Freewind Martial Arts shines in all women's tourney

RICHLAND — Five members of Freewind Martial Arts competed in the second-ever Bruises and Babes martial arts tournament, an all-women's event hosted by Chon-Ji Martial Arts in Richland on Saturday.  

“It's the first of its kind that I know of, and it was just a really fun and amazing experience to have. Such quality athletes, strong, confident females, just enjoying what they do,” Freewind Instructor Brandi Guertin said.  

Alongside Guertin, Jessie Young, Cassie Sheppard, Adriana Morris and Sara Byrd competed in the daylong event. Across the five of them, they all placed top three in multiple categories, including eight first-place finishes. The outcome they experienced at the tournament was a pleasant surprise, Guertin said.  

“Our focus is always just to have fun and to learn,” she said. “If you're going for any other reason other than to have fun or to learn, you shouldn't go because competition should be about learning. That's why you do it and then to have fun. I mean, if you're not having fun, why be there?”  

One student who stood out to Guertin was Morris, who is still new to the program at Freewind, she said.  

“She's only been training for maybe two to three weeks, and she took first place. That just really shows (with) the focus and dedication that you can achieve so much and just by applying yourself,” Guertin said. 

Their overall performance as a studio also highlighted how much her students care to learn and improve, she said.  

“I learned my students really listen, they really learn, they observe and absorb everything they are around, and they do it with confidence, and that just fills my heart with joy,” she said.  

Guertin took second in forms while placing first in weapons and sparring. She was also named the Grand Champion for the sparring category. Results aside, she was just happy with the opportunity to compete against other talented martial artists, she said.  

“The young lady that I had the honor of competing against in forms was 80 years young, and it was my honor to take second,” she said. “When I took grand champion for sparring, I guess it was the way of balance, if you will, because she did not spar me. I sparred another young lady, and I was grateful that she sparred me.” 

As more events like this continue, Guertin said she would love to see more like it in a sport where women can feel dominated or overlooked.  

“Female sports is really taking off,” she said. “And I feel like in martial arts, it really has kind of fallen behind, and we really need to catch up in that realm. There are a lot of really strong, confident female women that just do so much in the martial arts world, and I really feel like they're just not celebrated enough.” 

RESULTS: 

*Competitors are matched with opponents of similar experience and belt rank 

Cassie Sheppard
First – form
First – weapons
First – sparring 

Adriana Morris
First – sparring
First – weapons  

Sara Byrd
Second – sparring
Second – weapons  

Jessie Young
First – weapons
Third – forms  

Brandi Guertin  
Second – forms
First – weapons
First/Grand Champion – sparring 

    Sara Byrd, left, receives a medal at the Bruises and Babes martial arts tournament in Richland. Byrd finished second in sparring and weapons.
  

    Brandi Guertin, right, shares a moment with a fellow competitor at the Bruises and Babes martial arts tournament.
  

    Freewind Martial Arts Studio representing their school at the Bruises and Babes all women’s martial arts tournament in Richland Saturday.