20 Karate clubs and 200 athletes participated in the 2012 Pacific Northwest AAU Karate District Championships and National Qualifier on May 5, 2012 at Edmonds Heights Gymnasium in Edmonds, Washington. Athletes ages 5 through adult, beginner, novice, intermediate, and advanced competed in Kata (form), Kumite (free sparring), Kobudo (weapons), and Synchronized Kata. Opening ceremonies began with all children karate athletes receiving a medal for participation as part of the athlete march-in to the music “Fanfare to the Common Man”. All dojos represented were acknowledged, followed with special awards for outstanding service to those Sensei who volunteered as part of the referee corps. Nicolas Blandino recited the AAU Athlete Oath with confidence and clarity.  The Oustanding Support School was awarded to Lake Chelan Shotokan, Sensei Chuck Weathersby. Our friends from Canada were in attendance represented by Sensei Frank Clayton of Canadian Martial Arts Academy and Sensei Kenny Lim of West River Karate, as well as our long time suppporters from Eastern and Western Washington, and Oregon. The opening ceremonies concluded with the National Anthem for both Canada and the United States of America. The 30 volunteer officials operated 6 rings efficiently, effectively, and safely. Many of the officials had been training for months to sharpen their technical understanding in applying the AAU Karate rules.  We are grateful for each and every one of the officials and volunteers.  All the sensei and their students along with their family and friends contributed to a very memorable, competitive, and exciting day of traditional sport karate.  Athletes who competed in the event qualified to attend the 2012 AAU National Karate Championships, scheduled this July 2-July 7 in St. Charles, Illinois.  USA Karate Academy of Shoreline, WA hosted the event, directed by Joni and Alan Sharrah.  The students, parents, and families of USA Karate Academy dojo contributed greatly to the success of this event by working diligently behind the scenes before, during, and following the tournament.  We are deeply thankful for their help and support.

Participants will learn practical and personal protection skills: Street smarts, boundary setting, awareness, gift of F.E.A.R., hand-to-hand defense. Students in this class express the feeling of empowerment, arming themselves with essentials, avoidance, and awareness tactics, to reduce the chances of being a victim. The hand-to-hand portion of the workshop gives participants easy yet effective protection skills, in order to recognize danger, stun an attacker, develop and practice the mindset of confidence with the physical skills to protect oneself.

For: Females, 16 and up

When: Thursday, May 3, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Where: Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave NE , Seattle, WA, 98125

Cost: $25

Registration and information: Call 206.386.4283

8:00 AM – Late Registration and Pre-Registration check-in.

8:15 AM - Black Belt Meeting

8:45 AM - All Athletes to staging area

9:00 AM - Opening Ceremonies

• Contestants march in
• National Anthems of the USA and Canada
• Athletes Oath
• Welcome & Introductions

Order of Events Following Opening Ceremonies

Announcements will be made for athletes to go to staging by their age and experience.  Please listen for your divisions. Thank you for not approaching the head table to ask “when your division is.”

Adult Advanced, 19-34 Male and Female, Kata and Kobudo

Youth 5–18, Male and Female (All Levels), Kobudo

Adult 19-34, Male and Female (Beg. Nov. Int.), Kobudo

Sr. Beg/Nov, 35 and up, Male and Female, Kobudo

Youth 5-18, Male and Female (All Levels), Kata

Adults 19-34, Male and Female (Beg. Nov. Int.), Kata

Sr. Beg/Nov 35 and Up, Male and Female, Kata

Various Ages, Synchronized Kata (Teams)

Sr. Intermediate/Advanced 35 and up, Male and Female, Kata, Kobudo, and Kumite

Youth 5-18, Male and Female, (All Levels), Kumite

Presentation of the Outstanding Male and Female Junior Athlete Award

Presentation of the Outstanding Male and Female Senior Athlete Award

Adults 19-34, Male and Female (Beg. Nov. Int), Kumite

Sr. Beg/Nov 35 and up, Male and Female, Kumite

Adult Advanced 19-34, Male and Female, Kumite

Presentation of the Outstanding Male and Female Adult Athlete Award

PLEASE NOTE: BunsonWheels “gourmet natural burgers” will be on hand with a food cart.

On May 5, 2012 our dojo is host to the 2012 Pacific Northwest AAU Karate District Championships at Edmonds Heights (formerly Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center) located at 23200 100th Ave W., Edmonds, WA. 98020.  A volunteer sign up sheet is on the display case in the retail area and it is great to see new and old dojo supporters signing up to help.  Our events are a success when everyone from our dojo participates. 

The month of April will be dedicated to preparing for this event.  Students will be taught how to compete at a tournament in the kata (form), the kumite (sparring) and kobudo (weapons) divisions. 

The categories that athletes compete in are denoted by their age, gender, and time in training.

Athletes compete at the age that they will be by July 1, 2012.  For example, a student who is 10 years old today, but will be 11 years old by July 1, 2012 must compete in the 11 year old division.

