2008 News

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May 4 - Ashburn, Virginia
Mid-Atlantic Shito-Kai athlete Umar Dar finished fourth in the 12-13 year old, advanced kata and kumite divisions at the AAU Region II Championships held May 4 in Ashburn, VA. 

Dar is now competing in the advanced division after his recent promotion to Shodan-ho by USA Shito-Kai executive director Jeff Bedard.
"I'm happy to see Umar Dar representing himself well in his new competitive division", said Bedard.

 “Umar (Dar) has always brought spirit into the ring,” said coach Brian Oviatt, “At this event he brought strategy as well.  His second round, with the eventual winner, was easily the most exciting of the division, ended in overtime.  Dar fought a very smart fight; cutting short some of his opponent’s best plays.  The final call just didn’t go his way.” 

Say's Bedard, "I think all the sensei appreciate the largeness of the step.  We are looking for great things from him."

May 2 - Updated conglomerate athlete finishes - Midwest region in PDF

April 23 - Mehlville, Missouri
Jonathon McDaniel, who placed 2nd at the ISKC sectional meet April 18 at Palatine University in Chicago, Illinois, was a featured in the April edition of "Student Prints" by writer Josh Sellmeyer.  McDaniel (17) is a member of the USA Shito-Kai team and trains at the Columbia Karate Academy in Columbia, Illinois.  He began his career as a youth player under coach Jeff Bedard of Belleville, Illinois.  He is now coached by Nicholas Reeder, owner of the Columbia Karate Academy.  Click here for the article in PDF Format.

April 18 - Chicago, Illinois
Midwest Shito-Kai athletes and coaches attended the Chicago Classic competition at Palatine University.  The annual championship is hosted by Illinois Shotokan Karate Club president John Dipasquale and tournament director Judy Mertel.  The event was attended by almost 1,000 athletes from the region.  The USA Shito-Kai posted 47 athletes on the team roster. As usual, ISKC competitors attended in great numbers and exhibited ample competitive experience throughout all divisions and age groups.  The event ran on time, and without any serious injuries.

Adjunct to the tournament, coaches and club owners met with USA-NKF administrator Luke St. Onge, Referee Councilman Cyrus Madani, and PKF Chairman Javier Mantilla on issues related to the organization of regional events and development of the Illinois RSO.  Guests were treated to a meal courtesy of John Dipasquale after the meeting.

Shito-Kai performance totals: Individual Athlete Results as PDF file
USA Shito-Kai - 47 Competitors/74 Medals
                21 Gold
                16 Silver
                17 Bronze
                22 4th
Performance by Club
Coach Bedard - 34 Competitors/54 Medals
                13 gold
                13 silver
                15 bronze
                15 4th
Coach Reeder - 13 Competitors/ 20 Medals
                8 gold
                3 silver
                2 bronze
                7 4th


April 12 - Springfield, Illinois
Doug Dennis, owner of the USA Sport Center in Springfield, Illinois hosted in inter-club scrimmage in preparation for the upcoming meet with ISKC in Chicago on the 18th of April.  Several clubs were represented including those from St. Louis, Missouri and Belleville, Columbia, Pawnee, and Decatur - Illinois. The competition ran on time and without injuries.  Several divisions were combined creating a few odd pairings, and males and females under age 13 were mixed in kumite competition.

Competitor Jake Forby of Belleville, who was expelled last season, returned for the 2008 season in fine fashion. Bigger, stronger, and a better attitude describes his latest performance in Springfield.  Forby won both his advanced 17 year old division and the the adult open division.  He incorporated several new plays including an effective double leg throw - which he executed 5 times during match play.  His first real test of the season will come in Chicago on the 18th of April when he faces more experienced ISKC players.  After last season, Forby will need to convince judges and fellow players he has what it takes to compete successfully on the national level.  If Springfield is any indication - he should do alright.

Belleville Team results - April 12, Springfield

April 12 - St. Louis, Missouri
Shito-Kai athlete Jake Simpher, an 8th grade student at John Burroughs High School, raised $2,100.00 by organizing the first annual "RUN/WALK for the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery".  The event was attended by over 100 participants.  Sponsors included UniquePowerSports.com,  WILKES Group, gabriel GROUP, Williams Community Pharmacies, Griesedieck, St. Louis Post Dispatch, and John Burroughs High School. 

Click here for photos from the event.

April 4,5 - Alexandria, Virginia
Brian Oviatt, of the Mid-Atlantic Shito-kai hosted a seminar in conjunction with student examinations April 4-5 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Jeff Bedard presented kumite drills for youth and adult players.  The following students were promoted:
- Russell Peter - Shodan
- Donna Peter - Shodan
- Sajid Dar - Shodan
- Umar Dar - Shodan ho
- Jina and Joseph Pounds received a recommendation to examine for shodan-ho in October.

March 28 - Virginia
Athletes from the Mid-Atlantic Shito-Kai, coached by Sensei Brian Oviatt, competed at the AAU Virginia State Championships with following results.

March 28 - New York, New York
During the recent Kyu Testing at Columbia University Shitokai on March 28,2008. Sensei Mario Lazaro Perez with the assistance of
Sensei Alex Bruno(4th Dan WSKF/Shitokai) from New Jersey tested and promoted the following students:

- Dacia Morris > 8th Kyu
- Kanani E. Titchen > 8th Kyu
- Zhiying Esther Hou > 8th Kuy
- Daphne Anastasiades > 7th Kyu
- Daniel Rubin > 7th Kyu
- Matthew Merguerian > 7th kyu
- Claudia Pulgarin > 6th kyu
- Jung-Wei Fan > 6th Kyu

March 21-23 Las Vegas, Nevada
Shito-kai athletes Trevor Allen, Bradley Thomas, and Zackary Winters earned silver medals in the 10-12 year old male team kumite division at the Junior Olympic meet held at Caesar's Palace.  Photos.

