The United States Team, Head Coach Don Rodrigues of Warwick, led Team USA to 9 medals at the WAKO World Kickboxing Championships in Italy.

Calvin Ross from the Don Rodrigues Karate Academy captured the Gold medal and is the 2009 WAKO World Champion in Soft Style Men’s Weapons. Also from the Don Rodrigues Karate Academy was Steve Kempf, who captured the Silver medal in Fighting. Kempf defeated the former World Champion from Italy in his first match, and then defeated the British and Slovenian Champions before losing to the Croatian Champion for the Gold medal.

Trixie Dumas and Dennis Molloy from State of the Arts Karate in Warwick captured medals. Dumas captured the Silver medal in 40/over Women’s Fighting and Molloy captured the Bronze in the 40/over Men’s Super Heavy Weight division.

In all, the USA Team captured 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals at the World Championships with just 17 competitors from the US. Over 50 countries and 700 competitors participated in the event.