Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Claude Chin

COACH Claude Chin believes European representatives, Germany, will be tougher rivals than Argentina for Jamaica's combined martial arts team at the July 3 United States International Sports Karate Association Open Busta Inter-Continental Team Fighting Championship in Orlando, Florida.

After topping New Zealand, England and hosts United States at last year's inaugural championship, Jamaica will square off with Germany, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, the USA and an Asian nation, which is yet to be confirmed.

Whereas analysts are looking to Argentina as the team to beat, Chin is wary of the European champions, who had four super-heavyweights in their International Tae Kwon Do Federation World Championships team.

Tougher team

Chin said the presence of legendary coach, Master Ung Kim Lan, an eighth degree and vice-president of ITF Germany, makes them a tougher team than Argentina.

Master Lan has trained some of the world's greatest Tae Kwon Do champions and is considered the leading tactician in ITF team sparring.

Team captain Jason McKay agreed with Chin, saying the Argentineans have a better recent ring record but the Germans' height and size will make them formidable foes.

The Busta Inter-Continental Team Fighting Championship is shaping up to be the biggest challenge the unbeaten Jamaicans will face in four years.

Although Jamaica have beaten some of the world's best teams including Poland and Japan, they did so in one-off matches.

At The Busta Inter-Continental Team Fighting Championships, they will have to endure the rounds, traditionally not a strongpoint for the Jamaicans.

Recovering from injury

In addition, Jamaica's leading league fighter for the past two years, Kenneth Edwards, is recovering from injury.

He recently competed at the ITF Pan-Am Championship and was eliminated at the second round, sustaining a severe eye injury.

However, Edwards has since been back in training and has vowed to be sound for Jamaica's defence in Orlando.