The Washington Karate Academy competed in the 11th Annual Karate Madness Open Championship last month at Kinston High School, and the local dojo took home 16 different honors.

Karate academies from all over eastern North Carolina came together on one stage to participate in four Karate forms: Kumite, Kata, Kata with weapons and sparring.

Blake Lee fought in the 16-17 black/brown belt division, the most competitive exhibition taking place that evening, and secured two second-place finishes in Kumite and a third-place finish in Kata. Daniel McVicken, who fought in the brown belt 14-15 age division, finished first in Kumite and third in Kata and Kata with weapons.

For the girls, Jazmin Vega had the best showing, earning a first-place finish in Kata for the brown/black belt 12-13 age division. She also won bronze medals in Kata with weapons and Kumite.

Sydney Chrisman locked up three fourth-place finishes in Kumite, Kata and Kata with weapons, while Ida Perez also notched two fourth-place finishes in two events.

April Kidwell, fighting in the green, purple, and blue belt 6 to 11 age division, won a bronze in Kumite and placed fourth in sparring.

David Warren, the owner of the Washington Karate Academy and chief instructor, took part in a ceremonial Kata prior to the tournament to honor deceased instructor Lemuel “Doc” Stroud, who passed away in July at 82 years old and was considered a local martial arts icon in the Kinston community.

Stroud instructed Warren in Kata over 10 years ago, a form Warren would eventually finish first in at the New Bern Tournament around the same time. Warren paid tribute to his former tutor and was humbled by the opportunity to participate in the ceremony.

 

Information in this article was provided by the Washington Karate Academy.