Last weekend, the Florida Sunshine State Games made its way to Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Convention Center was the host venue for the event, which ran Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18. The Florida Sports Foundation partnered up with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to bring the games to the area.
The games are in their 38th year. The sports tradition promotes high-level competition among amateur athletes of all ages. Some of the events hosted by the games at the convention center were boxing, taekwondo, judo, karate, weightlifting, baton twirling and fencing. More than 2,000 athletes from all over Florida gathered for the two-day event.
Master Instructor Robert Caullett of Caullett’s Martial Arts Academy brought 14 of his students to compete in the taekwondo event. Students competed in forms and sparring. Caullett assisted in coaching his students during the competition.
“We’ve been with the Village of Wellington for six years,” he said. “My family has been in the martial arts in West Palm Beach since 1983, and we’re also in the Zoo Health Club in Royal Palm Beach.”
Caullett explained that although they understand that the sport is a big part of the martial arts, the students are trained at their academy to be prepared for anything. Athletes from age 5 to adults competed in the taekwondo event. Some competitors were in the 30 to over-40 range.
Caullett’s competitors ranged from age 5 to over 30. The students had developed their taekwondo skills from beginner white belt level all the way to third degree black belt.
For more information, visit www.flasports.com/sunshine-state-games.
