Karate Tech students roundhouse competition

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  With the leadership of Chief Sensei Dwight Collins and Senseis Shelton Macon and Lyn Hemme, 22 students from the Aviano Karate Tech took home 19 trophies and an overall first place in the 9th Annual United States Air Force in Europe Martial Arts Tournament. 

The students from the Aviano Youth Program traveled to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, for the weekend competition. 

"They were judged on reporting, sparring and forms training," said Chief Sensei Collins, an 11-year Karate Tech veteran. "Their goals were to represent Aviano AYP and return with individual trophies and to challenge their abilities by performing forms (Katas) and by sparring an opponent of their respective age and belt category." 

Karate Tech provides a complete system of personal self-defense from traditional punches, blocks, kicks, trapping, and knee and elbow strikes to submission holds, joint locks and grappling.

"I'm very proud of the accomplishment each student put forth," said Chief Sensei Collins, a third degree Black Belt. "These students are truly ready for the next level of their martial arts journey." 

The following is a list of Aviano's Karate Tech award winners and competitors:
Melyna Guajardo - First place in Kata and Sparring
Austin Tayfel-Bullard - First place Sparring
Marcus Morton - First place Kata
Thomas Collins - Second place Sparring
Jasmine Collins - Second place Sparring
Ethan Flesch- Second place Kata and Sparring
Taylor Graves - Second place Kata
Sable Morton - Second place sparring
Taylor Jenkins - Second place Kata
Christina Collins - Second place Kata and Sparring
Kirin Peterson - Second place Kata and Sparring
Alyssa Garza - Second place Kata and third place Sparring
Isiah Montoya - Third place Sparring
Miguel Alacantra - Third place Sparring

Alex Houk
EnnDean Eaves
Skyler Tharp
Anastasia Morton
Cameron Goodman
Nigel Newby
Dominique Dawson
Abigail Garza