Circuit Martial Arts has big success at year-end ATA tournament

The 2025 ATA tournament year ended in June with Circuit Martial Arts having the No. 1 District and State champions. Students compete throughout the year in up to eight different events. Circuit Martial Arts had 21 individuals bringing home a total of 65 championships (11 District and 54 State) in Traditional Form, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon, Traditional Sparring, Creative Form, Creative Weapon, Xtreme Form and Xtreme Weapon.

Competitors earn points at each tournament based on their performance, with the top point earners in each division earning the state champion title.

Top point earners in each region then compete in their respected region for the District Title. Circuit Martial Arts is in the North District representing North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.

Competitors range in age from five years to adult and White Belts to 6 Degree Black Belts.

The ATA World Tournament in Phoenix July 22-29 was the culmination of the tournament year featuring competition of the top point earnings for 2024-25. A total of 2,800 competitors from around the world participated at this level. ATA is located in the U.S.A., Central America, South America, Korea, Europe, Africa and Canada.

Max Meyer: This year, 1st Degree Black Belt, Max Meyer, competed in the Tournament of Champions (top point earners for the tournament year).

Meyer placed 1st Degree Black Belts - Special Abilities Physical division, bringing home two, second-place wins.

Tate Green: 4th/5th Degree, Women 18-29 years – District Champ, Creative Weapon; State Champ, Traditional and Creative Weapon.

Gavin Buseman: 2nd Degree Boys 11-12 years – District Champ, Creative Weapon; State Champ, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon and Creative Weapon.

Devyn Buseman: 1st Degree Girls 13-14 years – District Champ, Creative Weapon; State Champ, Traditional Weapon, Traditional Sparring and Creative Weapon.

Ethan MacFadden: Color Belt Boys 13-14 years – District Champ, Traditional Weapon and Combat Weapon; State Champ, Traditional Form, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon, Traditional Sparring, Creative Weapon and Xtreme Weapon.

Faye Fernholz: Color Belt Girls 9-10 years – District Champ, Traditional Weapon.

Lisa MacFadden: Color Belt Women - 40-49 years – District Champ, Creative Form, Creative Weapon, Xtreme Form, Xtreme Weapon; State Champ, Traditional Form, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon, Traditional Sparring, Creative Form, Creative Weapon, Xtreme Form and Xtreme Weapon.

Henry Mumm - 2nd Degree Boys - 13-14 years – State Champ, Traditional Weapon, Creative Weapon.

Paige Rolph - 2nd Degree Women - 18-29 years – State Champ, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon.

Max Meyer - 1st Degree Boys - 13-17 Special Abilities – State Champ, Traditional Weapon, Traditional Form

Logan Doss - 1st Degree Boys - 11-12 years – State Champ, Combat Weapon         

Chet Wiersma - 1st Degree Boys - 9-10 years – State Champ, Creative Weapon, Xtreme Weapon

Larry Halveron - 1st Degree Men - 50-59 years – State Champ - Traditional Weapon

Julian Krajca - Color Belt Boys 9-10 years – State Champ, Traditional Sparring, Xtreme Form

Carter MacFadden - Color Belt Boys 9-10 years – State Champ, Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapon. Traditional Sparring, Creative Weapon, Xtreme Weapon

Jaxon Krajca - Color Belt Boys 8 years & under – State Champ, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon, Traditional Sparring, Creative Weapon

Abbott Wang - Color Belt Boys 11-12 years – State Champ, Traditional Form, Traditional Weapon, Combat Weapon

Stephen Schleifer - Color Belt Boys 11-12 years – State Champ, Traditional Sparring, Creative Weapon

Brighton Ellerbroek - Color Belt Girls - 11-12 years – State Champ, Traditional Form, Traditional Weapon

Quinn Wang - Color Belt Girls - 8 years & under – State Champ, Traditional Weapon

Kolten Wiersma: Color Belt Boys 8 years & under – State Champ, Creative Weapon, Xtreme Weapon

Eugene Eterno (not pictured) Color Belt Boys 8 years & under – State Champ, Traditional Form