Antelope Valley Press Article - July 21, 2000
Valley Garners Three World Titles in Vegas

Chief Instructor Margaret Adamic couldn't have been more proud staying out of it. Ryan Torres and Devin Field are her martial arts students, but in the championship match, it was entirely up to them. Field, who has five years experience in grappling to Torres' two, defeated Torres and brought home one of three World Championships for the local United Self-Defense Academy. Torres (purple stripe) and Field (black-red) were among 10 USDA students from the Palmdale and Lake View Terrace schools that participated in the USA 2000 World Championship Martial Arts Tournament June 21-25 at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. "They were both undefeated going into it (the championship match) and I told them I was not going to coach either," Adamic said. "I figured the outcome, but Ryan really wanted to fight."

Victor Taube, a 16-year-old red belt, and Vanessa Valencia, a 17-year-old black-white belt won the other two world titles in grappling.
Competitors competed in grappling as well as sparring, forms and breaking.
Even though this was the first year grappling was an event at the tournament, Adamic was confident in her students.
"This was the first year, but I wasn't concerned because they all have been training hard," said Adamic, who took three to four competitors the last two years. "For a lot of them, it was their first time competing in an area that big."
Gavin Burdette, who finished fourth in black belt breaking, did a fire break, breaking four boards set on fire.
Others participating included Cameron Froede (3rd, black belt sparring), Michael Larkin, Shannon Leong, George Marquez and Rosa Thweatt (4th, blue belt sparring) and Kyle Valenzuela (4th, weapons forms) and Aiyana Welsh.

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