Three students from the Genbu-Kai Karate School in Wellington traveled to Santa Ana, Calif., to compete in the 42nd annual Goodwill Championships. The students had the opportunity to participate in seminars, conducted by world recognized instructors in karate, kobudo (Okinawan weapons) and batto (Japanese sword).
The two-day competition comprised more than 500 competitors total, from all around the world, including the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The students competed in kata (form), kumite (sparring), weapons kata and sparring, and sword kata and cutting. Ron Martin took first place in adult intermediate sparring, second place in adult intermediate forms and third place in beginner adult sword kata divisions. Joshua Cammarata took first place in junior weapons kata, and first place in junior weapons sparring. This was Cammarata’s first time competing.
In addition to the learning and competition, three karate moms from Sensei Keith Moore’s original school in upstate New York were invited to test for their first level adult black belt ranks. All three moms were originally spectators while their children, who are now all black belts themselves, took classes from Moore. Moore and his family moved to South Florida in 2003, and shortly thereafter, the moms became students themselves.
The three Florida students are from The Acreage, Wellington and West Palm Beach areas, and a great learning experience was had by all.
Genbu-Kai is a traditional Japanese martial arts school located at 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A-21, in the Wellington Marketplace. For more information, call (561) 804-1002 or visit the Genbu-Kai web site at www.floridagenbukai.com.
Above: (Front row, L-R) Joshua Cammarata and Brent Bedwell; (back row) Adam Segal, Mike Hritcko, Diane Fitzpatrick, Sharon Mariani, Lou Ann Black, Sensei Keith Moore and Ron Martin.
