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This page is dedicated to those students who have been recognized for their achievements both inside and outside the dojo.

All proceeds from this tournament are being donated directly from our karate club to the Bay View Family YMCA "Invest In Youth" campaign. For various reasons, the turnout from schools outside the YMCA was very light this time. Four invited schools sent a total of only 5 competitors, and this kept our overall participation and fundraising lower than projected. However, I believe those who did come enjoyed themselves.

We're getting better with each home tournament we host. This day's event was better organized and more efficiently run than previous affairs, and it's a delight for me to note that this trend improves as more folks take on tasks I used to do alone! We must thank the Moss Family for their tireless efforts this time. Kathy and her sons Mike and Kyle did most of the organizational work, and this event simply would not have come off as it did without them! Lieske van der Made, Kristen North, Don LaRosa, Barb Sforza, Carm Rinaldi, and Missy Rosenberry also lent valuable support. Jackie Goldstein, in the Bay View office, has been absolutely invaluable in working with Paul Rose and me, particularly in establishing new and easier registration methods for all our special events, beginning with this one. The Member Service Staff at the front desk were extremely helpful throughout the registration process. Many thanks to Shihan Stokelin, Sensei LaPlaca, and Joe Heberle for coming to Bay View and refereeing this tournament again! Sensei Cianciotto and Steve Goodrich always lend their presence as well. Many parents and adult/teen students volunteered in the rings and scoring tables during the tournament, and I want to thank you all for offering your needed help.

Our heartiest congratulations go to Emma Soanes, who was chosen by her fellow competitors to receive the Shotokan Tiger award for best sportsmanship! Emma, the other children see you as a wonderful example to follow, and I agree. Each of today's competitors went home with ribbons, pins, or medals, which should be kept as mementos of personal efforts that yielded success. This, together with Emma's Shotokan Tiger for sportsmanship, are valuable lessons we can learn from well-run karate tournaments.

OSS! Sensei:

I thought you might be interested in putting these in your newsletter:

One of my Black Belts, Rick Parinello has just left for Japan to teach
English and to train. He will be gone for a year. I know he will be a
fine representative for SKJF.

Baltazar Melendez, a Sandan at our dojo, competed this weekend in the
Arnold Swartzenegger martial arts tournament. Balt is sparring and
performing empty hand kata in the traditional division.
I will pass along any favorable results as I find them out.

I was nominated by one of my former students, and selected to be named in
the Who's Who of American Teachers. I was honored that a student, who had
already graduated, thought that I had a favorable influence on her life.
It is another plus for following the martial arts philosophy in your
daily life.

Empire students who compete in AAU tournaments, continue to bring home
the medals. One of our junior girls won gold with a bo kata that she
recently learned. Others have won gold in kata and kumite.

I hope some of these add to the newsletter.

Joe

Sensei,
Thought you'd be interested in this correspondence with one of my karate
parents.
Justin
****************************

Justin,

Thanks for the wonderful update about the nursing home demonstration.
You are such a great role model and leader for our students. I love your
enthusiasm. Jillian had hoped to participate but was given a project
assignment on Wednesday for completion on Friday that was quite involved
so she couldn't spare the time. The good news is that she received a
102% on her assignment! Guess what the topic was?? Karate, of course!!
She had to do a presentation on what her "anti-drug" is. The Health
teacher asked the students to present on an activity or an interest that
they are involved in that will help keep them away from drugs. She did a
great poster showing her receiving her Blue belt (outlining the steps of
testing: kata and sparring); she shared her sparring equipment and medals
as well as her goals for Karate and how this activity will help keep her
from drugs. Just thought you might enjoy knowing how your students use
Karate outside of the dojo.

Kim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Kim,

WOW! That is astonishing! Please give Jillian my congratulations.
Indeed, drugs and martial arts don't go together. She obviously spent
lots of time on her project assignment, giving plenty of thought to her
participation in karate, which in turn helped her to gel her plans and to
focus on clear goals for herself. What an excellent way to relate a life
experience with school. It reminds me of when she did that kata
demonstration to music with her friend last year. What a girl! Tell
Jillian that I am logging her "102% Karate Report" as an extra tip
qualifying event!

Thanks for the great news,
Justin