Karate Kids
By: Stephen Bond
Updated: December 17, 2012
No Ralph Macchio and Mr. Miyagi aren't headed to Buffalo, but a group from Utica is. Karate USA of CNY is sending 32 students to compete among 2000 of the world's top competitors.
Sensei John Shires says, "The best of the best compete. I mean it's an honor and a great accomplishment, like it says in the invitation to just be seated and accepted in NBL or SKIL championships."
The group is sending competitors from the ages of 4 all the way to 28 and these karate kids put in countless hours of work to prepare.
Sensei Shires says, "Our team is more extensive training, they work out extra, they have to put extra time in, they're required to do extra seminars and they have to put in the time, so they have to put in more than the regular karate students."
Students say they learn about life when participating in karate and competing in competitions is the most gratifying part.
10 year old Ian Compton says, "What I really like is the karate competitions. You get to meet a whole bunch of new friends from all across the state and from different schools and it's the joy of competing too."
But no matter how young these martial arts students have one thing on their minds. 6 year old Samantha Shires says, "Getting a world's title."
