Saber Light Knights Shine at Kumite Classic

​Saber Light Knights Shine at The Kumite Classic This past weekend, Saber Light Knights sent three fighters to The Kumite Classic, held at the Pittsburgh Power Open. Representing the academy were Headmaster Ryan McKenna, Instructor Em Watson, and Padawan Matthew McKenna. The team competed across multiple divisions, including kata, foam saber, and LED saber events, bringing home strong performances, podium finishes, and championship gold.

The day began with Instructor Em Watson striking gold in the Adult LED Kata Division, where she captured the championship with a powerful rendition of Shii-Cho Kata. Her performance impressed the judges and set the tone for the weekend. The only note for improvement? We’ll keep working on that exit bow.

Next, six-year-old Matthew McKenna stepped into the ring for the Ages 6–10 Foam Standard Saber Division. Despite some early reluctance, Matthew found his courage, entered the ring, and won his first match convincingly. From there, he never looked back. He battled his way through the division and finished with an outstanding second-place performance after a sudden-death loss to ten-year-old Rei Stagmena.

Matthew returned to competition in the Mixed Weapons Foam Saber Division. Despite having no prior experience using Jar Kai, his footwork, movement, and ring awareness allowed him to excel once again. After several hard-fought matches, Matthew once more found himself facing Rei in the finals. Rei came away victorious again, but Matthew’s performance was excellent and showed tremendous growth, courage, and competitive spirit.

Then it was time for the Adult LED Standard Division. Em faced a tough field and battled her way to a strong fourth-place finish. Headmaster Ryan McKenna won both of his matches, ultimately taking the championship after a dramatic sudden-death face-off. The final event for Saber Light Knights was the Mixed Weapons LED Division, where both Em and Ryan competed using Jar Kai. The division featured several epic battles, with McKenna finishing first overall and Em earning third place.

​Overall, Saber Light Knights had an outstanding showing at the Pittsburgh Power Open. The team competed with honor, grace, and determination, bringing home championships, podium finishes, and valuable experience. We truly enjoyed The Kumite Classic and look forward to returning next year.