Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
'Icekid' ultimately a cool winner
In grappling and kickboxing, 6-year-old A.J. Lopez brought home two first-place trophies.
By AMBER MOBLEY
Published June 9, 2006
CARROLLWOOD - "Icekid" A.J. Lopez froze out the competition Sunday in Morristown, N.J., returning to sunny Florida with two trophies from Tiger Schulmann's Challenge of Champions. The 6-year-old Claywell Elementary School student won first place in grappling and kickboxing events at the ultimate fighting tournament. "Ultimate fighting," a mixed martial art form known for its intensity, blends kickboxing, karate and a variety of other disciplines. Sporting his signature mohawk hairstyle, A.J. also donned fake tattoos on the sides of his head while fighting eight competitors for the two trophies that come chin-high to his 47-inch-tall frame. A crowd of 3,000 watched round after round, and more than 1,600 Tiger Schulmann students from around the country participated. Adults from Tiger Schulmann's Carrollwood location who also went to New Jersey to compete came to the tournament hours before their scheduled fights to support A.J. - the only child attending from the Carrollwood dojo. And A.J.'s family - dad Anthony, mom Adele and sister Shelby - of Lutz's Crystal Lake neighborhood were there wearing shirts that read, "Ice Dad", "Ice Mom" and "Ice Sis." A.J. named himself the "Icekid" after his favorite Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. But unlike the Iceman, the Icekid suited up in protective headgear, shin guards and boots for his tournament, where several "ultimate fighting" techniques were illegal, such as body slamming and standing position kicks to an opponent's head, neck or face. "His voice is a little hoarse and he's a little run down today," Adele Lopez said Tuesday, "but he did awesome. It was so exciting." A.J. agrees and simply said, "It was tough but I did my best." Amber Mobley can be reached at 813 269-5311 or amobley@sptimes.com.
[Last modified June 9, 2006, 08:51:54]
Share your thoughts on this story
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor