SKIPPER Ingham, (at left), founder of Bermuda Karate Institute, placed first last week at Gary Alexander’s 44th IAMA (International Association of Martial Artists) tournament in Somerset, New Jersey.Ingham, 77, beat out of field of eight in the Over-40 forms division.

Ingham is president of the Bermuda Karate Organisation and with him at the event was team member Scott Kennedy, 17, who placed second in sparring and fourth in forms. Kennedy is a student of “Roots” Phillips Sensei, who has trained with Ingham for over 25 years and won a world sparring title in 1994.

Kennedy has won many kata and kumite titles in Bermuda, most recently at Sensei Roots’ 12th Invitational Shiai in March. The competition, billed as “the longest running martial arts event in the USA”, drew about 400 competitors, mostly from the east coast.