While not the entire competition crew from the school made the journey south, Mid-Ohio was well represented in several age divisions. The school team, dubbed the “Soaring Eagles,” converged on the ballroom for all day battle in martial arts forms, weapons, sparring, and padded weapons, and for the younger age divisions sock grappling.
In total, the group brought back 30 first-place trophies, six second place, five third place, one fifth place, and all earning the ability to compete at the Elite Martial Arts World Championship at the World Wide of Sports complex at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Prepping for this competition has been high on the list for many of the students because of the size of tournament, the other martial artists they would see, and the strength of the test they would face. Karate camps have been busy and packed to capacity all summer long as students not only sought to improve their skills, prepare for belt testing and advancement, but also to give them the edge over others on the competition floor. Students are in the middle of the sixth summer camp now, with another focusing solely on traditional martial arts weapons still coming up.
The Soaring Eagles competition team will travel on August 10 to Brook Park for the Ultimate Karate Challenge, and again on August 17 for the All-Star Karate Nationals in Cincinnati.
Mid-Ohio Karate 4 Kids, at 155 N. Main St., Fredericktown, is operated by Master Jacques Tarr, Eighth Degree Blackbelt.
