Jamaica on October 25 to compete in the sixth annual ISKF/JKA Pan American Karate Championships.

The championships will take place at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 27 and 28 with the men competing in the individual kumite and individual kata while the women will take part in the team and individual kumite and kata.

Since the championship is an international event, all contestants will have either a brown or black belt.

This year marks the first time Bermuda will be represented by a women's team which is made up of captain Kris Matishak, Jackie Tailford, Lesley-Anne Cumming and Cherie Foletta.

Junior members competing in the individual kata and kumite will be captain Nathan Aguiar, Antoine Saunders and Shanae Robinson.

The men's team will include captain Nascimento Daniel, Carl Gibbons, Paul Hitchens, Colin Lambert and Sandy Taylor.

Coaching the entire squad will be Sensei Nigel Williams while Sensei Mark Tailford, the chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association of Bermuda, will be assisting as judge and referee during the championships.

The championships will serve as a warm-up for the local karate club, which is making plans to compete in the World Shoto Cup tournament in Japan in August, 1996.

JAMAICA BOUND -- These members of the Japan Karate Association of Bermuda will be competing at the sixth annual ISKF/JKA Pan American Karate Championships.