If you haven't made your reservations yet, you may be about to miss the biggest martial arts event of the year. The Long Beach Internationals, being held July 28th , 29th, and 30th, 2006 is just around the corner. Executive Producer Steve Cooper has put together a combination of events never seen before. This year at The Internationals they will be celebrating 50 years of American Kenpo and the 42nd year of the Tournament itself. There are new divisions, new rules of competition and a whole new layout of how the event will be run. Competition is set up be individual disciplines; American Kenpo, Japanese/Okinawan, Chinese, Tae Kwon Do, Kajukenbo and Sport Karate, not to mention the Stick Fighting, Breaking, Demo Team and the most team sparring options ever offered.

The prize money has been raised this year as well, with the $5,000 men's Team Sparring Challenge. If you have a team you really need to check this out. There are two seeded returning champion teams, the West Coast being represented by Jack Felton's entourage and the East Coast being represented by Team NYC. For the eliminations, there will be two brackets of run offs, one for the west and one for the east. The winners for each bracket each earn $750 for first and $250 for runner-up. Those two teams then fight the East Coast or West Coast Champion for a chance for a $1000 prize. The winners of those two matches then fight on stage for television for another $1000.and to be crowned the International Team Champion for the event. Has any other tournament offered cash for not only the brackets but each winning stage for team sparring? The two teams in the final match will also be considered the new defending champions for the 2007 International team challenge with entry fees and hotel rooms for 2007 included. You owe it to your self to visit www.longbeachikc.com to see all the other prize money available before you decide where to compete this weekend. The finals show will be film for television release and includes a dinner with celebrities from the movie industry as well as some of the most famous martial artist of our times..

Not only will this be the most prestigious tournament of all times but, the International Film Festival is back again with an even stronger show, with several world premier movies being showcased. There is even a special martial arts category for any martial arts studio or team to enter a short film showcasing what they do. There will be a special American Kenpo workshop hosted by Professor Bob White with some of the most notable American Kenpo Instructors, with all proceeds being given to charity. Other workshops include Chad Egand, Bruce Nyugen, Patrick Miller, James Ibrao and many others

Mr. Cooper is proud to announce that Internationals has been selected as one of the Qualifying Tournaments for the newly developed Disney Wide World of Sports/Tiger Claw Elite circuit. These are special divisions of competition for black belts only.

If all that is not enough for you, Black Belt Magazine and the Internationals will be working together this year. The Black Belt Magazine Martial Arts Festival Tradeshow and Black Belt magazine's Hall of Fame dinner, will share the same location and be run jointly with the Internationals for 2006. There will be workshops in four separate rooms throughout the weekend with legends of Martial Arts from all styles represented. The Black Belt Magazine Martial Arts Festival features a trade with the best in martial arts equipment and information for school owners and competitors alike.

Let's recap what is going on - the Long Beach Internationals Karate Championships, Black Belt Hall of Fame dinner and trade show, International Action on Film Festival, 50 years anniversary of American Kenpo Celebration and camp, Disney Wide World of Sports, Tiger Claw Elite championship qualifier and all in the beautiful city of Long Beach, California July 28, 29 and 30, 2006.

This is definitely an event to plan a vacation around. Go to the website www.longbeachikc.com for all the details about what could be a once in a lifetime event.