February 26, 2010
Shihan Serge Clark Chief instructor of OKINAWA karate KOBUDO kai hosted the 6th karate KOBUDO championships on January 31, 2010. Since moving to long island, New York from the beautiful state of Hawaii 12 years ago, Shihan Clark has hosted six tournaments in the New York area. As a trade mark the tournament stated right on time at 9:00 am sharp. The national anthem was playing as the crowds were finding there way into the Elmcor gym located in Corona Queens. The few who were not use to tournaments starting on time were disappointed; when they arrived late and discover that there divisions already went.
The New York Okinawa karate KOBUDO championships draw competitors from across the northeastern region and Canada. Shihan Clark’s tournaments are well run and well attended. Beside the new York traditional league (NYTKL) members as his key supporters he draw support from all of the major karate organizations, USA-NKF, AAU, SKIF, ITKF, AJKA, ISKA and more… This year the New York Okinawa Karate KOBUDO Championships was full of surprises. The tournament started with team kata and the kobudo divisions one of the first surprise came in the kobudo division, when 10 year old Seiji Clark from okinawa karate kobudo kai of Elmont, New York defeated all the teenagers and adults to walk away with the six foot KOBUDO grand champion trophy.
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Middle weight Slava Tatarynov from DKD sport karate had a tough fight against sensei Luis Ruiz of goshin ryu shotokan in the men 18 to 34 black belt division, but he prevail and went on to win. Justin pine of world champion karate center defeated Michael Mondello of long island Shotokan in the heavy weight finals to set up the grand championship bout with Slava Tatarynov. Justin would not be denied on this cold New York winter day; he defeated tatarynov with speed and power to win the beautiful six foot kumite grand champion trophy.
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Michelle Guzman from Falcon international karate association won the 13 years and under kata grand champion, while Kevin Hauser from Lopresti’s karate defeated Ian Fung Quee of Long island Shotokan for the 14 thru 17 year old black belt kata grand championships. Gabrielle Volino from Shihan Gus Larea’s traditional karate America dojo won the women 18-34 light weight division and had to face a very determine Christine Pigott from Ronin Shotokan for the women kumite grand champion. Pigott captured the grand championships 3 to 2.
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Shihan Victor Mosquera was the other surprise of the 6th New York OKINAWA karate KOBUDO championships. The sixty four year old Mosquera won his own 45 years and older kata divission and went on to capture the kata grand champion title from 30 year old Julian Secu of Larea karate. Shihan Mosquera is an inspiration to all of us, in his dedication in the practice of karate-do.
Okinawa Karate Kobudo Kai
1626 Dutch Broadway
Elmont, N.Y. 11003 TEL: (516) 326-0277
