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Martial artists from 12 martial arts schools came together at Lake Oconee Academy in to participate T. MICHAEL STONE/Staff -
Berkeley Phillips demonstrates that although she might be little she is certainly fierce. T. MICHAEL STONE/Staff -
Blake McCoy gets horizontal during the board breaking competition. CONTRIBUTED
Ray Saltamacchio, owner and Master Instructor of Saltamacchio’s Tang Soo Do Karate School, is proud to announce that after a two-year delay due to COVID restrictions the school was able to once again hold its annual Tang Soo Do Karate Championship. This marks the 11 th year the school has hosted this event in the Lake Oconee Area.
On April 30, over 155 dedicated boys and girls / men and women martial artists from 12 martial arts schools came together at Lake Oconee Academy in to participate. Most of the schools traveled here from different parts of Georgia but one school traveled all the way from Tupelo, Mississippi.
“It takes a lot to Host a Championship of this size, so having the support of 11 Martial Art Masters, the Great Grand Master/President TH Kim of the Global Karate Association, 25 Black Belts and numerous Volunteers there made for a Successful Event,” Saltamacchio said.
Participants as young as four and as mature as 60 and all ages in between displayed their martial art talent in front of an audience of over 500. Students competed in point sparring, board breaking, forms and weapon forms. Medals were presented for first through fourth place in each age/event category. The day concluded with Black Belts competing for the coveted “Grand Champion” Award in both point sparring and forms.
Master Saltamacchio personally thanked all the Masters, Black Belts, Karate Schools, Students and Volunteers for all their dedication and hard work in making this the biggest and most well attended championship ever. Preparations have already begun for next year’s event with plans to be even bigger and better than this year.
Schools and Masters in Attendance included:
MASTERS & SCHOOL OWNERS IN ATTENDANCE
• Kwang Jang Nim TH Kim – Global Karate – President Global Tang Soo Do and Global Karate Associations – Snellville, GA
• Master Matthew Lewis – Lewis Global Karate, Doraville, GA
• Master Jane Davis – Davis Martial Arts, Lawrenceville, GA
• Master Juanita Stevens – Davis Martial Arts, Lawrenceville, GA
• Master Terry Lu – Lu Karate, Jefferson, GA
• Master Renard Beaty – Kick Start Martial Arts, Atlanta, GA
• Master Joey Mitchell – Lewis Global Karate,
• Master David Guzman – Lewis Global Karate, Doraville, GA
• Master Hiram Hodge
• 10.Master Randell Leverett – Two Dragons Martial Arts, Tueplo, Mississippi 11. Master Michelle Worth – Karate for Christ – Douglas, GA 12. Master Townsend Sullivan – Decatur Martial Arts, Decatur, GA 13. Master Ronnie Jordan – World Class American Karate, Thomaston, GA
BLACK BELTS IN ATTENDANCE
1. Dillon Chambers – 3rd Dan - 20 (SK)
2. Riad
Akhras – 1st Dan – 34 (SK)
3. Jack Moody – 1st Dan – 15 (SK)4. Hayden Roling – 2nd Dan – 14 (SK)
5. Wyatt
Whitlock – 1st Dan – 14 (SK)
6. Jordan Klevansky – 2nd Dan – 13 (SK)
7. Henry Roling – 1st Dan – 11 (SK)
8. Alex Raygoza – 3rd Dan – 24 (LGK)
9. Randy Soliz – 2nd Dan – 12 (LGK)
10. Jalen Samuels – 3rd Dan – 19 (DavisMA)
11. Jake Goddard – 3rd Dan – 15 (DavisMA)
12. Jalisa April – 2nd Dan – 13 (DavisMA)
13. Stefani Gordan – 2nd Dan (DavisMA)
14. Jenya Bartly – 3rd Dan – (TwoDragons)
15. Jennifer Garcia – 3rd Dan – 29 (GK)
16. Sterling Abrams – 3rd Dan – 20 (GK)
17. Sam Baggett – 3rd Dan – 16 (GK)
18. Michelle Reyes – 2nd Dan – 13 (GK)
19.Ms. Rhonda Hodge