Idaho

North Idaho karate team wins big at Pasadena tourney

Published

2 years ago

September 11, 2024

North Idaho karate team wins big at Pasadena tourney

The nine-person Universal Kenpo Kung Fu Association (UKKA) team from Spirit Lake and Sandpoint competed at the Pasadena International Karate Tournament in Pasadena, Calif., on Aug. 30-31, and returned home to North Idaho with 40 international titles which totaled: 23 first-place trophies, 12 second-place trophies and five third-place trophies.

The tournament had hundreds of competitors from the United States, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

60-year-old black belt Mike Siegfried (the team instructor) won three first-place trophies and one second-place trophy.

14-year-old green belt Alannah Winland (team captain) won four first-place trophies and one third-place trophy.

18-year-old purple belt Allilah Dykes won three first-place trophies and one second-place trophy.

14-year-old orange belt Saydie Green won one first-place trophy and four second-place trophies.

10-year-old orange belt Jesse Winland won two first-place trophies.

9-year-old orange belt Jessika Winland won three first-place trophies and one second place trophy.

13-year-old yellow belt Taylor Jenkins won six first-place trophies and one second-place trophy.

9-year-old yellow belt Audrey Jenkins won one first-place, four second-place and one third-place trophies.

8-year-old yellow belt Michael Jenkins won two third-place trophies.

“Our little team came back to North Idaho with 40 international titles,” Siegfried said. This is a truly stunning achievement. I am so proud of the team and their awesome parents and grandparents who have supported them from the beginning. During the event, the team worked together in the face of very tough competition. They performed in the weapons, forms, synchronized forms, and sparring divisions with skill, grace, beauty and fearlessness. More importantly, they treated their competitors, teammates, and themselves with dignity and respect which are hallmarks of a well-trained martial artist. United together, they worked tirelessly for a year to prepare for this tournament, and they exceeded all expectations. The team trusted each other, their skills and their training and they are now international champions because they put in the work and had a plan to win.”

Team UKKA is sponsored by the Verbal Judo Institute, Inc., a verbal de-escalation training company based in New York. Team UKKA hopes to represent the state of Idaho in additional tournaments this year. If you are interested in supporting Team UKKA as a sponsor, you can contact Master Siegfried at Idahoukka@gmail.com. You can also support them by watching their journey on YouTube and subscribing at http://www.youtube.com/@idahoukka

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Idaho

11-year-old from Idaho competing for $20K, national spotlight – East Idaho News

Published

16 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

11-year-old from Idaho competing for K, national spotlight – East Idaho News

GARDEN CITY – A Boise-area girl is competing in the 2026 Junior Ranger Competition, and she needs your vote to advance.

Eleven-year-old Cali Lindsay of Garden City is currently in the top 10 in her age group. The first place contestant in each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will wrap on July 17.

The final round concludes on July 24. The winner will be awarded $20,000 and be featured on the cover of Ranger Rick Magazine. They’ll also win a trip with Jeff Corwin.

Cali’s mom, Emily Edginton, tells EastIdahoNews.com how the competition works.

“You’re allowed one free vote every 24 hours. People can also pay (to vote),” Edginton says. “The contestants have challenges every week to learn about animals and share what they’ve learned. People vote for the answer they like best. If you have enough votes, you move to the next round.”

Cali needs to secure enough votes by Thursday in order to advance to the next round.

The competition is a fundraiser for the National Wildlife Federation, the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States.

Edginton says they recently moved to Idaho from San Bernardino, California. Her daughter acquired a love of wildlife living in Lytle Creek, a community near the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino National Forest.

“She’s already like a junior ranger. We picked up trash (in the forest) for fun,” Edginton says. “We try to keep it clean because we get a lot of visitors up there in the summertime and they trash the place. It affects the animals.”

Edginton says they moved to Idaho in February to be closer to family.

She’s grateful her daughter can be part of what she feels is a great cause, and hopes to see her advance, and even win the tournament.

“It’s a good cause, plus it’s a learning experience,” says Edginton.

To vote for Cali or learn more, click here.