Combined Sandpoint-Spirit Lake karate team wins at Portland tourney

Team UKKA (a combined Sandpoint and Spirit Lake karate team) participated at the Mighty River Classic Karate Tournament in Portland, Ore., at the Portland Expo Center on Nov. 5. 

Only three of the six-member team were able to attend the event but even so, the team won four first-place trophies, one second-place trophy, two third-place trophies and two fourth-place trophies.

Taylor Jenkins (12) of Sandpoint won three first place trophies in weapons, forms and sparring and a third-place trophy in self-defense. 

Alannah Winland (13) of Spirit Lake won a second-place trophy in creative weapons, a third-place trophy in forms, and two fourth-place trophies in creative forms and sparring. 

Mike “Ziggy” Siegfried (59) of Spirit Lake (their instructor) won a first-place trophy in the 35-and-over creative weapons division.

“It was the first time I competed in self defense and weapons," Jenkins said. "I only had one month to learn both routines. I am so happy I was able to do so well. I could not have done it without the support of my UKKA teammates. ”

Siegfried said, “We entered this tournament at the last minute and with only half of our team. Despite that, we had a great showing for our communities and the state."

The team is sponsored by the Verbal Judo Institute, Inc., a verbal de-escalation training company based in New York.