About AuthorGM Maurice Elmalem7 Time World Champion,8 Time Guinness World Record HolderAuthor, Producer, Artist, Developer www.mauricepromartialarts.com

Arnold Sports FestivalMarch 1-4, 2018Columbus Ohio USA

The Arnold Classic Worldwide brand is now thelargest multi-sports festival in the world. Thisyear’s USA Arnold Sports Festival featured over17,500 athletes from 55 countries, competing inmore than 75 events such as body building formen and women, gymnastics, martial arts, Ms.Bikini, fitness, figure, dancing, lacrosse, tabletennis, powerlift ing, and more. The mostamazing event to watch each year is World’sStrongman Classic won this year by Hafþór Júlíus"Thor" Björnsson, actor from the HBO “Game ofThorns” who finished second place last year.Hafþór not only won World’s Strongest Man 1stPlace but also set a new world record lifting472kg (1041lbs) in the elephant bar deadlift.Brian Shaw was second with a l ift of 1016pounds. Mateusz Kieliszkowski of Poland wonThe Stone Shoulder by lifting the 410-pound rockfour times. In the finals Jerry Pritchett won theTimber Carry moving 1102 pounds wooden frameup a 35 foot ramp in 9.5 seconds. The ArnoldClassic has a history of outstanding worldrecords broken so many times over, it brings thebest of the best to compete every year for themost impossible trophy to win. That is the dreamfor all athletes trying their best to be recognizedin the world as the most outstanding winners andworld breakers in history of sports.

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The Arnold Sports Festival began three decades ago, since1989 with great success. Now this spectacular event hasbeen extended to Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Asia, HongKong, Europe, Spain and etc. Let’s continue with this year’sevents. Overall winners are as follows: Wil l iam “TheConqueror” Bonac won the 30th Anniversary Arnold Classicover Dexter Jackson and last year’s winner Cedrick McMilan.Mikhail Volinkin of Uzbekistan won the Men’s BodybuildingChampionship. Fitness won by Milica Narancic of USA.Figure won by Lola Montez of Canada. In the Arnold MissBikini Competit ion Angelica Teixeira, won the BikiniInternational for the second consecutive year. RoellyWinklaar won “The Most Muscular” 2018 award, KevinNguyen of USA took the Men’s Physique title. Classic

Physique was taken by Lucas Disanti of USA, for theWomen’s Physique Christelle Zarovska of Netherlandsclaimed that title. Now let’s go to the International SportsHall of Fame organized by Dr. Robert Goldman. Amongthis year’s inductees were Rhonda Rousey UFC WorldChampion (who broke many records) inducted into ITSHOFreceiving her 6th Degree black belt along side her motherMaria Rousey 7th Degree black belt in Judo. Bas Ruthenformer UFC heavyweight champion, UFC Hall of Famekickboxer and actor was inducted into ITSHOF as well. Terry& Jan Todd former record powerlifters and Phil Keoghan ofNew Zealand TV an avid cyclist also were inducted into theInternational Sports Hall of Fame 2018. All the inducteeswere congratulated by Dr. Goldman and Governor Arnold for

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their outstanding achievements and good service to the public. This year’s martial artsArnold Event were organized by GM Jhoon P. Choi, 9th Degree black belt, SeniorGrand Master President/Founder, Oriental Martial Arts Training since 1956. Startedteaching since 1963, trained over 25,000 students and produced most U.S. NationalChampion World Peace Ambassador Award by United General Chairman, Arnold Battleof Columbus Martial Arts World Games. Coached 1988 Olympics.GM Choi started the Battle of Columbus championships 43 years ago also creator of

the Bruce Lee & Legends of Martial Arts Hall of Honor, held Friday 3/2/2018. I washonored to receive this year’s award as well. Among the martial arts styles that tookplace this year: Taekwondo, Karate, KongFu, Judo, Hapkido, TaiChi, Tang SoDo, andetc.It is always great to see the bigger names in sports at the Arnold Classic bodybuilding and Martial Arts descend in Columbus, Ohio. The 2018 Arnold SportsFestival celebrates new stars such as Kamal Elgargni, winner of this year’s Arnold 212.To sum up the event it was fantastic, and more memorable to last a lifetime. Specialthanks to Matt Lorz for such a great job and to Jim Lorimar and Gov. Arnold for hostingthis year’s Arnold Classic 2018. And to everyone in attendance for your support, all thebest until next year good luck everyone.From all of us at Budo Magazine family.