JAMAICA’S martial arts contingent continued their impressive showing at the International Sports Karate Association United States Open in Orlando, rattling up 39 medals after two days of competition at the Coronado Resort on Friday.

Led by Rising Sun Academy’s 20 medals, Jamaica on Friday won 11 gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze at the world’s biggest martial arts open event.

The group, comprising six Jamaican martial arts schools, eagerly awaited Saturday’s final-day count, hoping to surpass last year’s haul of 83 medals.

Rising Sun led the way with 20 medals, including seven gold inclusive of Jason Francis, creative weapon 14-15; Michael Roache, traditional weapon 14-15; Kevin Brown, traditional weapon, adult; Tifanny Haddon, creative weapon 8-9; Leon Beckford, creative weapon 14-15; Alessandro Doshi, creative 7-8 and Jodi-Ann Francis, continuous sparring, 13-14.

They also picked up four silver medals courtesy of Abigail Williams, creative weapon 6-7; Matthew Lawson, traditional weapon 9-10; Leon Beckford, traditional weapon 14-15 and Russell English, creative weapon 8-9.

Rising Sun got nine bronze with Abigail Williams, traditional weapon 6-7; Daijon Budhai, traditional weapon 6-7; Jason Francis, traditional weapon 15-16; Lee Michael Henry, traditional weapon, five and under; Kevin Brown, adult continuous sparring, Kyoshi Heather Campbell, adult traditional weapon; Joshua Williams, creative weapon, 12-13, Daijon Budhai, continuous sparring 6-7 and Alessandro Doshi, traditional weapon, 7-8.

The Jamaica Taekwondo team mined nine medals with three gold in Ashieka Dyer, black belt continuous sparring, 18 and over, 120-129; Aziza Taylor, continuous sparring 15-17 and Tahja Hewitt, continuous sparring 14-15.

They got three silver medals in Jason McKay, two-man team sparring; Kemar Bryan, 16-17 intermediate, continuous sparring and Chevaughn Wilkins 14-15 continuous sparring.

Jordane Emmanuel 14-15 continuous sparring; Subrina Richards, 14-15 black belt continuous sparring and Tye McKay, continuous sparring, 12-13 won bronze.

The Ningen won six medals, including one gold by Atario Brown, traditional weapon, 8-9. Four silver — Keith Edwards, black belt two-man team sparring; Suewellyn Wynter, traditional weapon 13-14 black belt; Dirk Harrison, traditional weapon, seven and under and Christopher Simpson, silver 12-13 green belt continuous sparring.

Suewellyn Wynter captured bronze in the continuous sparring, 13-14 black belt.

Future Leaders captured one silver courtesy of Sheckema Cunningham in the black belt continuous sparring, 18 and over, 119. First Jamaica Zendo also won one medal as Tyrique Tailoy captured bronze in the creative weapon 10-11.

Jamaica’s male and female combined martial arts teams on Thursday won gold and silver medals, respectively, with victories over the United States and Argentina to land their sixth consecutive Gold Cup title.

Jamaica’s girls, led by captain Cunningham, got past Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. They, however, went down to Puerto Rico in a thrilling final.

Anchored by Olympian Kenneth Edwards and Nicholas Dussard, Jamaica’s three-man team was completed by the improving Adrian Moore.

Jamaica first beat Venezuela 2-0 through Moore and Dussard. In the semi-final against the United States, Dussard was first out and easily stopped his rival but Moore was held to a draw by Carlos Emmanuel.

Edwards made his appearance by beating George Kayumov to send Jamaica into the final against Argentina.

Dussard gave the combined team an early lead against the Argentines. However, Moore lost his middleweight bout, while Edwards secured victory for Jamaica as his rival proved no match in the final bout.

Captain Jason McKay afterwards said Jamaica was unbeatable in weight-regulated team fighting and praised coach Claude Chin.

“Coach Chin did a remarkable job preparing them and they were in tremendous shape. You can really see they’re ready for October’s World Champs in Spain,” he said.