An unbelievably close encounter

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

'CONTROVERSIAL' has always been used to describe the martial-arts ambitions of Jason McKay, captain of Jamaica's male combined team, and coach of the female team, which recently scored an historic victory over the United States in Philadelphia.

When McKay came out of retirement at age 34 in 2001, he was considered crazy to resume competition, after six years, at a time when many his age were on their way out.

Soon after, when he conceptualised a combined team of fighters from various art forms to start the national combined martial arts team, considering long-standing local and international divisions, he was again seen as bucking a trend.

Local martial arts enthusiasts thought he had finally gone over the edge when he announced he was leading the combined team to Asia to take on Japan and they also thought he was way ahead of himself when he took the female team to face the mighty United States two weekends ago.

Unbeaten status

So far, McKay has not only staged a successful comeback but has led the male and coached the female combined teams to unbeaten status.

The men have not lost in more than 30-odd team bouts and the females completed the hat-trick against the United States.

The male team has won worldwide fame and the girls are hot on their trail after their recent triumph on United States soil.

McKay said he understood the concern local enthusiasts had regarding Jamaica's young and inexperienced female side facing members of the United States' world championship team.

"On paper, Jamaica should have lost," McKay conceded.

"First, they are coached by one of the most talented coaches I have ever met, Alvin Bernard," he pointed out.

"Second, the USA's microweight, Zarina Ikromova, had beaten our captain, Sheckema Cuningham in September, a pretty clear beating, and she was expected to face her again," the team coach added.

"There was no one on our squad, I thought, could beat Kiabeth Jimenez, based on her size and experience as a lightweight

"The Americans' selection for the psychological first fighter out was wide. We didn't know who to prepare for. So, on paper, their misgivings were reasonable," he admitted.

However, McKay said it took a well-executed plan to topple the Americans on home turf.

"I had examined the tape and knew Cunningham could beat Ikromova. I saw the mistakes she made and knew what I was working on.

"Everybody thought Grannum would have faced Jimenez, because of her size. However, I had no intention of having Grannum fight her. What I knew was Grannum could beat anybody else they had."

McKay's plan went like clockwork. Cunningham turned the tables on Ikromova, he used the much-smaller Danielle Chang for a draw against Jimenez and had Grannum squeeze a tight win over mixed-martial arts fighter Ha Thang in the closing bout.

"I knew once Cunningham got past Ikromova, it would determine who I sent out next, but I wasn't sending out my clutch fighter," he explained.

"I think it was good strategy and planning on our part. The athletes were well prepared. You could see Bernard's touch on the USA. They were in pristine form. Grannum and Chang's match could have gone to the USA. It was very close.

"We won because Cuningham won, giving us the opening to strategise."