Shihan Kai Leung's
14th Traditional Karate Invitational Championship
New York City • May 2008
The 14th Traditional Karate Invitational is a NYTKL sanctioned event
Shihan Kai Leung hosted the 14th Traditional Karate Invitational Championships on Sunday May 18, 2008 at Queens College/CUNY.
Staging area
Youth Competitors
Award winners
The tournament was one of the most successful karate events ever held in New York City with over 550 competitors and 2,000 spectators.
Drum Spirit of China
The event started off with an amazing performance of Taiko drums, performed by the world famous group Drum Spirit of China.
Shihan Kai Leung presented special appreciation gifts to his teacher Master Toyotaro Miyazaki and to the founders of the New York Traditional Karate League.
NYTKL founders Shihan Cleveland Baxter, Shihan George Aschkar Jr., Shihan Cedric Barksdale and Shihan Herb Wiles all received official Olympic mascots from the Beijing Olympics in China.
Shihan Kai Leung introducing Ken Leung to Master Kiyoshi Shiina
Sensei Gene Dunn, Shihan Kai Leung, Master Kiyoshi Shiina,
Actor Ken Leung and Shidoin Raif Ekici
Actor Ken Leung with Shidoin Elena Kaminskaia and Nicky
Special guest actor Ken Leung, from the hit television series LOST, attended the event and posed for pictures with many competitors and guests.
The Kumite matches were action packed
Shidoin Edwin Concepcion vs. Shihan Herb Wiles
Judging Weapons
Weapon Competition
Kata Competition
Shihan Victor Garrido from Venezuela received a special award
Shihan Victor Garrido brought a large team from Venezuela to compete at our annual event. He and his students had a great time and won many awards.
Master Terry Maccarrone presents a gift to Shihan Kai Leung
Master Terry Maccarrone, one of the most senior Shorin-Ryu Instructors in the United States came to support our event.
Sifu Paul Vizzo, Master Toyotaro Miyazaki, Shihan Kai Leung and Shidoin Elena Kaminskaia
Sifu Paul Vizzio came and brought Master Miyazaki to the tournament. Sifu Vizzio is a world renowned martial artist, who holds 18 World full-contact kickboxing titles and is a master of the Fu-Jow Pai Gung Fu system. He is also a senior practitioner of Shotokan Karate under Master Miyazaki.
Sifu Paul Vizzio with his many title belts
Master Miyazaki promoted several senior instructors:
Shihan Mike Hatgis (2nd L.), Shidoin Ken Hadzovic (L), and Shidoin Jaime Paz (R) to advanced Black Belt Ranks
Little Champions from the competition
Six year old Destiny Vergara winning her kata and kumite matches | |
Shihan Kai Leung with Championship Grand Champions
The Kata and Kumite divisions were very strong and when the dust settled, the Grand Champion Kata was won by a very skillful Joey Castro of New Jersey and Grand Champion Kumite was won by a very tough Badyr Aschkar of New York.
We congratulate them for winning the Grand Championship and they will forever be listed as Champions of the Traditional Karate Invitational.
We would also like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the many instructors, competitors, officials, spectators and staff members for supporting and contributing to our event. The Championship was a huge success, because of the support from the top dojos in the New York Tri-State area.
Tournament Staff