Adult female athletes Sara McEneny, Jenna Murphy, and Monique Fields competed in individual and team kumite events at the US Open held the following day.  Murphy made it onto the highlight reel on the USANKF web site in clip #4.Murphy and McEneny are former US Junior and PUKO champions who are returning to competition after completing their first two seasons at universities in St. Louis, Missouri. The team was anchored by veteran player Fields. The US Open was their first meet in two and a half years.  The women's team showed a lot of promise.  Skill wise they are about 90% - but they will need to regain their tournament chops through competition with the other domestic players.  Javier Mantilla will assist with their skill development in June, just in time for the US National Meet.

Update: 2008 Tournament results as of March 5th

March 1st - Columbia, Illinois
USA Shito-Kai 2007 Coach of the Year Nicholas Reeder, owner of the Columbia Karate Academy, hosted a 100 athlete scrimmage at Dupo High School in Dupo, Illinois.  Mr. Mark Toon assumed the duties of chief referee while Ms. Noelle Richter performed those of tournament director.
The event ran exactly on time, with no injuries reported for the day. Competition included youth and adult divisions.  Everyone's level has improved since the last scrimmage in January - thanks in part to Javier Mantilla's recent level up session in Belleville.
Nich and Amber Reeder extend their heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, athletes, coaches and parents who made the event possible.
 

February 15-17 Belleville, Illinois
PKF Chairman Javier Mantilla presented a sport clinic at the USA Shito-Kai offices.  Mantilla introduced WKF sparring drills, and made adjustments to delivery of foot techniques.  New foot hit drills were introduced to improve dexterity and mobility.  Mantilla also reviewed the kata Annan for advanced players and coaches.  Top juniors received one on one attention in preparation for USA-NKF state and national competition. Kenji Sato of Miami, Florida assisted in the presentation.

January 30 - New York, New York
According to Dan Rubin of Columbia University, the Columbia Shitoryu Karate Club has been officially recognized by Columbia University.

January 28 - Oahu, Hawaii
USA Shito-Kai athlete Richard Anderson reported a victory from his first pro-MMA bout in Hawaii.  Anderson won by TKO after assaulting his opponent with leg kicks.  Click here for some photos.

January 26 - St. Louis, Missouri
Nicholas Reeder added another win to his fight record with a 3 round boxing match-up held at the Viking Lodge/Holiday Inn complex in South St. Louis County.  Reeder defeated Dustin Beardsley (6'1" <201 lbs) by unanimous decision.

"I came out slow and one step behind because I kept trying to counter him.  I made some adjustments, pushed the pace, got my punches off before him, and outworked him in the second and third rounds.  It was a good match.  I like fighting at the lighter weights, but it was good that I didn't have to diet so hard and I got more practice with my hands", said Reeder.

January 26 - Belleville, Illinois
Jeff Bedard hosted the mid-west region's first competitive event of the 2008 season at the McCormick Center in Belleville, Illinois.  The inter-club scrimmage featured 150 athletes from Family Martial Art, Governor French Academy, Columbia Karate Academy, the Shudokan Karate Club, and the Missouri Karate Association (MKA).

We would like to thank the Powers Brothers (3) from MKA, Doug Dennis, and Nich Reeder for their effort and support.  Special thanks to all our volunteers.  Special thanks go out to Monique Fields, Sally David, Mark Toon, Amber Reeder, Loraine Bedard, Ron Rios, Chris Abby, and Daniel Lewis.

January 15th - Belleville, Illinois
USA Shito-Kai coach Jeff Bedard has been invited to make a presentation at Cathedral Grade School by diocese regional athletic director Dean Cravens. Bedard has been asked to present information regarding USA-NKF standards for karate practice.  The presentation is part of an effort to introduce karate as physical education to private schools in St. Clair County.

January 10th - New York, New York
Dr. Mario Perez, chief instructor at the Columbia University Shitoryu Karate Club of New York, has announced the expected launch of the University's Shitoryu Karate Club website - pending approval of the University's board of governors.

January 10th
USA Shito-Kai Sensei Brian Oviatt of Alexandria, Virginia has been invited to be a presenter at the Kuniba-kai Winter Spirit Camp in Kill Devil Hills, NC on January 26, 2008.

January 4 - Belleville, Illinois
Athletes from the Governor French and Family Martial Art clubs held varsity team try-outs at the Shito-Kai training center in Belleville, Illinois.  Athletes were tested for agility, strength, and endurance to ascertain their readiness for competition, and to help coaches identify areas needing improvement.

According to coach Bedard, "This year we're going to have separate kata and kumite teams in order to focus on the athlete's strengths. With the addition of Kenji Sato to our coaching staff, we intend to develop kata teams for domestic and foreign events which include Bunkai performances.  Our intention is to develop certain junior teams for long term success in the national federation."

December 8 - St. Louis, Missouri

USA Shito-Kai member Nich Reeder of Columbia, Illinois  (175lb 9-2-0) defeated George Smith of Belleville, Illinois (170lb) by unanimous decision in a four round contest at the Stratford Inn located in Fenton, Missouri. The event which used international rules, which include kicks to the legs, was sanctioned by the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) and was promoted by Jesse Finney of St. Louis, Missouri.