JAMAICA reaped a record 85 medals at the weekend’s International Sports Karate Association United States Open in Orlando, Florida, bagging 32 gold, 22 silver and 31 bronze from the world’s biggest martial arts open.

Combined team captain Nicholas Dusard handed Jamaica their 85th medal Saturday night, defeating arch-rival United States World Champion Julio Carlos live on ESPN’s Night of Champions at the Open.

Adult black belts from Jamaica’s combined martial arts team, comprising Kingston Taekwon-Do, Ningen, Rising Sun and Seido karate, were particularly impressive as they mined seven gold, four silver and three bronze.

The combined team won the three-man continuous-sparring title and the females placed second to Germany in the Intercontinental team-sparring Gold Cup. Members of the team, both males and females, swept clash-sparring divisions in individual bouts, winning five gold, one silver and a bronze.

Ningen’s Scott Wright, described by Dusard as always being able to pull something out of his hat, emerged as Jamaica’s star performer with three gold medals. He collected his first in the three-man team-fighting bout before returning to bag the -169lb titles in continuous and clash sparring.

Subrina Richards added the -129lb clash-sparring gold to her silver in the Gold Cup, emerging as the country’s top female fighter at the Open, beating teammate Marissa Jones in the final. Ashieka Dyer, who hardly leaves the US Open without a medal, won silver in the -129lb continuous sparring.

Veteran Heather Campbell, Jamaica’s flag bearer in traditional forms, was the country’s only adult black belt representative in forms and won bronze in the 40-and-over division.

Jamaica’s junior fighters, from black belt to beginners, accounted for the remaining medals, ensuring the country’s emerging status as a martial arts powerhouse remains in safe hands and feet.