at that time was in the Hamilton Convention Centre. It is an awesome experience having your own students compete and going through that journey with them.
They all trained so hard for the event, I am so proud of them. It is really rewarding for me as a coach and is a unique opportunity to help these athletes towards achieving their goals in combating fear, anxiety, self- doubt among other aspects. I am really fortunate. I know what a great coach did for me in my competition career, my mom Sophie has been coaching me around the world since I was around 10 years old and has been a mentor in my martial arts journey from age 6 when I started.
They should all be very proud, as they have represented the community so well on the national stage”. Nathan Skoufis is a 16x World Champion, 5th degree black belt and has worked with UFC Fighters and Olympians."
The team trained for months in preparation for the event.
Back Row- Erin Grant, Matylda Daza, Nathan Skoufis, Sophie Skoufis, Emily Ortolan and Feng Lee - Front Row- Justin Tu and Rob Pisciuneri
Emily Ortolan, Justin Tu, Feng Lee, Erin Grant, Rob Pisciuneri, Matylda Daza, Sophie Skoufis and Nathan Skoufis
Results were as follows:
Justin Tu- Gold 15-17-year-old boys sparring
Emily Ortolan- Gold 15-17-year-old girls sparring
Matylda Daza- Gold 18-34 years old women’s sparring
Rob Pisciuneri- Gold 18-34 years old men’s sparring
Feng Lee- Gold 35+ years old men’s weapons,Gold 35+ years old men’s Sparring,
Silver 35+ years old men’s kata
Erin Grant- Gold 18-34 years old women’s kata, Gold 18-34 years old women’s weapons, Gold 18-34 years old women’s sparring
The team will next be in action in London, Ontario.
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