Westbury Okinawan Karate Hosts LI Shidokan Association Tournament
Friday, 25 December 2009 00:00
On Nov. 22, the Long Island Shidokan Association conducted its third annual karate tournament at the Westbury Village Sports Center, 346 Post Avenue. The Long Island Shidokan Association, which is made up of the following three Long Island dojos – Westbury Okinawan Karate, Budokan Karate in Hicksville and Budokan of Little Neck – and over 60 students from these dojos competed against each other.
Male and female multilevel blackbelts to 4-year-old whitebelts competed before an audience of family, friends and other visitors, including Westbury Village Mayor Peter Cavallaro, who welcomed all of the participating students and wished them well, and Village Clerk Ted Blach. Additionally, the blackbelts of all three dojos acted as judges, as well as competed in the tournament and put on a Kata demonstration.
Many of Westbury’s students took home trophies for first, second and third place in their respective divisions, as did those who attained honorable mention accolades, including:
First Place
Wilber Claudio
Dexter Golbourne
Nazyer Jackson
Karthik Manta
Leslie Villafuerte
Second Place
Gregory Jarvis
Viron Jones
Melvin Whitehead
Bryan Villafuerte
Third Place
Christina Bonaparte
James Claudio
Isabella Escorza
Jael Ferguson
Matthew Libby
Kiarra Richardson
Honorable Mention
Greg Abram
Tyler Bonaparte
Gerber Claudio
Lidia Claudio
Joseph Ferguson
Joseph Mothersil
Victor Perez
Claudia Perez
Sienna Richardson
The Westbury Okinawan Karate School (dojo), has been working with the Westbury Recreation Department to bring a traditional Okinawan style of karate to the village. The program, coordinated by Sensei John Power 4th Dan, is in its fifth year and the school runs a continuous program that eventually leads to blackbelt and beyond. Westbury Okinawan Karate School welcomes male and female students ages six years to adult. New students are always welcome and there is continuous enrollment every Monday and Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For additional information, contact Sensei John Power at 333-8489 or visit www.westburykarate.com.
