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Sydney Jones, 7, will be entering the second grade at Kingston Springs Elementary School (KSES) this August, and while she's learning to add and subtract during the day, two nights a week she trains vigorously to hold her title as the nation's top point sparring contestant.
Jones' mother, Kim McClanahan Hoard, told the Gazette that in her three years of practicing the sport, she has earned 62 medals and trophies.
Jones ranks #1 in the country for point sparring in the girls group for ages 6-7. According to her mom, Jones began point sparring when she was 4 years old.
Point sparring is a form of martial arts competition where the goal is to score points by striking or kicking your opponent. Unlike full-contact sparring, point sparring is less about brute force and more about strategy and skill. It requires speed, agility, timing and precision to be successful.
Jones trains two nights a week at Soul and Body Martial Arts in Bellevue, and has been working with the same sensei, Steven Bates, from the start of her career.
According to her mom, this is only Jones' second year competing. Last year, she ranked #2 in the country.
Her fight to the top for the 2024 season has been a breeze, and with an 800 point gap between her and the girl ranked in #2, Kingston Springs' Jones is expected to hold her reigning title.
Her mother said they travel monthly to competitions across the country, and earlier this July Jones took the top spot in her category at the U.S. Open in Orlando, Florida. In November, they will head to St. Louis, Missouri for the championship.
Jones' mom said she feels the most proud watching the joy on her child's face while playing the sport. "Every time she gets another trophy, it's like the first one," she said.
Jones is also a cheerleader at KSES and learning how to play guitar from her neighbor, songwriter Jim Moran.
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