The American Black Belt Academy competition team recently returned from a weekend karate tournament in Connecticut, bringing home 13 first place trophies. The event, called the Connecticut Open 2000, was sponsored by the Worldwide Kenpo Karate Association and featured many schools from throughout New England.

The Massapequa team dominated all the divisions and won first in Team Demonstrations. First place competitors from the American Black Belt Division for self defense; Johnny Ianniello, Black Belt Division for weapons, musical forms and musical weapons; Briony Lewis, Beginner Division, self-defense; Andrea Newman, Intermediate Division for forms, sparring and weapons; Kristen Newman, advanced division self-defense, musical weapons and sparring; and Chris Woisin, Black Belt Division for weapons.

Since November, the American Black Belt Academy competition teams have competed in Orlando, Madison Square Garden and Atlantic City with astounding results. The teams will be competing here in Massapequa at the American Karate Championships in November.