WNY Karate Center students show off skills

Western New York Karate Center students recently competed at the 24th annual Niagara Falls USA Karate/Tae Kwon Do/Kung Fu Championships; the Ontario Provincial Open in Hamilton, Ontario; and the King Cobra Open. Recognized for their achievements are (front row, from left to right) Al Festaiuti, Joanne Peperone, Noelle Krawiec, Alicia Hargadon, Anthony Chungbin, Scott Cvetkovski, Tara Philipps, Destinie Belter, Kelly Smith; (second row from left to right) Rachel Vaughn, A.J. Tallman, Alex Peperone, Ryan Philipps, Adam Goldstein, Emilee Crane, Marissa Rodriguez; (third row from left to right) Lily Landi, Megan Wurtz, Tirzah Peters, Daniel Morsellino, Taylor Krawiec; and (front row from left to right) Jesse Bonaventura, Jackson Wurtz, Jenna Peperone, Evan Philipps, Sydney Lewandowski.

More than 30 students, children and adults, from Western New York Karate Center, located at 4209 Transit Road in the Transitown Plaza, competed in a number of tournaments recently. These included the 24th annual Niagara Falls USA Karate/Tae Kwon Do/Kung Fu Championships, which were held on March 17 at Niagara University; the Ontario Provincial Open in Hamilton, Ontario on Feb. 24; and the two-day King Cobra Open in Erie, Pa., on Jan. 26 and 27.

These were open tournaments in which students competed at the appropriate age and belt level against students from very different styles and systems - including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Okinawan, Filipino and Polynesian. Competitors from all over the country and the world come to these tournaments.

More than 500 students participated in forms (kata), sparring, traditional weapons, self-defense, breaking and musical creative routines. WNY Karate Center students compete in one or more of these categories. At each of these tournaments, WNY Karate Center was among the top schools as far as attendance and placement.

"Our students travel to many tournaments throughout the year to compete," said Master Jim Cvetkovski, owner of WNY Karate Center. "Some competitions are here in Buffalo, while others are nearby Although competing is not a requirement to move up through the belt ranks at Western New York Karate Center, we do have a lot of students who compete on a regular basis. Our students always take top honors, every tournament. We have many local and national champions at WNY Karate Center. Not only is our school number one in sport martial arts in Western New York, but also most definitely number one in practical, effective and hands-on self-defense."

The students at WNY Karate Center are instructed (by Master Cvetkovski, a seventh-degree black belt in Isshin-Ryu karate. He is also a fifth-degree black belt in tae kwon do and first-degree black belt in Kenpo jiujitsu.Master Cvetkovski was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Sport Karate International and the East Coast Karate Organization for his contribution, dedication, and commitment to martial arts, the community, and his students.

"Self-defense and personal safety are our first priorities. If you are interested in personal safety for yourself or your children, feeling more confident, losing weight, and better grades and listening skills for your children, then WNY Karate Center is the place for you," says Shihan Jim.

For more information, call 631-5065.