The Maui Karate Association Fall Tournament was held in Kahului on Sept. 22. Lahaina students are pictured in the front.

LAHAINA – For the tenth consecutive year, Lahaina Dojo of the Japan Karate Shotokai participated in the Maui Karate Association Fall Tournament that was held at the Binhi at Ani Community Center in Kahului on Sunday, Sept. 22.

The event features the traditional martial art of Shotokan Karate Do in age groups from six to 65 competing in kata (forms) and kumite (non-contact sparring) at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Three organizations – JKA Hawaii Honolulu, Maui Karate Association, and Japan Karate Shotokai Lahaina Dojo – participated in the day-long tourney this year.

After the final whistle ended the team kumite event, the JKA Hawaii team guided by Chief Instructor Sensei Hiro Maeda stood at the top of the standings in sweeping the advanced categories across the board. Lahaina Dojo and MKA were close behind but couldn’t match the superior technique of the Honolulu competitors.

Lahaina Dojo beginners Brian Holmes and Bria Holmes won medals in the youth categories, while Caehlaen Wyatt Balmores, Ken Abut, Aiko Abut and Megumi Matsumoto all had outstanding efforts in the youth intermediate divisions.

In the youth advanced events for brown and black belts, Jason Monnett, Michella Cabingas, Samantha Monnett, Afnan Oleiwan, Dania Oleiwan and Hanan Oleiwan all won multiple medals in the kata, kumite and team events.

In the featured adult advanced events, Jane Gorokhovsky, Gina Parola, Clint Parola, Vadim Gorokhovsky and Sensei Glen Delatori all competed at the highest level to spearhead the Lahaina Dojo effort.

In the true spirit of traditional martial arts sportsmanship, all of the participants wore big smiles of appreciation as the final event came to its conclusion.

Lahaina Dojo 12-year-old Caehlaen Wyatt Balmores summed up the day in saying, “That was really fun!”

Congratulations to all participants, and a sincere mahalo goes out to MKA Chief Instructor Sensei Deron Furukawa and assistant Kit Zulueta for their continuing dedication to putting on a quality event and perpetuating the true spirit of the Karate Do.