Announcing Winners in National Karate Tournament at the Cordova Family YMCA

CORDOVA, Tenn. - April 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Rebekka Schmidt, age 10, won first place in the children's division of a national karate tournament this past Saturday, April 13. The event, held at the Cordova Family YMCA, was Memphis Shotokan's Third Annual Sparring (Jiyu Kumite) Seminar and Tournament. It was hosted by Memphis Shotokan's affiliate school, Cordova Shotokan Karate, which holds classes at the Cordova Family YMCA.

Rebecca has been training at Cordova Shotokan Karate for about a year and a half. Her karate instructors are Dojo Leader, Steve Ethridge and Assistant Leader William Ragin. Both Steve and William are Black Belts in Shotokan Karate of America (SKA). SKA (www.ska.org) is the oldest karate organization in America and one of the best respected in the world.

Christina Leschhorn, age 9, placed second in the children's division. Her sister, Daniela Leschhorn, age 8, placed third. They train in karate, along with their parents, Charles and Karen Leschhorn, at Memphis Shotokan. "We've been taking karate classes together as a whole family for about three years. Training in karate together as a family will help you build a strong, healthy, happy family," said Charles.

Two local area adults also placed in the top two in their divisions. Charles Leschhorn, the father of Christina and Daniela, placed second in the men's White and Brown Belt Division. Keith Kirk placed first in the Men's Black Belt Division. Like Charles, Keith’s wife and two daughters have also trained in karate with him for many years. “Karate will help you raise kids to have strong character” And that’s something our society needs more of today,” Keith said.

"Rebekka Schmidt has a natural talent for karate and she is very focused and determined to excel," Steve said. "She is a joy to teach and is exciting to watch when she competes. I couldn't be more proud of her as a karate student," he said. Her parents are John and Teresa Schmidt. Her dad, John, and siblings, Samantha and John, III also have trained in karate together.

This was a national tournament attended by 38 participants from 9 states. Adult winners qualified to participate in SKA's annual international karate tournament as part of the Nisei Week festivities during early August in Los Angeles. SKA is a world-class organization that has affiliate schools in over 100 U.S. cities and has affiliate schools in 117 countries.

"Our local tournament has grown each year and has become very popular among both participants and spectators," said Bobby Bird, Dojo Leader of Memphis Shotokan, who is a Fourth Degree Black Belt (Yodan) in SKA. "We really appreciate getting to hold this exciting and important event in Cordova Family YMCA's excellent facility," Bobby said.

The address of the Cordova Family YMCA is 7950 Club Center Cove Cordova, TN 38018. For more information about karate classes held at the Cordova Family YMCA contact Cordova Shotokan Karate at 901-331-7026 or online at www.CordovaShotokanKarate.org. For more information about classes held in Collierville contact Memphis Shotokan at 901-230-7063 or online at www.MemphisShotokan.org.

Photo:
https://www.prlog.org/12122357/2