We separate each division by gender.  Males and Females will not compete against each other in sparring.  However, in the children kata and weapons divisions we may blend the males and females which will be determined by the amount of athletes in those divisions.  Any division with less than 3 athletes may be combined with another at the discretion of the tournament director. 

Divisions are further separated by experience as follows.

Students with less than 1 year of training = Beginners

Students with more than 1 year but less than 2 years of training = Novice

Students with 2 years but less than 4 years of  training = Intermediate

Students with 4 years of training or more = Advanced

The registration forms are set up in way for us to capture this information ahead of time so that we can group the athletes in their appropriate category accordingly.  In general the categories for ages are as follows:

6 & Under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19 – 34, and 35 & UP. 

Uniform Requirements for Athletes:

All athletes must wear a complete solid white karate gi. Sleeves and pants must be hemmed to appropriate length. Females must wear a white sport top or t-shirt under gi. (No rolled up sleeves or pant legs) An AAU Patch or NO patch may be worn on the left chest.

Uniform requirements of Officials:  Grey slacks with a black belt, white shirt, an AAU tie or blue or red tie, black socks and shoes, and a navy blue bazer.

Mandatory Safety Equipment for Kumite (sparring): Preferably White Helmets with attached face shields approved by AAU (Warrior Macho) for all athletes 18 years and under, mouth guards for all, groin protectors worn under the uniform for all male fighters, naugahyde knuckle pads for all, red, blue or white are acceptable, (No dipped foam or elastic cloth hand pads), Proper uniform and mandatory equipment required to participate. 

Optional Equipment: Shin and instep guards for juniors, shin guards for adults, chest protectors for female & junior fighters, certified sport glasses with strap or soft contact lenses only, face shields attached to helmets for adults, white chest guard worn under uniform for youth and females. 

Disallowed items: Headbands, jewelry, colored t-shirts, males must not wear a shirt under the gi, metal hair clips.  No long or dirty fingernails, no rolled up sleeves or pant legs.  Patches on gi must be adhered to the uniform (no pins). 

Registration forms can be found here on our website and can be picked up at the dojo.

Karate tournament participation is an integral part of our students development in goal setting, personal development, confidence building, sportsmanship, and so much more.  We encourage all of our students especially yellow belts and above to participate as a volunteer and/or and an athlete, and we rely on our students’ parents and family members to assist us as well. We will be having tournament training in class and will ask our family members to join in the fun to receive training in time and score keeping.

Additional information

Event
AAU/USA Karate International Championships
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Ilinois,
April 21 and 22nd, 2012

Training Clinics
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Ilinois
April 20, 2012

Hotel Information
Holiday Inn Express
1-800-655-2679

Information Webpage

Download Registration Form

Students who are testing should bring all of their karate equipment, wear a clean, pressed karate gi, and if you have assembled a notebook bring that too. Candidates should get their registration documents into the office no later than March 22, 2012. On the day of testing, candidates should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time. Family members are welcome to attend and take pictures and videos, and seating will be allowed on the dojo floor. Please remove shoes before entering the matted area. Thank you!

Students who normally attend the 11:00 am class should plan to attend the 10:00 am class on Saturday, March 24, 2012.

Special Black Belt training Monday, March 26, 2012 8:00 pm – 9:00pm. Black Belts only. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. R.S.V.P. with us to let us know if you plan attend. Bring your gear.

I was lucky enough to grow up at the USA Karate dojo, where a positive experience of competition could be found at our tournaments. Karate tournaments are a unique way of learning to deal with the stresses of competition, while still showing compassion towards other competitors. When I was young I was competing with my friends, against my friends, and at times, with and against my family. I learned how to do my best, and try to win, while also rejoicing in the success of my friends and family. Having everyone from my dojo there to support and encourage me made the tournaments fun and enriching. I couldn’t be upset about getting second place when my best friend got first, because my own disappointment wasn’t of a greater magnitude than my excitement for her. We were a team. We were all a team; the fellow students, the parents who were scorekeeping, our coach making sure we all had what we needed, and our black belts who ran rings and helped us feel at home. Everyone played an important part in making the tournament a positive and healthy environment for competition.

I treasure my experiences competing with karate because they have helped me prepare for competitions in other aspects of my life. The commitment, focus and determination I learned from training before tournaments allowed me to be a better student at school, to compete for grades and opportunities. The example that my parents showed from competing with me and volunteering led me to volunteer throughout high school and college. Overall the positive lessons I learned from karate tournaments have transitioned into all aspects of my life, and benefitted me in countless ways.

When: Saturday, May 5, 2012
Check-in: 8AM
Event begins: 9AM

Where: Edmonds Heights Gymnasium (Former Old Edmonds Woodway High School)

How much:
One event – $40
Each additional event – $10

Team Kata – $30 per team or $10 per team member

After April 18, 2012: Add $15

Questions: 206.440.5533

Download the Tournament Flyer and Fact Sheet.

Download the Registration Form, Waiver, and Concussion Information Sheet.

Download the Team Kata Form if you are planning to compete in Synchronized Kata.