Thirty four students at Charles Water's Karate & Fitness Center, Hwang Karate Studio in Williston Park, including three Westbury residents and two Old Westbury residents, have received belt promotions after successfully completing a series of extensive exams.

The students were evaluated on their physical skill as well as the character discipline required of the martial arts.

"Our goal at Hwang Karate is to facilitate mental growth enabling our students to reach their highest potential as human beings," said Charles Water, owner and director of the school. Our studio teaches students how to defend themselves responsibly while instilling self-confidence, self-discipline and respect for others."

Charles Water's Hwang Karate Studio, Inc. is a full time, professional martial arts school, with classes for children, adults and teenagers.

Students receiving belt promotions include the following:

From Westbury: Stephen Kelly to Green Belt One Stripe, Michael Kennedy to Red Belt One Stripe, Sarah Kennedy to Red Belt Two Stripes.

From East Williston: Donald Balducci to Orange Belt, Kirk Balducci to Orange Belt, B.J. Schiela to Orange Belt One Stripe.

From Oyster Bay: Bryan Bongiovanni to Red Belt Two Stripes.

From New Hyde Park: Leanna Bornkamp to Green Belt Two Stripes, Ryan Collins to Red Belt, Daniel Spratt to Green Belt.

From Roslyn Heights: Chelsea Burswasser to Green Belt, Eric Chan to Orange Belt, Timothy Chan to Orange Belt.

From East Northport: Robert Cherkis to Red Belt One Stripe.

From Albertson: Elizabeth Cohen to Orange Belt One Stripe, Nikhil Iyer to Red Belt Two Stripes.

From Mineola: Anthony Conway to Green Belt One Stripe, Matthew Jones to Orange Belt, Jeffrey Mota to Green Belt One Stripe, Justin Sandler to Orange Belt One Stripe, Nikolas Vale to Green Belt One Stripe.

From Manhasset: Jason Grunberg to Red Belt, Michael Wysota to Red Belt One Stripe.

From Hollis: Ernest Keller to Orange Belt One Stripe.

From Williston Park: Regina Laube to Orange Belt One Stripe, Philip Lopresti to Orange Belt One Stripe, Michael Picard to Orange Belt One Stripe, Brett Windisch to Orange Belt.

From East Hills: Paige Mintz to Green Belt, Zachary Mintz to Green Belt, Derek Orshan to Green Belt One Stripe.

From Old Westbury: Rahul Rai to Red Belt Two Stripes, Dylan Sherman to Orange Belt.

From Port Washington: Farah Wakani to Green Belt One Stripe.