Almost 200 fighters from 19 clubs brought the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre to life on Saturday during the much-improved Bay Open.
It was the first time the annual tournament had featured the high-tech scoring system used at the Olympics, in which sensors inside safety padding triggers scoring in real time.
Master Kesi O'Neill, who doubles as the high performance director of the national team, was thrilled to have 30 of his club fighters on show against some of the North Island's best.
"I get to see the seniors and the up-and-coming juniors at the same time, so when it comes to picking the team I know all the fighters," Mr O'Neill said.
Two members of the Australian team also competed, as fighters from both countries prepare for domestic competition.
Points were awarded under the new scoring system to fighters who struck sensing pads on the chest of their opponents. The threshold of force for scoring points changed relative to each division. The system will be used at the nationals in Auckland on October 5, so the weekend proved an invaluable experience for fighters ranging from six to 45 years of age.
