The Hayden Karate Team
The Hayden Karate Team was begun in 2006 when the interest of kid's karate competition was
expressed to Instructor Wade Simmons by his students and parents. Simmons, a former
Tournament competitor and 3X Alabama State Champion began working with certain students
and preparing them for tournament competition and demos. When the 2007 Tournament Season
began, the team had already performed for the City of Gardendale in the official the
Annual Magnolia Festival, Elementary School demonstrations, pageants and put in hours
of training, working out 3-6 days a week. That determination would lead to great success
in 2007.
With 6 kids participating on the Karate circuit and bringing home over 30 trophies, the
year of 2008 hasn't started out slow. Though the official tournament season doesn't begin
till the month of February, the Hayden Karate Team had already won over 16 trophies in
the annual International Karate Kid's Tournament held at Jeff State Community College,
with Jaycee Guined winning first place in all divisions.
The team is made up of a group of elementary, middle and jr. high students from Hayden,
Corner, Morris, Gardendale and the North Jefferson area.
Some of the kids also compete in the AKC tournaments for extra experience. That extra
experience has proved to come in handy. The year 2008 was a very successful year with
Jessica Doss and Jaycee Guined winning State Championships in multiple divisions; and
with much more work to do 2009 will be even better.
The Hayden Karate Team Photo Gallery
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