Yoni Ginor of Great Neck was awarded a Second Degree Black Belt from Tiger Schulman's Karate.

Yonatan (Yoni) Ginor of Great Neck, age 11, a student of the Great Neck branch of Tiger Schulman Karate, is one of few children, and one of the youngest in the United States, awarded the coveted second-degree black belt in karate.

On Sunday, April 29, following six years of training and an intense six-month period of testing, Yoni was found to be proficient in the disciplines of forms (kata), wood breaking, kick boxing and grappling to be granted the second degree black belt. The award ceremony took place at William Patterson College, in Patterson, NJ.

Sensei Curran, Yoni's instructor, said, "Yoni has the character of a leader and the discipline of a champion." Shihan (Tiger) Schulman, the organization's master, commented that Yoni has demonstrated to possess the "heart of a lion."

The organization is very proud of Yoni, as along with his karate skills he is also an honor student, and a math Olympiad champion at the North Shore Hebrew Academy, in Kings Point. Yoni is also a ranked long distance runner, specializing in 5 kilometer and 5 mile distances. His fellow students find him to be kind, modest and helpful, attributes that a Sempai (a black belt, "big brother") must maintain.

For any additional information on Tiger Schulman Karate and its school's 35 locations throughout the tri-state area, please refer to: www@tsk.com

For any additional information, please contact: Paul Castro, program director; Tiger Schulman Karate, Great Neck branch at 829-(CHOP)2467.