Ozawa Sensei would have been proud. Karateka from around the world gathered to pay their respects to him and the event he worked so hard to create. All the participants seemed determined to carry on the fine tradition that Ozawa Sensei had begun almost 20 years ago.

Opening remarks by Magaly Ozawa, James Tawatao, and Hidy Ochiai remembered Ozawa Sensei as a man of vision whose karate legacy will endure far into the new century. The traditional Buddhist Ceremony included incense offerings by Magaly Ozawa, Takayuki Mikami, Kenzo Mabuni, Fumio Demura, and Minobu Miki.

The tournament finals began with: Individual Kata Women Barbara Chinen began the competition with Pechurin and received a score of 23.3. Austria's Orsela Inzinger performed Unsu and garnered a score of 23.2. Karolina Madrigal of Mexico scored a 22.9 with her version of Suparinpei. Tanya Sussilleaux's Suparinpei captured her a score of 23.1 Barbara Chinen - 1st Orsela Inzinger - 2nd Tanya Sussilleaux - 3rd Karolina Madrigal -3rd

Men Edgar Andrade's very athletic version of Suparinpei received a score of 23.1. Clay Morton performed the Shotokan kata, Sochin, and took a 23.0. Mexico's Hector Ortiz' rendition of Suparinpei captured a 23.2 score. Alfonso Gomez' performance of Annan earned 22.7. Hector Ortiz - 1st Edgard Andrade - 2nd Clay Morton - 3rd Alfonso Gomez - 3rd

Individual Kumite Women Shawna Carino of Hawaii scored the first waza-ari in her bout with Shannon Strand of California.
Shannon captured the match with an ippon (full point) for her jodan mawashi geri. Barbara Chinen scored two reverse punches to beat Darcy Mikami in the second semi-final match. Shawna Carino beat her teammate, Darcy Mikami, to take 3rd place. Chinen stuck with her accurate reverse punch and beat Shannon trand in the final to capture her 2nd title of this tournament.

Men The Men's Individual Kumite Finals was truly an international event as it featured competitors from 3 countries. Hiroshi Allen of the USA beat Jorn Hansen of Norway in a hard fought battle. Shinji Tanaka of Japan used two reverse punches to beat Jarle Sorken of Norway in the other semi-final bout. Hansen beat his teammate Sorken to take 3rd place. Tanaka narrowly edged Allen in the final match, 2-1.

Team Kata Austria performed a sharp Unsu to take first with a score of 23.2. Gene Tibon's Goju Ryu (Stockton) team performed Suparinpei to take second. Okinawa Ryuei-Ryu's Heiku captured 3rd place. Mexico's Seiden-Kai took 4th with a sharp Suparinpei. Team Kumite Always a highlight of this particular tournament, the Team Kumite event this year featured plenty of action from the competitors.

Team Norway, Pennsylvania Shotokan, SKI-Japan, and Central Illinois Shotokan offered the crowd plenty of action. Team Norway (Jorn Ove Hansen, Jarle Sorken, and Adam Older) provided a major highlight in beating Central Illinois Shotokan for 3rd place. Hansen, Sorken, and Older each scored full point (ippon) techniques against their opponents. Hansen with a jodan hook kick, Older with a roundhouse kick to the head, and Sorken with a footsweep followed by a reverse punch. SKI - Japan took the team title beating Pennsylvania Shotokan in the final.