CAPTAIN of Jamaica's combined martial arts team, Jason McKay, has said the seven gold medals won by members of Jamaica's junior contingent to the recent US Open World Martial Arts Championship in Orlando, Florida, represent the future of the island's martial arts.

The combined team won a third consecutive hold on the Busta US Open World Continental Team Fighting Championship, topping Argentina, the USA, Vietnam and New Zealand.

Whereas the local martial arts community is still celebrating the combined team's convincing victory over the world's top team-fighting outfits, McKay has warned that unless the young talents are honed and exposed internationally, similar to West Indies cricket, the sport could hit reverse.

"We should not take it for granted. Unless we continue to cultivate talented fighters like Nicholas Dussard, Alrick Wanliss and Kenneth Edwards, in an orchestrated and scientific manner, what will happen is our world dominance will fall," said McKay.

flow of talent

Jamaica Taekwondo, Jamaica Beverages and McKay Security sponsor a high school programme to expose talent from boys' high schools to ensure a constant flow of talent.

The programme has produced many young stars such as Oshane Murray, Dominic Young and Ackeem Lawrence who, after winning multiple medals at the US Open, are raring to one day represent the combined team.

Jamaica's juniors shone at the July 3-4 tournament with participants from Jamaica Taekwondo, Rising Sun and Ningen Karate.

Calabar's Oshane Murray and Campion's Shanel Chisholm were the top performers at the Coronado Resort.

Jamaica Taekwondo's Murray was the only Jamaican junior to leave the tournament with two gold medals for sparring.

Chisholm of Rising Suns was a multiple medal winner, taking home a gold and three silver.

best fighters

The combined team selects the top 10 fighters in the country on points, earned in local and international bouts.

With at least three members over 30 - McKay, Shiah Shukura, Arthur Barrows and Shawn Cummings - it is expected a fair injection of young talent will be waiting in the wings.

McKay also pointed to sponsor-ship of the combined team as its lifeblood.

"Sponsorship has been major for us," he said. "Millions of dollars spent by Jamaica Beverages over a four-year period to ensure Jamaica have the best team in the world.

"Without Jamaica Beverages; coach Chin, who works free of cost; Peter Lue's benevolence, allowing us to use his facility free of cost; the country would not be enjoying the international status it now does," said McKay.